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Roles and Responsibilities of a Training Programme Director 2011

The Training Programme Director has a key role in managing the specialist training programme of the specialty. The fundamental role is that of co-ordinator and communicator between Specialist and Specialty Registrars, the Specialty Training Committee (STC), the Head of School, the Postgraduate Dean, and the appropriate Royal College or Faculty. The different roles and responsibilities are outlined below.

Participation in the appointments process 

  • Approving the wording of the advertisement, drawing up the person specification unless a National one is in use, creating the specialty training prospectus and confirming (PMETB, and Severn Deanery) approval. 
  • Leading the short-listing and interview processes: 
  • Allocating the successful candidates to the vacant placements in conjunction with the appointment committee. 
  • Setting the trainee’s provisional CCT date in accordance with PMETB/ Royal College/Faculty guidelines. 

Administration and Management 

  • Identifying appropriate training placements/slots in collaboration with the Chair of the STC to ensure that trainees are placed only in PMETB educationally approved and Severn Deanery funded training placements that reflect the level of training appropriate to the individual trainee. 
  • Communicating all rotational moves in a timely way to the Trust Medical Personnel Officers and to the Severn Deanery Specialty and Recruitment Managers to ensure Specialist Registrars and Specialty Registrars  are paid properly and their training record maintained correctly. 
  • Ensuring, with the support of the Severn Deanery, that all trainees including LATs have an annual RITA/ARCP.  
  • Carrying out the RITA/ARCP in accordance with the RITA/ARCP process as described in the Orange/Gold Guide. (This will enable the Training Programme Director to access the progress of the individual trainee and plan their further training.) 
  • Attending School Board/Specialist Training Committee meetings. 
  • Keeping the relevant part of the Severn Deanery and School websites up to date. 
  • Managing the Severn Deanery budgetary allocation to support training in conjunction with the Head of School. 

Delivery of Training 

  • Establishing and maintaining an appropriate training programme in accordance with the Royal College/Faculty curriculum, in liaison with other members of the STC. Collaborating with the STC lead on flexible training, to organise appropriate training programmes for flexible trainees. 
  • Assessing the individual needs of trainees and advising local educational supervisors of defined trainee objectives agreed at annual review (RITA/ARCP). 
  • Collaborating with the STC lead on study leave, ensuring that study leave is planned and appropriate. 
  • Recommending the placement of those requiring targeted or remedial training. 
  • Advising on the appropriateness of time to be spent out of programme and supporting application. 
  • Counselling individual trainees, particularly where this is not appropriate or possible for local tutors. 
  • Alerting the STC Chairman and the Severn Deanery of the need of impending problems with any trainee. 
  • Liaising with the Severn Deanery over Inter-Deanery transfers, in consultation with the STC Chair.

 Monitoring and Inspection 

  • Considering opportunities for the development of new training posts and liaising with the Severn Deanery over requests to establish such posts. 
  • Advising the Severn Deanery, with the STC Chair, about local increases or decreases in the number of trainees and/or posts in line with national recommendations  and allocations. 
  • Advising the STC Chair, Regional Advisor and Head of School of training difficulties to be addressed in specific Trusts. 
  • Providing reports relevant to training to support the Annual Review process. 

General 

The Training Programme Director and Specialty Training Committee Chair should maintain close liaison with regard to the management of the training programme.

The Programme Director provides the main point of contact for the trainees and is a member of the Specialty Advisory Committee (SAC). The Chair’s role is to oversee the activity of the Committee overall and to liaise with Trusts and the Severn Deanery on specific problems encountered, and support the Training Programme Director(s). Both will work closely with the Head of School.

The Severn Deanery believes that, generally, the roles of the Training Programme Director, Chair of the STC and Head of School should be taken by separate individuals to spread the work load, allow sharing of difficult decisions and facilitate any subsequent appeals against decisions made by one or the other. However, in some committees, the TPD acts as the chair of the STC. Other members of the Committee should be nominated to represent the specific needs of flexible trainees, and to advise on study leave.

The Training Programme Director now receives an allowance based on the number of trainees they manage and shares the administrative support budget with the Head of School. It is intended in large specialties that the Training Programme Director will negotiate sessional time in their job plan for their new role with their consultant colleagues, the Trust Chief Executive and Medical Director.