ARCP/RITA Outcomes

Progressing in a Specialty Programme: ARCP/RITA Outcomes

The initial outcome from the ARCP may be provisional until quality management checks have been completed. The outcome recommended by the panel for alltrainees will be made available by the Postgraduate Dean to the relevant Royal College or Faculty and to Medical Directors within the LEPs.

Quality Management Outcomes – satisfactory

Trainees achieving a satisfactory outcome will be informed of these. The MWPO will distribute 3 x ARCP outcome forms, which will have been signed by the chair of the panel, to the trainee.

The trainee is then required to sign both copies of the form and return one copy to KSS Deanery within ten working days

The MWPO will be responsible for ensuring all paperwork is duly completed and filed in the trainee’s file and for distribution of a copy of the duly signed ARCP outcome form to the trainee’s Educational Supervisor and College Tutor. This information should also be sent to the trainee’s TPD and the LFG. Internal KSS Deanery databases will be updated with the outcome for the trainee

Quality Management Outcomes – unsatisfactory

The TPD or HoS, in conjunction with their Educational Supervisor will draw up an action plan for trainees achieving an unsatisfactory outcome and a face to face meeting will be scheduled. KSS Deanery internal databases will be updated with the trainee’s outcome. The trainee’s paperwork will be filed.

At the time of the panel meeting any trainee receiving an adverse outcome from the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) will be given a document with the agreed outcome. This document should include an information sheet which affords the trainee the opportunity, within ten working days, to appeal against the decision of the panel. The outcomes against which the trainee is likely to appeal are :

Outcome 2 – where the trainee is required to progress on identified specific competencies;

Outcome 3 – where the trainee is required to undergo additional training because of inadequate progress;

Outcome 4 – where the trainee is required to leave the training programme before its completion, where identified specific level of training has been awarded.

In the case of Outcome 3 and Outcome 4, there is an appeals mechanism as outlined in the Gold Guide. The appeals procedure has two stages. 

Stage 1 -Discussion

The Step 1 appeal provides the opportunity for discussion between the trainee, the regional advisers of the relevant Royal College or Faculty and Programme Director to resolve matters.

Stage 2 - Formal Appeal Hearing

A formal appeal hearing is initiated when the trainee does not accept the outcome of Step 1 above. Once again trainees have ten working days to inform the Postgraduate Dean of their request to appeal. Thereafter the Postgraduate Dean will arrange a formal appeal hearing which will normally take place within fifteen working days of receipt of the request for the appeal where practical. Members of the original ARCP panel must not take part in the appeal process. The constitution of the appeal panel and its operation is outlined in the paragraphs of the Gold Guide referred to above. Where lack of progress may result in the extension or termination of a contract of employment, the employer must be kept informed of each step of the appeal process.

At the end of each ARCP exercise the Lay Representative / Assessor will be required to give formal written feedback about the way in which the process was conducted and any areas of potential improvement or worthy practice. This feedback will be used to inform and improve future ARCP exercises. If at any time the Lay Representative / Assessor witnesses a breach of process (as outlined in this policy and procedures document) or as stipulated in the Gold Guide he or she must bring this to the attention of the HoS and / or TPD and MWPO. The Lay Representative / Assessor must not leave this matter unaddressed or till the end of the ARCP exercise.

Outcome codes(see Gold Guide for fuller descriptions):