Teaching Practices
Our training practices are central to the success of the Reading VTS scheme. Each practice and it's trainer(s) is regularly visited and re-approved by the GP Sub-Committee of the Oxford Regional Committee for Postgraduate Education and Training. The selection criteria are rigorous, each practice must attain the very highest standards of clinical care, demonstrate up-to-date technology and record keeping, show that they are efficiently managed as well as providing a strongly supportive learning environment. Trainers are committed to their role in education and attend regular courses to update their teaching skills, participate in local trainers groups and contribute to the teaching provided by the VTS course. All trainers set aside two hours of protected time for one to one tutorials with their registrar every week. In addition, they, their partners and members of the practice team offer day to day teaching and support.
The general practice year is a very important part of the vocational training scheme. You can expect to be involved in constructing a learning programme which will be modified according to your personal needs through a series of joint reviews with your trainer. There will be an introductory period and a system of informal assessment which will help you to see how you are progressing. In addition the Reading Scheme is unique in having a more formal mid-term assessment at the half way point, the object of which is not to produce a pass/fail assessment but rather to highlight areas of strengths and weaknesses and to suggest constructive ways to spend the remainder of the year. Teaching methods include formal and informal tutorials, review of patients' records and using videotapes to monitor consultations. Various members of the practice, including other partners, the practice manager, practice and community nurses and health visitors, will be included in the teaching programme. Visits to places of special interest may be arranged and you will be able to spend time in hospital clinics / our local hospice and with specialist community services if these fit in with your chosen learning goals.
After an initial introductory period with your practice you will be able to develop your own consulting sessions. Your workload will increase gradually during the year at a pace designed to stretch you without over burdening! You will never be expected to do more than a full-time partner in the practice. You will need to complete a minimum of 12 per year with the Out-Of-Hours PCT Service, Westcall. Westcall is extremely well organised and during each session you will be working with a qualified instructor and supervisor who is always available for one to one consultation and support.
All GP registrars have to complete the MRCGP examination in order to practice. This consists of a multiple choice paper (AKT); a clinical skills assessment (CSA) and completion of the work place based assessment. This has now become a national & legal requirement. Some of the trainers on the Reading VTS scheme were involved in the development of the AKT, CSA and e-portfolio and remain examiners for the Royal college. All of our trainers have been formally taught to deliver the key elements of the MRCGP exam and will be able to help you to prepare for each stage of the examinations. Most of the practices have long histories of teaching registrars and are able to identify and help those registrars who need a little more support.
A list of teaching practices will be given to you when you are short listed and links to each of these practices are available on the website. We are able to give you a variety of choice (large/small, rural/urban) and you will be asked for your preferences.