Foundation Training

QAFP Deanery Visits

 

Introduction

The Yorkshire Deanery Quality Assurance of Foundation Programmes (QAFP) process commenced with a programme of evaluative visits in May/June 2007. The purpose of quality assurance is to ensure that the training and education being delivered in Yorkshire is fit for purpose and meets the criteria laid down by PMETB. The visits were preceded by a pre-visit questionnaire, one to be completed by the FTPD, one to be completed by F1 and F2 trainees (see 'associated documents'). The questionnaires were based on PMETB’s domains and on PMETB’s trainee and trainer questionnaires for specialist training:

  • Domain 1 Patient safety
  • Domain 2 Quality assurance, review and evaluation
  • Domain 3 Equality, diversity and opportunity
  • Domain 4 Recruitment, selection and appointment
  • Domain 5 Delivery of curriculum including assessment
  • Domain 6 Support and development of trainees, trainers and local faculty
  • Domain 7 Management of education and training
  • Domain 8 Educational resources and capacity
  • Domain 9 Outcomes

Process

A date for the visit is set and the FTPD and Education Centre Manager requested to be involved. Yorkshire Foundation School Directors are informed of the dates and invited to attend, in an observer capacity, the visits to hospitals in their ‘opposite’ School.

 

Pre-visit documentation

Data from the F1 and F2 trainee questionnaires is summarised. In addition Placement Assessment Feedback (PAF) data is collated and analysed. When there is sufficient current data available this will be used. This is displayed as a graph of the satisfaction scores for the 23 PAF questions for that hospital in comparison with the Yorkshire Deanery as a whole, separately for F1 and F2. The comments made on the PAFs are also collated for each hospital trust. All trainee data is anonymised.


The visiting team

Dr Michael Harran and Ms Jacqui Lewis. Foundation School Directors were invited as observers to their ‘opposite’ Foundation School hospitals.


The visits

The visits are generally organised as follows:

  • Introduction by FTPD (15 minutes)
  • Discussion with F1s (as many as can be made available) (45 minutes)
  • Discussion with F2s (representative sample) (45 minutes)
  • Thought gathering by panel (15 minutes)
  • Feedback to FTPD, CT, ECM, other interested parties (20 minutes)

The visit proforma

A pro forma prepared by Dr Harran, the same for each visit, but annotated to highlight issues raised in the overall summary, is completed during the visit. The trainees are asked to confirm some general areas but additionally the individually annotated pro forma allows probing of particular issues raised on either the pre-visit questionnaires or PAFs

Post visit

The visit pro forma forms the basis of a report which is written up and sent to designated officials at the trust. It highlights cross-site issues and issues particular to that trust, and picks out both positive and negative issues. The report also contains an Action Plan for the trust. The summarised pre-visit questionnaires, and the summarised PAF data are also returned to the trusts with the report. FTPDs are encouraged to share the information widely and to make this available to the current and future foundation trainees.