A Guide to ST4

Applications:

How to get the job

you wantDR RUSSELL GIBSON

DR ROSS RUNCIMAN

What would you like to cover

today?

Overview

How to apply

The Interview

• Portfolio

• Clinical Skills & Communication

How to (hopefully) get the job you want

How its not the end of the world if you don’t

How to apply

1. Know the recruitment timetable

2. Register on Oriel

3. Complete the application form (it takes longer than you think!)

4. Choose two specialties

5. Complete the self-assessment

5. Select preferences (TBC)

6. Await interview date (& prepare portfolio)

Application 1: Eligibility

Requirements

Recognised primary medical qualification

Eligibility for full registration with the GMC and a current licence to

practise

Eligibility to work in UK

English Language skillsEvidence of

achievement of core competences *

If previously relinquished, released or removed from Higher Psychiatry Training need letter of support from PG Dean

If support for Reapplication of

Specialty Training in a Different Region

Fitness to Practise

Application 2: Core

competencies

If completed UK approved core Psychiatry, submit CT3 ARCP/evidence of successful completion.

If haven’t completed UK core psychiatry, then Certificate C or alternative.

If not yet complete CT then can provide letter from educational supervisor stating all competences will be achieved by the time of appointment.

Application 3: Choose 2

specialties…

Think carefully

Check the no. of training numbers in the location(s) you want

Beware the numbers of posts can change

Speak to the TPD/head of school

Look at backdoor options…

• e.g. apply for GA with later option of adding on OA

Application: Fill Rates

Application 4: Preference

options

Preference - rank programmes you want.

No-Preference - if you come to be made an offer and there are no posts available in your “Preference” options you will be offered any one of the “No Preference” options

Not Wanted – You are not willing to accept an offer for this programme.

Application

5: The self-

assessment

Scoring Self Assessment

There is no negative marking – so maximise your achievements

Worse that can happen is you get a lower score

If going apply for two specialties/jobs then ensure you are given the highest score for both

NB You cannot score the same piece of evidence twice (unless specified in the ST4 application guide)

The low hanging fruit…

Complete that QI project, close the loop & present at regional/ national/international meeting (5 pts)

Get involved in organising your local CPD/deliver formal lecture (3 pts/2 pts)

Poster at regional/national/international level e.g. RCPsych NW Division meeting, BMA/RCP, RCPsych International Congress (5 pts)

But don’t be disheartened if you score 0 – many others will do too & it is (roughly) only 1/4th (single)/ 1/6th (dual) overall score!!!

Interview: The Location

Interview: The Location

Practical issues

The stadium is out of town and its cold outside

Leave lots of time if coming from Piccadilly Station – Metrolink reliable and close by

Hotels are better in town rather than around the stadium

If can’t find the entrance, keep on going around and around…

Interview: The stations

•1) Portfolio Station (20 mins)

•Use portfolio to demonstrate self-assessment scores (10 mins) -WHAT you have done

•Use remainder to demonstrate how you meet person specification & commitment – focus on WHY

•2) Communication & Clinical Skills Station (20 mins)

•Demonstrate clinical skills in chosen specialty (simulated)

•Followed by 5 minutes of questions relating to the clinical scenario

Interview: Scoring

Interview: Portfolio

To include:

•CV - previous posts, qualifications and core psych competences

•PDP

•Self-assessment domains

•Commitment to specialty

CV!

CV format and execution

• “A review of 20,000 CVs submitted online found that nine in ten of them had misspelled words, with only 1,134 fault free.”1

CV content

• There are many opportunities

• Ensure that in addition to liking what you are doing you can describe in the interview on the CV what it is you contributed

1. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/14/cvs-contain-

spelling-errors-study-reveals-misplaced-apostrophes/

accessed 16.01.19

Interview: Portfolio

Use a lever arch folder with plastic

wallets

Divide & label according to self-

assessment domains

Use sticky markers on key bits of

evidence to make them easy to find

Print out Power points/abstracts/

/pictures etc

Have a contents page

Highlight key pieces of information

Tailor portfolio to each specialty (e.g. WPBAs, reflections, projects, teaching)

Don’t print out too much!

Remember:

You are scored on organisation & presentation!

Interview: Top Tips

Go through portfolio section using domain headings

Ensure you can navigate quickly & efficiently

Do not be disheartened if the interviewers disagree with your self-assessment (Remember: no negative scoring!)

Interviewers are prompted to give neutral responses

Know the person specification for your specialty(ies)

Interview: Commitment to

Specialty

Focus on WHY you want to do that specialty and HOW you meet the person specification!

Create a section with headings from the person specification (many areas may already be covered)

You can use the structure:

•“[1. Person specification] is an important aspect of which I find [2. Link to specialty] and have received feedback on through [3. Provide evidence] …”

Vignette

Consider a series of case vignettes which illustrate your commitment to speciality

E.g. Why dual GA/OA training?

Physical and mental health are indivisible and increasingly hard to make divisions between a “working age” and “older adult”. I assessed a 55 year old with depression, FTD and type 1 diabetes (see ACE)…

Interview: Commitment to

SpecialtyPersonal Skills Examples Link to specialty

Communication

skills

TABS, WPBA,

feedback

e.g. “when working with patients with

LD it is particularly important to use

appropriate language and this is an

aspect of working in LD I both enjoy

and have received good feedback

through my ACE…”

Teamwork,

leadership &

teaching

WPBA, TABs, QI

projects

e.g. “I noticed that often colleagues in

GA were unaware of the significant

co-morbidity between mental and

physical health problems. I therefore

organised teaching on this topic and

we made changes on the ward to

promote healthy living”

Interview: Commitment to

Specialty

Also:

•PDP items

•Courses/conferences attended

•Reflections

•Additional experience e.g. memory clinics, prison assessments etc

•Life outside medicine, realistic insight into challenges

•Psychotherapy cases

Interview: Clinical and

Communication Skills

May be patient/relative/carer

Given brief synopsis in advance – think through main themes

Use CASC experience/clinical skills & develop rapport

If you finish early, that is ok!

Clinical Q&As (new) – we have no experience!

Practice!

“Consultantoid”

You are interviewing to be a registrar – next level

• Halo effect / meeting the expectation

Careful and considered “acting up”

Body language combined with attire

Safety behaviours!

• E.g. I’m choking! Help…

“I” statements

• “I took the lead in assessing this vulnerable patient and discussed with safeguarding whilst also obtaining a carers assessment”

General advice

Make sure you know the timetable!

Start preparing your portfolio early

• Consider two portfolios, one labelled for self assessment criteria, another for the portfolio station

Use ready made vignettes

Brainstorm themes based on clinical scenarios (but be prepared for the unexpected)

Practice with colleagues/friends/partners

• Like CASC+++!

There is another way

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

Robert E Frost

There are other options

Trust grade posts

Mixed education/QI posts

Private providers

Locum

NB contrary to some advice, taking time between CT and ST offers few disadvantages and many advantages!

What we have covered…

Application process

Self-Assessment Score

Portfolio preparation

The Interview: Top Tips

Remember there are other options!

Resources

ST4 Application Guide: https://www.nwpgmd.nhs.uk/st4_psy_train_rec_oview

Higher Training Person Specification: https://specialtytraining.hee.nhs.uk/Recruitment/Person-specifications

Portfolio Best practice guide

https://specialtytraining.hee.nhs.uk/portals/1/Content/Resource%20Bank/Recruitment%20Documents/Portfolio%20Preparation%20Best%20Practice%20Guide%20.pdf