KSS Deanery

On this page...

• How does KSS Deanery define CPD?
• Ongoing support for CPDs
  • Appraisal
  • Revalidation
  • GP Educator pathway
  • Doctors requiring developmental training

 More areas within CPD

• Quality Assurance GP Appraisal Working Group (QWAG)
• CPD GP School Board
• Mentoring Scheme
• Sessional Doctors
• GP Induction and Refresher Scheme

How does the KSS Deanery define CPD?

• CPD is a continuing learning process that supports GPs to stay up to date and maintain and improve their standards across all areas of their practice and career development.
• CPD encourages and supports specific changes in the quality and delivery of a doctor's practice from professional, patient and service requirement perspectives.
• CPD includes any educational or professional activity directed towards developing the knowledge, skills, attitudes and personal effectiveness necessary to improve practice. Professional expertise demands a continuing awareness of new concepts, values and technologies.

It is important for doctors to update themselves not only on the evidence base, but also on opinion and consensus. Equally they must be aware of local needs.

The ultimate aim of CPD is to support doctors to improve the care they provide to patients through their own personal development.

The KSS Deanery CPD strategy will adhere to the ten principles of good practice in CPD evolved by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC) and RCGP CPD Strategy. This document can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

Ongoing support for GPs

Appraisals

The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Deanery encourage excellance in General Practice by promoting the continued professional development of GPs throughout their careers.

Our GP tutor network facilitates the provision of good quality education for groups of GPs and primary care staff across the health economy.

• Find out more about GP Tutors »

It also supports individual GPs and Practices in enhancing care through developing and achieving their learning plans.

Developing as a GP in the immediate year after qualification (CCT) is likely to be focused on needs driven by patient care, personal enthusiasm and service imperatives.

For new GPs the NHS appraisal process is the first educatinal initiative. KSS Deanery has supported PCTs in the development of the appraisal process at local level.

• More information about CPD appraisals »

Revalidation

We support GPs in preparing for Appraisal and in developing a portfolio suitable for Revalidation.

In 2007 the Government's White Paper 'Trust, assurance and safety' set out recommendation for the regulation of health professionals in the 21st century'. The report from the working group set out the principles and next steps for implementing revalidation in the United Kingdom and was published in July 2008.

The purpose of revalidation is to reassure the public that their doctors are competent and adhere to high ethical standards. Revalidation will be the culmination of an ongoing review of professional performance that should benefit doctors in developing their skills while at the same time identifying at an early stage those who are performing poorly.

All doctors in the United Kingdom will undergo revalidation whether they work within or outside the NHS, are in training or are in temporary employment. The stakeholders in revalidation include the individual doctor, the NHS, other healthcare providers and purchasers, the medical royal colleges and most importantly the public.

Revalidation has two elements:

• Relicensing will be required for all doctors who hold a license. This process will be largely undertaken through local clinical governance processes with the responsibility for first relicensing resting with the General Medical Council
• Recertification will be required for doctors who are on the GMC's specialist register and GP register. Recertification for GPs will be led by the Royal College of General Practitioners who will need to provide a 'positive statement of assurance' to the General Medical Council.

To view the RCGP Guide to Revalidation for GPs document - click here

For a document providing answers to 'frequently asked questions' about revalidation for GPs - please see downloads below

GP Educator pathway

The GP Tutors work collaboratively with PCTs to promote protected learning time initiatives and to facilitate team based care.

One of the more traditional and exciting ways of devleoping beyond being a GP is to explore education and training. The Deanery has developed a career pathway for GP educators.

GP educators commence the pathway training to be a clinical supervisor (CS). They progress to become community educational supervisors (CES) and then GP trainers

There are further opportunities to become KSS Deanery GP Programme Directors and/or GP Tutors too.

• To find out more about the GP Educator pathway, please see our GP Educator pages »

Doctors requiring developmental training

The KSS Deanery also supports GPs with performance concerns through the PCT. Each year some doctors are identified as needing extra training either through local or national processes. The Deanery acts as an Educational Advisory Service to help individuals and their organisations.

We can assist GPs and PCTs when there are GPs in difficulty.

• Find out more about developmental training »