General supervision

Each specialist trainee has an assigned supervisor who follows the trainee throughout the entire training programme. The supervisor must have completed the Royal College of Physicians’ educational supervisor training course. The trainee and supervisor meet at least every two months in a formal meeting to review the trainee’s progress, expectations, communication with patients and staff, and to discuss any potential issues. They meet more frequently if needed, and there is also a high level of informal interaction between all consultants and trainees at the Children’s Hospital. Supervision also serves as a forum to discuss opportunities for quality improvement projects and research, career development, and plans for further specialist training. The supervisor regularly reviews the trainee’s entries in their training portfolio.

Clinical supervision

Clinical supervision is provided by the consultant in the department where the trainee is working at any given time and focuses mainly on day-to-day clinical practice. This supervision includes observing the trainee’s work and providing feedback, having direct discussions on specific cases, and reviewing and discussing the trainee’s written medical records. Most consultants at the Children’s Hospital have attended the Royal College of Physicians’ clinical supervision course.

Once or more per year, meetings are held between the trainee, the supervisor, the programme director, and the head of the specialty, to review the trainee’s progress. The main basis for assessment is the training portfolio, the trainee’s self-assessment, and feedback from clinical supervisors and other colleagues. These meetings cover training progress, identify the trainee’s strengths, discuss areas for improvement, and review expectations. More details can be found in section 5 of the curriculum