The Subspecialty Training Programme Supervisor (STPS) is responsible for the day to day, hands on training of the subspecialty trainee and in the organisation and delivery of all aspects of the subspecialty curriculum at trust level. This will also include work-based assessments and providing feedback to the trainee.
Any newly appointed STPS must be subspecialty accredited. The STPS should obtain feedback from other subspecialty trained colleagues for the assessments of a trainee’s progress.
Roles and responsibilities
- Unless there are exceptional local circumstances, each subspecialty training centre (irrespective of the number of programmes offered) should have only one STPS per subspecialty which should not be a job share.
- Take responsibility for maximising the educational opportunities provided in the accredited subspecialty training centre to meet the training needs of the subspecialty trainee
- Ensure all components of the curriculum are included in the subspecialty training programme
- Ensure that the trainee’s mandatory logbook is accurate and up to date. The STPS should check that the trainee has sufficient evidence to allow the assessors to judge a trainee’s progress at the assessments
- Take responsibility for the completion and submission of the application for recognition as a subspecialty training centre and for liaising with the deanery to arrange the site visit.
- Take responsibility for ensuring that the subspecialty training programme is advertised nationally and appointed in open competition.
- Take responsibility for completion and submission of trainee registration documentation (within 6 months of the trainee starting subspecialty training).
- Take responsibility for the completion and submission of assessment documentation prior to the assessment
- Take responsibility, in collaboration with the RCOG Tutor and Head of School/Deanery STC, for ensuring the subspecialty trainee has an annual ARCP (including appropriate team observation) and the results of this are available to the assessors undertaking the assessments
- Take responsibility for ensuring the Head of School/Chair of the Deanery STC is aware of any concerns identified by assessors at the assessments and for developing action plans to address any trainee or unit issues identified.
Personal specification
The Subspecialty Training Programme Supervisor (STPS) must:
- be an accredited subspecialist within their subspecialty
- undertake regular clinical sessions in the subspecialty
- have been practising as a substantive NHS consultant (or consultant clinical academic), within their subspecialty, for a minimum of 3 years
- be a GMC recognised trainer
- have skills in appraisal and feedback
- have training in equality and diversity
- attend a centralised Subspecialty assessment at least every 3 years.
Time required and job planning
The STPS should have time built into their job plan in order to deliver subspecialty training. It is difficult to suggest a standard amount of SPA time for this role as it depends upon the amount of the curriculum that the STPS has to deliver and the number of suitably subspecialty trained colleagues. The STPS is advised to keep a diary to present at the job planning process in order to determine the individual time required.
Deputy Subspecialty Training Programme Supervisor (DSTPS)
The DSPTS is responsible for undertaking the STPS’s roles and responsibilities when the STPS is on long term absence.
Personal specification
The Deputy Subspecialty Training Programme Supervisor (DSTPS) must:
- be an accredited subspecialist within their subspecialty
- undertake regular clinical sessions in the subspecialty
- have been practising as a substantive NHS consultant (or consultant clinical academic), within their subspecialty, for a minimum of 1 year
- be a GMC recognised trainer
- have skills in appraisal and feedback
- be trained in equality and diversity
- attend a centralised Subspecialty assessment at least every 3 years.