Introduction / Health Education North West
Trainer Standards update for Mersey & Cheshire Trusts
The GMC released their implementation plan for the recognition and approval of Trainers in August 2012, which requires LETBs (i.e HENW) as Learning Organisations to formally recognise trainers in their roles as Clinical and/or Educational Supervisors: GMC Implementation Plan.
Each Deanery / LETB subsequently released documents on how they we will ensure their trainers are recognised in line with the GMC’s mandatory requirements.
Following integration of the Mersey and North Western deaneries one framework for the recognition of trainers will apply across HENW to ensure that the GMC standards are fully met by the July 2016 deadline. This includes the implementation of a ‘live’ trainer database to enable LEP’s (Trusts) to record the status of Named Clinical Supervisors (CS) and Educational Supervisors (ES).
HENW Requirements / Meeting the standards – HENW requirements
To be fully recognised as a ‘Named’ Clinical or Educational Supervisor trainers will be required to document evidence from the domains, as indicated below, to demonstrate their engagement in educational activity:
Clinical Supervisor
Requirement / Domain / Educational Supervisor requirement
ü / 1.  Ensuring safe and effective patient care / ü
ü / 2.  Establishing and maintaining an environment for Learning / ü
ü / 3.  Teaching and Facilitating Learning / ü
ü / 4.  Enhancing Learning through Assessment / ü
5.  Supporting and monitoring educational progress / ü
6.  Guiding personal and professional development / ü
ü / 7.  Continuing professional development as an educator / ü
The evidence required to demonstrate that a trainer fulfils the GMC requirements and continues to do so should be assessed and validated during the annual appraisal.
Who are ‘Named Clinical/Educational Supervisors’?
The GMC states on page 15 of its implementation plan that not every doctor involved in training needs to be defined as a Named Clinical and/or Educational Supervisor. For definitions of each role please see page 16 paragraphs 54 and 55 of the implementation plan. Further information on each of these roles can also be found at:
CS: www.nwpgmd.nhs.uk/educator-development/standards-guidance/clinical-supervisor
ES: www.nwpgmd.nhs.uk/educator-development/standards-guidance/educational-supervisor
HENW Requirements / The Framework
For Mersey and Cheshire LEPs the following requirements are with effect from 1st April 2015:
A) Individuals who are listed on the Trust’s database (spreadsheet) as ‘Trained’ CS or ES (as at 1 April 2015) will be provisionally recognised.
To become fully recognised by July 2016 and to retain recognition thereafter each ‘trainer’ will need to have an annual appraisal which includes evidence of Educational CPD. This would be demonstrated by providing one piece of evidence covering domain 7 (CPD) per annum, with 3 separate types of evidence in any 5 year period (see documents below). This fits with the principles of revalidation.
B) Anyone not on a Trust database (spreadsheet) as at 1 April 2015 and new Consultants/Trainers will need to attend a taught course that is externally accredited e.g. by Academy of Medical Educators, a Royal College or HEI to prepare them for the supervisor role. See section ‘Externally accredited courses’.
In addition new trainers will need to provide a minimum of 1 piece of evidence from each of domains 1 – 4 for CS and 1 – 6 for ES to become fully recognised.
C) To retain recognition trainers are required to undergo annual appraisal which includes evidence of educational CPD. This would be demonstrated by one piece of evidence covering domain 7 (CPD) per annum, with 3 separate types of evidence in any 5 year period.
The attached documents provide examples of evidence.

Please note: Levels 1, 2, 3 as used in the former Mersey Deanery will no longer apply.
For purposes of mapping level 1 can be mapped to requirements for CS status and levels 2 and 3 ES status.
SAS Doctors as Named Clinical and Educational Supervisors
Please refer to the following document for HENW policy on the recognition of SAS Doctors as Named Clinical and Educational Supervisors. This is in accordance with the GMC Standards for the Recognition of Trainers (paras 60 and 61):

Trainer Database / Database of Trainers
HENW have a Trainer Database which will be rolled out to Mersey and Cheshire by the end of July.
The Education Development Team will work with Trust Medical Education Managers and PG administration staff on collecting the data (in accordance with the requirements as set out in the section above) over the coming weeks. This will be imported into the database.
Once data has been imported LEPs have 10-12 months to check and update records ensuring that all those listed have achieved full status by the July 2016 deadline.
Further details will be provided in due course.
Knowledge and skills for CS /ES / Knowledge and Skills for Clinical and Educational Supervisor Roles
The following is a summary of the knowledge and skills that Named Clinical and Educational Supervisors are required to demonstrate competence in.
A new consultant joining a Trust seeking to be a Named Educational or Clinical Supervisor would be expected to evidence their competency in these areas.
For those who received training several years ago the knowledge and skill areas will help identify areas where further support and development is required:
Clinical Supervisor / Educational Supervisor
1. Workplace-based clinical skills teaching
including:
·  An understanding of adult learning and different learning styles
·  Teaching methods and techniques
·  Evaluation of teaching
2. Giving effective feedback
3. Reflective Practice
4. Working with portfolios
5 Workplace-Based-Assessments (WBAs)
6. Communication and Team working
7. Role modelling / In addition to having the knowledge and skills required of a clinical supervisor, educational supervisors are also required to demonstrate the following:
1. Effective supervision
2. Coaching, mentoring and pastoral care
·  An understanding of the importance of one to one for learners as appropriate
·  A basic understanding of the principles of coaching and mentoring, including the differences and overlap between them.
3. Assessing learning needs
4. Negotiating learning agreements
5. Assessment and appraisal
·  Timely and specific feedback and objective setting
6. Principles of ARCPs
7. Careers support
8. Identifying and supporting trainees in difficulty
Quality Management / Quality Management of trainer Recognition and Approval
As part of the Quality Monitoring visits HENW will audit the trainer appraisal process in Trusts.
In advance of a scheduled monitoring visit HENW will ask Trusts to examine the evidence of ‘Continuing Professional Development as an educator’ (domain 7) of 10% of their Named Supervisors listed on the Trainer Database. HENW will specify the names of the 10% to be looked at. Once the evidence has been checked Trusts will be required to report back as part of the presentation on the day of the HENW visit on what was found and how they will address any gaps.
Full details on the process can be found in the following document:

Externally accredited courses / Externally accredited courses
HENW does not have a mandated list of courses but suggestions of appropriate courses include:
HEI PG Courses
·  Postgraduate Certificate in workplace based postgraduate medical education with Edge Hill – more details here
·  Chester University Postgraduate Medical Education Practice programme - more details here
·  Examples of other courses can be found on the website here
Royal College courses
Please check on Royal College websites as there are a variety of courses available, for example:
·  The RCP runs a ‘doctors as educators’ course for all specialties – more details here
·  RCS runs a 2 day course for Surgical Educators - here
·  RCPCH runs an Effective Educational Supervision course - here
·  RCoA runs a number of courses for Anaesthetists as Educators - here
Membership of the Academy of Medical Educators (AoME)
If you are or become a full member or fellow of the AoME you will be deemed to have met the domains required to be recognised as an Educational Supervisor, subject to approval by your Director of Medical Education. More information here
Other externally accredited courses
There will be courses other than those mentioned above which are appropriate. HENW does not approve courses and as long as trainers can map their learning from the courses to the domains and have the approval of their DME this will be sufficient for approval as either a Clinical or Educational Supervisor (according to the domains met).
Contacts / Contact us
If you have any queries on any of the above points or require further clarification on the integrated process please e-mail us at: