APPLICANTS GUIDE
RECRUITMENT
TO GP SPECIALTY TRAINING PROGRAMMES 2008
This guide is intended to give an overview of the
arrangements and rules for recruitment and selection to GP Specialty
Training Programmes to commence August 2008. It should be read in
conjunction with information published on
www.gprecruitment.org.uk.
1. Introduction
The GP Selection Process is
managed by the GP National Recruitment Office on behalf of all United
Kingdom deaneries, following standardised procedures and using
standardised assessment methods. Applicants make one application only
for up to four preferred deaneries. The short listing method is a
machine markable assessment, which is a national competition for a
place at a selection centre (interview). Successful applicants will be
matched in rank order to their highest available preferred deanery,
where the competition for a training place now becomes a local
competition. The system is designed to maximise the numbers of
applicants successfully shortlisted, and to maximise opportunities for
successful appointment. Candidates are reminded that competition for
places in some deaneries will be higher than for others, as with all
other recruitment processes - information about competition ratios
during the MTAS 2007 process is available from the MMC website. It is
common sense advice, however, to apply for what you really want, and
only for deaneries where you would accept a training offer.
2. Submitting an Application
On-line applications ONLY may be
submitted via
www.gprecruitment.org.uk
from 00:01 on 5th January 2008. Applications can be
submitted up until 24:00 20th January 2008. See
Calendar for all key dates relating to
this recruitment activity.
Applicants will only be allowed to submit ONE application and can
indicate up to four deaneries in preference order. Programmes are
available at ST1, ST2 and ST3 entry levels although ST2 and ST3
programmes are limited and are not being offered by all deaneries. A
few Academic Programmes (ST1a) are also available. Applicants can
apply for ONE entry level (those who apply for ST1a can also apply for
ST1 and vice versa)
Applicants should read the How to Submit an on-line Application guide before attempting
to complete the on-line form.
3. Demonstrating and assessing eligibility
Applications will be long-listed
(Stage 1) against the essential eligibility criteria as given in the
National Person Specifications and in
the Eligibility section in the order
their application is submitted. Assessment will be as follows:
To hold a recognised primary medical qualification –
applicants that do not hold a recognized primary medical
qualification will not be considered. Applicants will be required to
produce their certificate when attending Selection Centre.
To be fully registered with the UK GMC at the time of
application OR passed both parts of PLAB and be eligible for full UK
GMC registration at time of application
– applicants who are not fully registered or eligible for full
registration with the UK GMC will not be considered. Applicants will
be required to produce their certificate when attending Selection
Centre.
To have achieved foundation programme competence or equivalent
before starting a GP training programme
– applicants who have not completed a UK foundation programme must
be able to provide evidence of achieving equivalent foundation
competence. Such evidence will be assessed at Stage 3. Applicants
should download and complete the relevant documentation regarding
evidence of foundation
competence.
To hold a current valid driving licence OR able to provide
satisfactory alternative as a means of providing emergency and
domiciliary care to fulfill the requirements of the post –
applicants
who do not hold a valid driving licence or provide a satisfactory
alternative will not be considered. Applicants will be required to
produce their driving licence or a statement of intent when
attending Selection Centre.
- Evidence of English Language Proficiency –
applicants whose
primary medical degree was not taught in English or those who have
not achieved an overall IELTS score of 7.0 will not be considered.
Applicants will be required to produce evidence of English language
proficiency when attending Selection Centre.
4. Stage 2 Assessment
All eligible applicants will be
invited to attend an initial assessment on Saturday 9th
February 2008. Applicants can book their place on-line once their
application has been accepted and are expected to attend at the venue
closest to where they are currently living/working. We are able to
provide 15,000 places at venues across the UK on this date and
anticipate that this will be sufficient. (8,500 applicants took the GP
Stage 2 assessment last year in February 2007). However, if the number
of eligible applicants exceeds our capacity of 15,000 priority will be
given to applications in order of submission. Applicants who would
require a work permit in order to take up a GP training post will only
be offered a Stage 2 place if capacity is available.
An alternative date (11th February 2008) at Birmingham
or Edinburgh is available for applicants who cannot attend on 9th
February due to religious reasons or other extra-ordinary
circumstances. Such applicants are advised to contact the NRO
immediately.
Applicants who require extra time due to a disability (eg.
Dyslexia) must inform the deanery hosting the assessment at the chosen
venue as soon as possible. Not all venues will be able to accommodate
such special needs and in such cases the alternative date in
Birmingham or Edinburgh may be offered as an alternative by the NRO.
Applicants should note that children are not permitted at any of
the Stage 2 assessment venues.
Applicants will be required to produce photographic ID (passport or
driving licence) when attending Stage 2. Applicants who do not produce
photographic ID will not be able to sit the assessment.
The Stage 2 assessment consists of two machine marked papers.
Applicants are expected to achieve the minimum acceptable standard in
both papers for their application to be considered further. The
results from both papers will be standardised to produce a ranked
score.
See Assessment Explained for more
information including example questions.
Applicants will also participate in a short research paper which is
necessary for the ongoing validation of the assessment. This paper is
not scored.
5. Allocation to Stage 3 Selection Centre
Deaneries will provide 2 places at
Selection Centre for every 1 vacancy. These will be allocated to
applicants based on Stage 2 ranking and the applicants’ deanery
preferences. Applicants with the highest ranked scores will be
allocated a Selection Centre place at their first choice deanery. If
no Selection Centre places remain at the first choice deanery,
applicants will be allocated a Selection Centre place at their second,
third or fourth choice deanery if places are available there. If no
Selection Centre places remain available at any of the applicants’
deanery choices, the application cannot progress further.
Applicants will be notified via e-mail from 18th
February 2008 and will be able to book their Selection Centre place
via the on-line system.
Stage 2 assessments results will be e-mailed to all applicants
around this time.
6. Stage 3 Selection Centre
Applicants will be considered for a GP
training programme at the deanery where they attend Selection Centre.
Applicants will be able to rank their preferred geographies from all
available programmes at that deanery.
Applicants will be required to bring all supporting documentation
to Selection Centre including evidence of foundation competence and
references. Applicants will be given a full list of documents required
in advance.
See Assessment Explained for more
information about Selection Centres.
Applicants who are considered suitable for GP training will be
ranked. Applicants who are not considered suitable for GP training at
this time because they failed to demonstrate the required competencies
will not be scored or ranked. Their applications will not progress.
Feedback from Stage 3 will be sent to all candidates from beginning
of April.
7. Offer and Scheme Allocation
Deaneries will offer programmes to
suitable applicants in rank order. Some deaneries will offer a GP
training programme in the deanery and will allocate programmes
according to preferred geography after the offer has been accepted;
others will take applicants scheme or geographical preferences into
account and make a specific offer of programme and geography within
the deanery.
Offers will be sent out on 20th March (Northern Ireland)
26th March (Scotland) and 28th March (all other
deaneries). Applicants have 5 days in which to accept or decline the
offer. Applicants are not able to "hold" an offer while awaiting the
outcome of another specialty application. Applicants who do not
respond within 5 days will have their offer withdrawn. Applicants who
decline a GP offer will not be made any other GP offers. Once a GP
offer is accepted, the applicant will be expected to withdraw any
other applications that may still be active.
8. Local and National Clearing
There will be applicants who
although considered suitable for GP training do not receive an initial
offer from the deanery where they attended Selection Centre because
they are not ranked highly enough for the number of posts available at
that deanery. Such applicants are referred to as "reserve
candidates" and will be considered, on a ranked basis, for any
posts that are declined within the deanery (local clearing). The NRO
will then conduct national clearing where reserve candidates will be
considered for any remaining vacancies at any of their preferred
deaneries on a ranked basis. If vacancies are still available, these
will be offered to reserve candidates on a ranked basis irrespective
of the candidates’ original deanery choices.
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