Eligibility to become a trainer
Individuals wishing to take on one or more of the four recognised trainer roles should be doctors who have a clear expressed interest in the training, assessment and development of undergraduate medical students and/or postgraduate medical trainees.
Individuals must be prepared to commit to identifying as a trainer, fulfilling their responsibilities as a trainer under this agreement and professionalising themselves in the trainer role by committing to undertake relevant professional development and engaging with appraisal of the trainer role.
In order to fulfill the responsibilities of the trainer role individuals should also have a firm knowledge and understanding of the principles of equality and diversity and act in accordance with this in delivering their responsibilities as trainers.
The undergraduate trainer roles identified by the education organisers as mapping to the General Medical Council (GMC) definitions are typically formal appointments with accompanying person specifications and requirements, and these are assessed during the relevant recruitment process.
The table below shows who is eligible to undertake the four trainer roles in Wales:
| Undergraduate education | Postgraduate education | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Responsible for overseeing students' progress | Lead coordinator |
Educational supervisor | Named clinical supervisor | |
| Substantive Consultant | eligible | eligible | for Foundation, Core and Higher trainees | for Foundation, Core and Higher trainees |
| Locum Consultant | not eligible | not eligible | not eligible | not eligible |
| General Practitioner | eligible | eligible | not applicable | not applicable |
| Locum General Practitioner | not eligible | not eligible | not eligible | not eligible |
| Staff grade, Associate specialist or Specialty (SAS) doctor with Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) | eligible | eligible | for foundation, core and higher trainees | for foundation, core and higher trainees |
| SAS doctor without CCT | eligible | not eligible | for foundation and core trainees only | for foundation and core trainees only |
Both the GMC and Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) guidance is clear that locum consultants will not normally be eligible to undertake the roles of educational supervisor or named clinical supervisor. This is because, in general, locum posts are short in nature and individuals would therefore be unable to provide continuity of support and supervision to trainees.
It is possible however for exceptions to be made, depending on individual circumstances (e.g. if an individual has been and is expected to be in the locum post for a longer period of time). For further information on the locum exception process please email Health Education and Improvement Wales’ Quality Unit.
Continue for information on how to become a trainer in Wales.