1. Welcome to the South Thames Foundation School
Information for F2 Trainees
August 2011

2. STFS – contacts reminder
1 school, 3 offices
1 advice e mail –
Enquiries checked daily
Policies on STFS website

3. The role of STFS Brighton – F2 allocation and sign-off
London Bridge – policy and communications
Tooting – F1 allocation and sign-off
Trainees needing to meet STFS staff can attend local office

4. New website – easier to navigate and with lots of information
New website – easier to navigate and with lots of information. Feedback welcome.

5. STFS communications
You must maintain e mail address and check it weekly – do not auto-forward as original e mail service may close
STFS currently recommends Doctors.net.uk as available in all trusts – if you use another you must inform STFS and ensure functioning (avoid hotmail etc as spam filters block STFS mails)
Enables information about GMC registration, careers etc to be sent out - to help you
STFS bulletins sent regularly – also available on website
All new information also on STFS website
Please do check the information sent regularly so you don’t miss anything

6. An example of one of the bulletins

7. National information www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk
New curriculum
New reference guide (national policies)
Other information

8. e-LFH e-lfh.org.uk e learning modules for foundation
useful to support your experiential learning, eg Safe Prescribing
to catch up if you miss a teaching session
User names and passwords should have been supplied for all of your foundation doctors

9. Your trust should provide you with:
Appropriate learning experience
3 hours+/ week bleep-free education eg teaching sessions, teaching ward rounds, clinics etc
Training compliant with European working time regulations (EWTR)
Educational supervision
Access to careers advice / guidance
Representation at local faculty group via elected F2 representative

10. Protecting patients (and you) F2 doctors must NOT
Site mark (except under direct supervision by the operator)
Inject contrast unless trained to do so
Detailed document on roles and responsibilities of foundation doctors on the STFS website

11. Protecting patients (2)
F2 doctors must NOT:
initiate or administer cytotoxic or immunosuppressant drugs (except corticosteroids)
F2 doctors should ONLY:
prescribe the above drugs following training and when assessed as competent to do so

12. Protecting yourself (and patients)
Flu vaccine
Reduces sick leave (and pressure on colleagues)
Will be available via Occupational Health
Is much less unpleasant than genuine influenza

13. Consent
Taking consent is the responsibility of the doctor performing the procedure
If a FD is not capable of carrying out a procedure, s/he may only obtain consent for it when trained to do so, directly supervised, and under delegation from the experienced doctor carrying out that procedure
This refers to procedures which the F2 doctor is NOT competent to undertake

14. F2 sign-off (1) in order to achieve your FACD you must:
Have no more than 4 weeks non-statutory leave in the year (if more is likely, contact STFS)
Attend at least 70% of your F2 teaching sessions
Provide evidence of involvement in audit
It is also strongly recommended that you carry out a leadership project – documentation on e-portfolio (eg implementing changes following an audit)

15. F2 sign-off (2) you must:
Possess a valid advanced life support (or equivalent) certificate or record of attendance
Complete e-portfolio
Complete required assessments satisfactorily*:
6 mini-CEX
6 CBDs
6 DOPS
1-2 multi-source feedbacks (TAB this year)
*spread through the year, with 6+ in each 4/12 attachment
STFS training package on assessments on - you might wish to complete this before you start your specialty training

16. F2 sign-off (3) you must:
Maintain your e-portfolio, including evidence that you have maintained and improved your skills (for example by being able to help others) in procedures required by the GMC for F1 sign-off (eg a list or logbook of the procedures, or DOPS)
This is to show that F1 procedural skills have been retained and developed further

17. List of skills required by the GMC for F1 sign-off
IV infusions inc. fluids, blood and blood products
Perform and interpret ECG, spirometry and peak flow
Urethral catheterisation (male and female)
Airway care
NG tube insertion
Venepuncture /IV cannulation
Use of local anaesthetics
Arterial puncture (adult)
Blood cultures
Injection (SC/ID/IM/IV)
Prepare and give IV meds
The F2 presentation contains a slide that refers to “List of Skills Required for F1 Sign-off”.  Please note that this is not a mistake.  The Foundation Programme Curriculum (2007) requires F2 doctors to maintain and improve their skills in the procedures required by the GMC for successful completion of F1.  By the end of F2, Foundation Doctors should be able to help others with difficult procedures and guide F1 Doctors in teaching others.  We should be grateful if you would remind them of this during the presentation.

18. F2 sign-off (4) you must:
Include evidence in your learning portfolio that you meet other curriculum and statutory requirements such as:
ALS or equivalent (ATLS/IMPACT are not valid for sign-off but are useful in addition to ALS)
child protection training
Child protection training is a national and SHA imperative. The level gained should be appropriate to the posts carried out by the foundation doctor
A “Safe Guarding Children and Young People – Level 1” module will be available on the e-Learning for Healthcare system from August 2009 –

19. F2 sign-off (5)
You must:
Engage with quality management processes. Feedback is essential to monitor and improve medical training.
This includes completing
the GMC national online trainee survey, which assesses the quality of your training
local end of placement questionnaire(s) – via e-portfolio
academic placement questionnaire (if applicable)
a destination questionnaire before you leave* - via e-portfolio
*Destinations for your predecessors on STFS website
It doesn’t take long Less long than writing e mails disputing the fact that it’s mandatory

20. Asking for advice
Usually ask locally first, eg your educational supervisor or FTPD
STFS need to know if it may affect your training programme, eg:
You need to be away, for example for maternity leave
You are having problems with your training
If so please check the policy and deadlines on and contact

21. Feedback to STFS
Foundation programme trainee representative at all trusts – can raise issues locally
Trainee representatives at STFS committees – inform and influence future directions
Online and brief paper (pre-visit) questionnaires – please contribute as your views are valued!

22. Careers Careers support and resources available in your trust
ROADS book – and four stage approach to career management
Up to 5 days of study leave can be taken as a ‘taster’ to explore career options – good to arrange early before specialty recruitment this winter
for further ideas
is the national careers website

23. Careers
“An extensive choice of information relating to medical careers is now
available…” Collins 2010.
Careers support and resources available in your trust
ROADS book – and four stage approach to career management
Informal short one-2-one career sessions
Group teaching introducing specialty applications & selection
Virtual STFS career fair
Selection centres for specialty training DVD
Up to 5 days of study leave can be taken as a ‘taster’ to explore career options – good to arrange early before specialty recruitment this winter
for further ideas
is the national careers website. Please mention what is available locally for your foundation doctors.

24. Careers
Referral to STFS careers team:

25. Enjoy your foundation training – and good luck with your specialty application