Guidance for Training Units

Published 22/02/2022

Standards for Programme Delivery

  1. All training units must have an educational structure in place to allow the recommendations in the 2020 Curriculum for a CCT in Intensive Care Medicine to be delivered. This should include:
    • A unit induction
    • Named Clinical Supervisor (+/- Educational Supervisor)
    • An educational contract, agreeing a bespoke personal development plan (PDP)
    • The ability to perform the appropriate structured learning evetns (SLEs) to facilitate the attainment of all competencies at the relevant level within each designated Stage of training.
  2. All consultants responsible for the educational supervision of trainees must be recognised by the GMC for this role and there must be sufficient time allocated in the Educational Supervisor’s job plan.
  3. All module durations are indicative, bearing in mind this is an outcomes-based programme, but must include full day shifts to be spent on the critical care unit to facilitate daytime ICM training and a proportionate degree of experience working at weekends, evenings, and nights. An element of flexibility may be accepted but should not average more than 1 half day every 2 weeks of training time for duties outside of Critical Care unless for specific ICM training purposes.

    Such rosters must be consistent with the new junior doctors contact rules, compliant with the EWTD pattern of working and have an increased presence of Consultants in ICM working in the hospital at these times. Within a conventional 1 in 8 trainee rota pattern this would equate to at least 12.5% out of hours’ experience. Immediate cover for emergencies outside Critical Care may be acceptable but there should be arrangements in place to ensure that Critical Care cover is not compromised; for example Senior ICM trainees may be one of the more senior resident doctors in a hospital and may be in a position to deal with emergencies outside of the ICU, but during ICM training this should only be to deal with life/limb threatening time critical emergencies pending the arrival of another appropriate member of staff (usually a consultant).

  4. Training at all stages should be delivered in blocks of a minimum of 3 months duration.
  5. Trainee doctors must be given the time and opportunity to achieve the objectives set out in their PDP agreed with Educational Supervisor.