GP TRAINERS
1. are responsible for the training of individual doctors as general practitioners in the general practice setting. In particular, GP Trainers must be aware of the requirements of SA and of the level of work required. It is crucial that GP Trainers are able to provide reliable and effective information, advice, support and encouragement.

2. are expected to organise feedback on a GP Registrar's consultations and advise when they feel the GP Registrar is ready to submit a video, or attend a simulated patient surgery for SA purposes.

3. should be fully equipped with the necessary skills to put videotapes together so as to ensure reasonable technical quality in videos made by their GP registrars.

4. are expected to advise GP Registrars on the written submission of practical work and allow protected time to complete this. All training practices must have in place an active programme of audit which demonstrates the full audit cycle and the application of both standards and criteria.

5. are expected to highlight any concerns as early as possible in the GP Registrar year so that action can be taken, and enlist the support of others if a GP Registrar is not likely to pass all components. GP Registrars will then have the support of their GP Trainer, Course Organiser, Co-ordinator, Director or Associate Director in attempting to reach the required standard. This may include an extended period of training as a GP Registrar.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

6. Components cannot under any circumstances, be returned to GP Registrars once they have been received in the Deanery Office and have entered the summative assessment process.

7. If GP Registrars do not submit their videotape (or attend the Leicester/Yorkshire simulated patient surgery) and written submission by the due date, there is likely to be a delay in assessing their components, which may result in a significant delay in certification

8. If GP Registrars fail to submit by the date of completion of vocational training or within 3 months following that date, the JCPTGP may not be prepared to issue a certificate, even if components of SA have been passed. They should also note that the Deanery Office may not be prepared to finance any GP registrar wishing to undertake elements of SA at this time.

9. If GP Registrars make late submissions and fail, they risk unemployment while further training is applied for and arranged.

10. GP Registrars will be unable to work in general practice in any capacity (except as GP Registrar) until such time as they have received a certificate of prescribed/equivalent experience from the JCPTGP.

11. Original data should be honestly acquired. Fabricated data will result in local proceedings within the Deanery and could lead to disciplinary procedures via the GMC. Extracts from papers etc, should have an acknowledgement of source. Material that is used in components and obtained from the world-wide-web without acknowledging the origin of the material and using it for academic purposes amounts to academic fraud. This will also result in local proceedings within the Deanery and could lead to disciplinary procedures via the GMC

12. If it becomes obvious to the GP Registrar and/or GP Trainer that they are unlikely to pass SA and that the GP Trainer will be unable to sign a VTR/1, early notice needs to be given to the Director. Further consultation will follow under these circumstances to decide upon an appropriate course of action.

13. Each deanery has an appeal mechanism in place for investigation of complaints in relation to the local management of COGPED SA to which GP registrars can address grievances. In addition a procedure is in place for the investigation of allegations of improper conduct or unfair practice by a candidate. GP registrars may request a copy of these arrangements at the beginning of their vocational training from their Deanery Office

14. Compliance with the information contained on this and the previous pages should ensure that the VTR/1 will be endorsed by the Director or nominated deputy upon satisfactory completion of all components. This will then be returned to the GP Registrar to send to the JCPTGP in support of an application for a certificate of prescribed or equivalent experience.

15. To ensure national consistency and reliability in the marking of submissions, the Deanery Offices are required to submit a random selection of audits and videos for quality control to the national panel for summative assessment. However, the outcome of this measure will remain confidential.

16. A 1 in 4 sample of all MRCGP passes will go through the local deanery system to ensure fairness and equity and as a means of quality control, but will not affect a pass in the MRCGP examination. This process is strictly confidential.