Ophthalmology ST1

Applicants must have:

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

When is this evaluated?ⁱ

• Application form

ⁱ  ‘When is this evaluated’ is indicative but may be carried out at any time throughout the selection process.

Applicants must:

• be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practiseⁱⁱ from, the General Medical Council (GMC) at intended start dateⁱⁱⁱ 
• have evidence of achievement of foundation competences, in the 3.5 years preceding the advertised post start date for the round of application, via one of the following methods:
  • current employment in a UKFPO-affiliated foundation programme, or having been awarded an FPCC (or FACD 5.2) from a UK-affiliated foundation programme within the 3.5 years preceding the advertised post start date, or
  • current employment in a GMC approved Specialty Training Programme holding either a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN), or
  • 12 months' medical experience after full GMC registration (or equivalent post licensing experience), and evidence to commence specialty training in the form of a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training
• be eligible to work in the UK

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre^iv

ⁱⁱ  The GMC introduced the licence to practise in 2009. Any doctor wishing to practise in the UK after this date must be both registered with and hold a licence to practise from the GMC at time of appointment.

ⁱⁱⁱ  ‘Intended start date’ refers to the date at which the post commences, not (necessarily) the time an offer is accepted.

^iv  ‘Selection centre’ refers to a process, not a place. It involves a number of selection activities which may be delivered within the unit of application.

Applicant is up to date and fit to practise safely and is aware of own training needs.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• References

Applicants must have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues as assessed by the General Medical Council^v.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Pre-employment health screening

^v  Applicants are advised to visit the GMC website which gives details of evidence accepted for registration.

Applicants must meet professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice).

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Pre-employment health screening

Applicants must:

• be able to provide complete details of their employment history
• have evidence that their career progression is consistent with their personal circumstances
• have evidence that their present level of achievement and performance is commensurate with the totality of their period of training
• have 30 months’ or less experience^vi in Ophthalmology^vii including Medical Ophthalmology (not including Foundation modules) by time of interview date
• have notified the Training Programme Director of the specialty training programme they are currently training in if applying to continue training in the same specialty in another region^viii 
• not have previously relinquished or been released or removed from a training programme in this specialty, except if they have received an ARCP outcome 1 or under exceptional circumstances^ix 
• not previously resigned, been removed from, or relinquished a post or programme with resultant failure to gain the award of a FPCC (FACD 5.2), except under extraordinary circumstances and on the production of evidence of satisfactory outcome from appropriate remediation^x 
• not already hold, nor be eligible to hold, a CCT/CESR in the specialty they are applying for and/or must not currently be eligible for the specialist register for the specialty to which they are applying

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

^vi  Any time periods specified in this person specification refer to full-time equivalent.

^vii  All experience in posts at any level in this specialty count, irrespective of the country in which the experience is gained.

^viii  The 'support for application to another region' form, signed by the Training Programme Director of their current specialty training programme confirming satisfactory progress must be submitted to the recruitment office at time of application.

^ix  Exceptional circumstances may be defined as a demonstrated change in circumstances, which can be shown on the ability to train at that time and may include severe personal illness or family caring responsibility incompatible with continuing to train. Applicants will only be considered if they provide a ‘support for reapplication to a specialty training programme’ form signed by both the Training Programme Director or Head of School and the Postgraduate Dean in the local office or Deanery that the training took place. No other evidence will be accepted.

^x  An applicant who has previously resigned, been removed from, or relinquished a post on the foundation training programme will not usually be eligible to apply for an ST1/CT1 post except under extraordinary circumstances. Extraordinary circumstances may be defined as a demonstrated change in circumstances which can be shown to impact on the ability to train at that time and may include severe personal illness or family caring responsibility incompatible with continuing to train as a foundation doctor, through sickness absence, as a less that full-time (LTFT) trainee or in a period out of programme.

Where an applicant wishes to apply for an ST1/CT1 post in the above circumstances they must provide evidence to support this application in the form of a letter written and signed by the Director of the Foundation School where previous training took place. This letter must include the following information:

• the dates of your previous training
• confirmation of the reasons why the applicant previously resigned, was removed from or relinquished their post in the training programme
• confirmation that the applicant has met the requirements or demonstrated the competencies of foundation training
• confirmation that the applicant has completed a period of remediation (if applicable)

All sections of application form completed fully according to written guidelines.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form

Essential

Applicants must have:

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification

Desirable

• Additional related qualifications such as BSc, BA, BMedSci or equivalent (not including intercalated BSc or honorary MA)

When is this evaluated?

• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

• Ability to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems.
• Ability to prioritise clinical need.
• Ability to maximise safety and minimise risk.
• Recognition of, and ability to undertake the initial management of, an acutely ill patient.

Desirable

• Successful completion of relevant skills course(s).

When is this evaluated?

• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

Research, audit and quality improvement skills

• Demonstrates understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues.
• Demonstrates understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety, and clinical quality improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrates knowledge of evidence-informed practice.

Desirable

Research, audit and quality improvement skills

• Evidence of relevant academic and research achievements such as degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements.
• Evidence of involvement in an audit project, a quality improvement project, formal research projector other activity which:
  • focuses on patient safety and clinical improvement
  • demonstrates an interest in and commitment to the specialty beyond the mandatory curriculum

Teaching

• Evidence of interest in, and experience of, teaching.
• Evidence of feedback for teaching.

When is this evaluated?

• Interview/selection centre

Essential

Communication skills

• Capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation, open and non-defensive.

Problem solving and decision making

• Capacity to use logical and lateral thinking to solve problems and make decisions.

Empathy and sensitivity

• Capacity to take in others’ perspectives, see patients as people and able to develop rapport.

Managing others and team involvement

• Capacity to work cooperatively with others and show leadership and authority where appropriate.

Organisation and planning

• Capacity to manage time and information effectively.
• Capacity to prioritise clinical tasks.

Coping with pressure and managing uncertainty

• Capacity to operate under pressure.
• Demonstrates initiative and resilience to cope with setbacks and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.

Values

• Understands, respects and demonstrates the values of the NHS (such as everyone counts, improving lives, commitment to quality of care, respect and dignity, working together for patients, compassion).

When is this evaluated?

• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

• Demonstrates probity (as outlined by the GMC)

When is this evaluated?

• Interview/selection centre
• References

Essential

• Realistic insight into specialty.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and commitment to personal and professional development.

Desirable

• Achievements relevant to Ophthalmology including a portfolio demonstrating evidence of learning.
• Extracurricular activities and achievements relevant to Ophthalmology.
• Evidence of understanding of developments in ophthalmic services.

When is this evaluated?

• Interview/selection centre
• References