Ophthalmology

National Recruitment ST1 up to 85

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Applicant Guide

NHS England (South West) co-ordinates the national selection process for Ophthalmology at Level One (ST1).

The posts will commence from August 2024 onwards.  When applying you will not need to select particular posts, regions, rotations, etc.; just complete and submit the application.  You will have the opportunity to rank all the posts available nationally at a later stage in the selection process.

Below are all the details you need to know when submitting, an application for specialty training.  Please read the whole guide before starting your application, paying particular attention to the additional evidence section.

Training Posts and Locations

Each Deanery/local office has submitted their indicative number of vacancies with a brief outline of the programme.  This information can be found on the national recruitment website under the heading of Job Description.  Also contained within this information is a local contact and a link to more detailed information. The vacancies are correct at the point of advertisement but may be subject to change. All alterations to the vacancies will be published on the national recruitment website.

Recruitment Timetable

Please see the recruitment timetable for key dates in the selection process.  The timetable can also be viewed under the resources section on the national ophthalmology website. 

Eligibility

When submitting an application, you will need to make sure that you meet all the eligibility criteria by the application closing date (or date of interview/appointment if specifically stated). Eligibility requirements are those requirements listed as “Essential” in the Person Specification.  From 2024 the maximum number of months in Ophthalmology will be increased 30 months in the specialty by time of appointment.

In order to assess if you have the required competences you will need to refer to the Person Specification.  Further details about eligibility can also be found on the Medical Specialty Website. 

It is an applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate that they meet the eligibility criteria. Applications will be assessed against the eligibility criteria both during longlisting and after offers where necessary. Any applications which do not meet the eligibility criteria will be longlisted out of the process and will not progress to the next stage. By allowing applicants to progress to the interview stage, NHS England does not accept or confirm that applicants meet all eligibility requirements. This includes immigration status, evidence of achievement of core competencies or equivalent, and requisite length of time in training as per the national Person Specification. This list is not exhaustive and is applicable to all eligibility criteria. Applicants may still be withdrawn from the application process at any stage, including after the interviews have taken place, if the evidence pertaining to an eligibility criterion is found to be unsatisfactory.

Applying Online through the Oriel Recruitment System

All specialty training applications for 2024 will be managed through a national online application system called “Oriel” which can be accessed through the 'apply now' button at the top of the page.

Account registration: You will need to create an account (account registration) before you can apply to a vacancy. After registration, you will be able to apply and track the progress of your application. The link to register is available right-hand corner of the welcome page within Oriel. 

Resource bank: A document repository is held within Oriel and is accessible without logging in. The resource bank includes all the national forms you will to need apply along with an applicant user guide that will assist you in using the system at each stage of the recruitment process.

Communication: Our primary method of communication during the recruitment process we will be to message candidates via Oriel and the messages will appear on your applicant dashboard.  We will also send the correspondence via email; however, delivery of emails cannot be guaranteed as they are being sent externally to Oriel and should not be relied upon.  At key points in the selection process, we will also send a text message.  We recommend that you DO NOT opt out of text messages as the messages will be sent with key information that you will need to action.

Completing an application

Applications open at 10:00 am on the Thursday 26 October 2023 and can be completed and submitted from this date.

The specialty of Ophthalmology can be selected from the vacancy list within Oriel.  The vacancy contains information which will assist you with your application.

Please complete the application fully as incomplete applications will not be accepted.  There are no white space questions within the application form.  You will be given the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and competences within the MSRA and later in the process within the evidence folder and on-line interview.

When completing your application, we recommend that you do not opt out of receiving text messages as we will send a text message at key stages in the recruitment process.

Additional Evidence

You may also need to complete and submit additional evidence as part of your application form.  Please refer to sections 1 – 6 below to check if you need to submit additional evidence at time of application.  All the forms listed below can also be found within the document library.

1. Evidence of Foundation Competence

For entry to ST1 specialty training all applicants are required to provide evidence of achievement of foundation competence within the 3½ years prior to the intended commencement date for the advertised posts.

This is essential to the progression of your application and the evidence should be uploaded to Oriel as part of your online application form.

  • Currently on a Foundation Programme:- Applicants currently undertaking a recognised foundation programme in the UK, which is due to finish in August 2024, will need to confirm the name of their Foundation School but do not need to submit any other evidence at the point of application.  You will be required to provide a Foundation Programme Certificate of Competence (FPCC) prior to commencing in the post. 
  • Already completed a Foundation Programme:- Applicants who have already completed a UK Foundation Programme will be asked to confirm that they have been awarded an FPCC or an FACD 5.2, signed no earlier than 3½ years prior to the advertised start date for the training programme to which they are applying. A scanned copy of the FPCC or FACD 5.2 MUST be uploaded to the Oriel application.
  • Currently on a Specialty Training Programme:- Applicants currently in active clinical or clinical and academic practice in a UK educationally approved training post (CT/ST/LAT or equivalent), holding either a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN) will be considered as having had their foundation competences assessed on entry to their current post and do not need to demonstrate these again, regardless of when foundation competences were signed off. 
  • Previously resigned from the specialty of application:- Applicants who have previously resigned voluntarily from the specialty to which they are now reapplying will be considered as having had their Foundation competences assessed previously, providing that they can demonstrate evidence of satisfactory progress in the form of ARCP documentation for the duration of the training undertaken.
  • Started but not completed Foundation Training: - Applicants who have started but who have not satisfactorily completed a 2-year UK Foundation Programme, or a standalone UK Foundation Year 2 post are expected to return to the Foundation Programme to complete their training. In exceptional circumstances, where trainees were unable to continue their training in the Foundation Programme at that time, for example due to personal illness or family caring responsibility, applicants can provide a letter written and signed by the Postgraduate Dean where the previous training took place. This letter must use the standard proforma available from the Oriel resource bank and be uploaded to the application form along with a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training.
  • Widening Access to Specialty Training (WAST):-  Applicants currently in a WAST post need to obtain a fully completed and signed Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training by the start date of the post to which they are applying. No further evidence needs to be provided at the time of application.
  • If none of the above applies:-  Applicants who do not fall into any of the above categories will be required to submit a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training signed by a consultant who has supervised them for at least 3 months (whole time equivalent and continuous period) in the 3½ years prior to the advertised start date for the training programme.  Applicants must not submit multiple Certificates, from different posts to show evidence of achievement of all competences; only one certificate should be submitted.  A scanned copy of the certificate MUST be uploaded to the Oriel application form.  Original document(s) will be requested at a later date.  The alternative certificate has been revised for 2024 and forms from previous years will NOT be accepted. There is further guidance for both candidates and signatories and we recommend that you refer to these documents that are available within the Oriel Resource Bank before completing the form.  We also recommend that you read the full 'Evidence of Foundation Competence' within the Medical Specialty website.

2. Re-application to Specialty Training in Ophthalmology

This only applies to applicants reapplying for specialty training in Ophthalmology that have previously resigned or been removed from training. 

Applicant's reapplying will need the support of their previous Head of School/Training Programme Director and Postgraduate Dean in order to reapply.

Applicants must ask their previous LETB/Deanery, Head of School/Training Programme Director and Postgraduate Dean to complete a “Support for Reapplication to a Specialty Training Programme Form”. This form is available to download from the link below and from the Medical Specialty Recruitment website.

Applicants requiring this support are advised to start the process early as applications will not be considered without a fully completed and signed form.

The completed form should be emailed to england.confidential.sw@nhs.net  before the closing date of applications.

3.  Re-application to Switch Deanery/LETB

Trainees currently working in the specialty, applying to continue their training in another region, without a break in service will be required to submit a "Support for continuing specialty training in another region form".  This form is available to download from the link below and from the Medical Specialty Recruitment website.

The completed form should be emailed to england.confidential.sw@nhs.net before the closing date of applications.

4. Fitness to Practice

Applicants that have answered ‘yes’ to one or more of the questions in the fitness to practice section of the application form will need to submit a Fitness to Practice Declaration Form clearly defining the declaration.  The completed form should be emailed to england.confidential.sw@nhs.net at time of application.

5. Adjustments under the Equality Act 2010

As a national recruiter we are aware of the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and will make reasonable adjustments to accommodate requests provided these are made known in advance. Adjustments cannot be guaranteed if contact is made late and no adjustments can be made on the day of the assessment.  If you require specific arrangements or adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, please outline the adjustment on page 8 of the application form.

To corroborate your request, you MUST attach independent evidence of your condition and support needs (e.g. an Educational Psychologist report for Dyslexia, correspondence from a medical professional managing your condition) to your application form by time of submission. Please use the ‘Document Upload’ area in your Oriel portal to upload the information.

Nursing mothers are advised to contact us directly via england.sevrecruitment.sw@nhs.net for further advice regarding this requirement.

6. Special Circumstances

A national process has been introduced to assist applicants who need to remain in a specific region for well-founded personal reasons allowing them to be offered a particular region, should they be successful at interview.

Applicants with either a personal medical condition or disability that requires them to remain in a particular region for ongoing care and treatment or applicants who have primary caring responsibilities for someone with a disability are eligible. 

Eligibility will be considered at the time of application and therefore applicants must ensure that they declare this on their application form and submit supporting evidence by email. 

Applicants should follow the process that is published on the special circumstances page of the specialty recruitment website.

Submitting an Application

Applications can be submitted until 4:00 pm (UK time) on the 23rd of November 2023.  Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Only one application can be accepted and where multiple applications are submitted, only the first application submitted will be included in the process.  If you fail to provide the appropriate documentation your application will be longlisted out.

Note:  Alterations cannot be made to an application once it has been submitted.

Tip:  Remember to save and check your application and only press the submit button when you have carried out this process. This will ensure you are submitting the correct version of your application.

Longlisting

All applications will be checked for evidence of the essential criteria outlined in the person specification. It is the applicant's responsibility to demonstrate that they meet the eligibility criteria.  Applications that do not demonstrate the criteria or fail to include additional evidence will not continue through the process.   Applicants will be notified if their application does not meet the essential criteria. 

Shortlisting

There will be no shortlisting within the ophthalmology selection process for 2024. Candidates will be required to achieve a minimum score in the MSRA to progress to the next stage in the selection process.

The Selection Process

For 2024 the selection process will consist of three components

  • Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA)
  • Evidence Folder
  • On-line interview/assessment

Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA)

**** Full details of the MSRA along information to help you prepare for the MSRA can be found on Medical Specialty Recruitment website. ****

All eligible applicants (i.e. those who have been assessed as demonstrating evidence of eligibility and progressed through the longlisting stage) will be invited to attend the MSRA.  Attendance at this assessment is mandatory for applicants to Ophthalmology in 2024 and candidates who fail to attend the test will be withdrawn from the selection process.

The assessment will be available to take from the 4th January to 16th January 2024 at Pearson Vue Centres. Invitations to book the assessment will be messaged through Oriel.  A text message will also be sent so we recommend that you do not opt out of receiving text messages when you register.

Other specialties will also be using the MSRA within their selection processes and candidates applying to a combination of the specialties will only be required to sit the assessment once.

MSRA Assessment Centre Locations

The MSRA is delivered using computer-based testing methods which allow the assessment to be taken in a large number of Pearson Vue Computer Testing Centres throughout the whole of the UK.  There are also places available overseas for candidates that are outside of the UK at the time of the assessment.  

Evidence Folder 

Following the MSRA we will invite the highest scoring 300 candidates from the MSRA to upload documentation to a specifically designed on-line portal to create a folder of achievements entitled an Evidence Folder. 

A list of contents will be published prior to the opening of applications to assist candidates when putting the documentation together.  Candidates will have the opportunity to upload the documentation, to the portal, from the 7th of February to the 12th of February 2024. If  there are candidates that fail to upload evidence and we fail to reach the interview capacity then reserve candidates will be invited to upload evidence to the portal.

When putting the information together please keep in mind any one piece of evidence can only be used once and uploaded against only one domain.  The evidence, in each domain, must be provided as a single PDF file, applicants will therefore be required to combine several documents into one PDF if supplying more than one piece of evidence for a single domain. Further guidance will be given to candidates when the portal opens. 

The evidence folders of those candidates will be reviewed and candidates whose folders score 40% and above will be progressed to the next stage and invited to join us for the interviews.  The candidates whose folder does not achieve 40% will not progress to the interview stage.

The scores and the comments recorded as part of the review will be released to candidates on the 23rd of February 2024. 

Upon receipt of the feedback if you feel your evidence has been overlooked/misinterpreted you can submit an appeal. Instructions for submitting an appeal will be included in the email containing your feedback. You will be given 48 hours to submit your appeal. You will not be able to upload any additional documents during the appeals process, appeals can only be made using the evidence originally submitted.

An appeals panel will review your appeal. Scores awarded by the appeals panel are final and there is no further recourse to appeal even if the appeals panel reduces the original score.

Online Assessment

The online assessment will take place on the 15th of March 2024 and will be virtual so there will be no need to attend in person.  Candidates will be asked to book a slot through Oriel.  The slots are booked on a first come first served basis.

The assessment will have two components and with each component will be up to 10 minutes in length.

Interview 1 - Assessment will be in the form of a medical consultation focusing on clinical knowledge and will involve conversing with an actor playing the role of a patient or carer of a patient. Two assessors will observe the interaction and score each candidate according to set criteria. The assessors will not be seen or heard by the candidate. At times there will be third quality assurance assessor or lay representative observing the interaction.

Interview 2 – Assessment will be in the form of a medical consultation focusing on a difficult communication or ethical scenario and will involve conversing with an actor playing the role of a patient or carer of a patient. Two assessors will observe the interaction and score each candidate according to set criteria. The assessors will not be seen or heard by the candidate. At times there will be third quality assurance assessor or lay representative observing the interaction.

Although the assessments are labelled interview 1 and 2 candidates may start in either one.  The process for each candidate including the initial identity checks, assessment and the debrief will take approximately 45 minutes.

To progress to the offers stage candidates are required to achieve a minimum score of 40% and above in the online assessment. Candidates that meet the minimum threshold will have their scores compiled and a ranked list will be produced.

Total Score - Offers

The total score for each candidate, that meets the minimum threshold will be combined as listed below and candidates will be given a rank based on this score.

  • Evidence Folder – Maximum score 50 points
  • Online Assessment – Maximum score 30 points
  • MSRA - Maximum Score 20 points

The posts will be allocated in rank order based on preference and will be issued through Oriel by no later than the 26th of March 2024.

Feedback

Feedback will be released in stages during the selection process.  Feedback will be released for the evidence folder on the 21st of February 2024 and feedback from the online assessment will be released on the 21st of March 2024.

Expressing a preference - ‘where do you want to train?’

Candidates that have progressed to the offer stage will be asked to rank the training locations in order of preference.  This process will be carried out within Oriel.  An automated message, containing instructions, will be sent to candidates when the preferences open. 

It is intended that the offers process will commence towards the end of March 2024.  At the point of making offers the preferences will be temporarily suspended.  Following this a matching process will take place and successful candidates will receive their highest ranked preference available.  Candidates whose preferences have been exhausted before their name is reached will not receive an offer and will be notified of this.

Further details about preferencing and the offer process is available within the Specialty Training Website.

References

As part of the national application process candidates will be asked to provide the names of three referees.  References will only be requested once applicants have accepted the offer of a training post.  The purpose of the reference is to confirm employment history and to highlight any concerns.

If no offer is made, or an offer is not accepted, referees will not be contacted.  Please note references will not be required at the interview.

Complaints Policy

If you wish to raise concerns about any part of the recruitment process, please refer to the national complaints policy for guidance.

Questions still remaining

If after reading this guide your question is not answered you can contact the Recruitment Team for questions regarding the recruitment process. 

We often have candidates with questions regarding the scoring of the portfolio and about the content.  To ensure that all candidates receive the same level of information we can only provide the guidance that is published on the website and no further details can be given to individuals.  With this in mind please do use the support lines for questions about the portfolio.

  • Candidate Support Line: 01454 252610
  • Email Support: england.sevrecruitment.sw@nhs.net

For questions regarding vacancy numbers and rotation details please contact the relevant Deanery/LETB.  The contact details are available in the Job Description section on the national recruitment website.