How long does training take?

§  Training is a minimum of 2 years full time equivalent.

§  Trainees must have at least 2, but ideally 3 years, whole time equivalent training left before CCT at time of start of GRID training.

§  Commitment to the specialty will be required. If you have not worked within a Paediatric Emergency Department speak to your local Training Advisor or CSAC chair for advice.

§  At present, completion of training is based on local RITA assessments as well as evidence of a reflective portfolio including documentation of activity based on the competency framework. However, this is in the process of changing to competency-based assessment, thus length of training for some candidates may vary.

§  Future candidates can expect to work to a framework for training that includes a comprehensive set of learning objectives and assessment of competencies required.

§  Grid trainees undergo informal annual assessments with CSAC Chair and Training Advisors during the annual trainees meeting to ensure that training needs are being met in local centres and that competencies are being achieved as required.

What is involved?

§  UK centres currently approved for paediatric emergency  training are: Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester, Liverpool, London (St Mary’s, Royal London, Homerton, Chelsea and Westminster and Evelina Hospital), Bristol, and Glasgow.

§  At time of grid advert, available rotations will be shown. Trainees can approach the CSAC Chair / Training Advisors prior to advert to determine where rotations are likely to be (contact details available on RCPCH website).

§  Candidates will be ranked at time of interview and provided that candidates are above the standard needed to be accepted for grid training, this ranking will be sent to RCPCH.

§  Candidates will be asked by RCPCH to list order of preference of available rotations and the college will decide which candidate goes to which centre / rotation according to ranking and candidate choices.

§  Candidates are given the option of refusing any given rotation due to geographical preference, but to increase chance of being allocated a GRID rotation in any given year, it is advisable to offer as many options as possible for the centres available. For example, if candidate  A only offers to accept one or two available rotations and candidates B & C are ranked higher and have chosen those rotations,  candidate A will not be allocated a centre on that given year.

§  If a candidate refuses a post after being offered, they may have prevented another trainee going to their place / rotation of preference. This practice is strongly discouraged.

§  Unsuccessful candidates will be able to receive feedback from RCPCH +/- CSAC after the process in order to determine if they reached the standard for GRID application. Depending on stage of training at time of application, they may have the chance to re-apply the following year.

What areas are covered in training?

§  There is a competency framework that encompasses all aspects of emergency care from practical procedures to management of medical and surgical emergencies.  

§  Trainees will have the opportunity to complete audit projects and write guidelines & protocols. They will be encouraged and supervised to publish work as well as to present at national and international meetings. They will be encouraged to involve themselves in teaching and education.

Who can you expect to work with?

§  During their training, a candidate will work within a team of nurses, junior doctors, advanced nurse practitioners and consultants to gain a wide variety of skills. 

§  Trainees will work closely with different consulting departments such as orthopaedics, ophthalmology, paediatric surgery, plastics, and intensive care.  

What are the sub-specialty panel looking for?

§  Candidates need to demonstrate an interest in the speciality.

§  At application and interview, the panel members will be looking for evidence that a candidate has the potential to be a tertiary level paediatric emergency medicine specialist. They will assess leadership qualities, clinical governance & clinical skills, collaborative ability / teamwork and motivation by asking about past experiences & strengths, motivation, academic understanding & teaching experience. 

What are the traits of subspecialists in this area?

§  Paediatric Emergency Medicine is an exciting, challenging and rewarding specialty.

§  High quality paediatric Emergency specialists need to be well rounded and resourceful. They need to be team players as well as team leaders.   

§  There  is an increasing need for specialists and a job plan document has been released from the RCPCH about how specialists can be valuable not only in tertiary centres but also in district general hospitals. There is huge scope for combining consultant posts with child protection, HDU, ambulatory paediatrics, PICU or general paediatrics.

Additional links / contacts/ associations / societies

·         Trainees are welcome to contact Training Advisors, the CSAC Chair or Trainee Representatives for more information. Contact details available at www.rcpch.ac.uk

·         More information can be found also on the college of emergency medicine website www.collemergencymed.ac.uk  and also APEM (Association Paediatric Emergency Medicine) at www.apem.me.uk