EXPECTATIONS OF GP SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE PROGRAM

The RACGP document GP Vocational Training Standards and Requirements identifies standards to be addressed by all Training Programs. A copy is available through getGP administration. The standards include statements related to

• the goals of education and training
• the content of education and training
• accreditation of training positions supervisors, assessors, trainers and mentors
• assessment of registrars

The way these standards are achieved is flexible and can be individualised.

Supervisors must be in good standing with Medicare Australia and the Medical Board. You are expected to demonstrate a commitment to quality general practice and enthusiasm for the vocation itself, GP training, teaching and continuous improvement.

Your Practice needs to reflect your quality approach, with  accreditation and preventative health activity including the use of databases for pap smears, immunisation, diabetes and asthma. The physical practice set-up, practice staff and appropriate links with other health providers are important aspects of the learning environment.

Keep in mind that the most essential requirement of the job is you: as a GP role model.

Performance indicators are described under Supervisor and Practice Selection and Accreditation below.

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getGP'S TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM

The Gippsland Program has a strong emphasis on supporting GP supervisors as the primary teachers in the Program. Four funded full-day workshops are the mainstay of our professional development program for GP supervisors. All Gippsland teaching practices are required to participate and, where possible, more than one GP supervisor will be funded to attend from a group practice.

Complementing this, rural GPs can participate in joint University/Training Program Teacher Training Workshops and undergraduate GP teacher-training teleconference seminars. Gippsland supervisors also have the opportunity to participate in cross-teaching during External Clinical Training Visits.

As a direct result of this emphasis on educational empowerment of our GP supervisors, getGP has been involved in many innovation pilots and trials since its inception.

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SUPERVISOR AND PRACTICE SELECTION AND ACCREDITATION

 If you are considering becoming a GP supervisor and applying for accreditation as a training practice, it is first worthwhile familiarising yourself (and your practice manager) with the training program as described under the pages About GP Training in Gippsland and For Practice Managers. These pages include details of registrar training requirements and financial support for practices. It is also important to be familiar with the National Minimum Terms and Conditions for Registrars.

Be sure to read your copy of the getGP Education, Training and  Information Handbook which explains in detail your role as supervisor and assessor of registrars.

The program has come a long way since the FMP and even RACGP training days. Gippsland has educational experiences and processes that are unique as well as the fundamentals common to all Australian GP Training Programs.

Training practices must be accredited in terms of RACGP practice accreditation and teaching post standards. It is getGP's responsibility to ensure the practices in its program maintain these standards.

getGP has 25 accredited training practices in 2006. As GPs retire or go on to other interests, it is important to maintain our numbers of suitable supervised practices. We also aim for a number that enables practices to have a 'fallow' year every six years or so, as a break from constant training and mentoring. So, we are keen to recruit new supervisors into the future.

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SELECTION AND [RE-]ACCREDITATION CRITERIA (further details below)

• Meet standards set by peer supervisors (as under Expectations of GP Supervisors, above)
• Agree to meet performance indicators
• Review of any previous GP registrar reports
• Reflective self-assessment / vision
• Practice visit
• Employer / employee relationship with registrar as per ATO ruling: is a condition of contract with getGP
• Compliance with National Minimum Terms and Conditions for Registrars

Performance Indicators

• Patient numbers with broad range of ages and case mix:
  • 60-80 for Basic
  • 70-90 for Advanced
  • 80-110 for Subsequent
• 100% of required teaching contracted with registrar
• Attendance of at least 75% of GP supervisor workshops
• Undertake External Clinical Teaching Visits
• Ensure on-site support is provided to registrar in practice
• Engage in effective feedback process with registrars
• Involvement in In-Training Assessment
• One session of release activity as a resource each year
• Timely and appropriate responses to getGP admin requests
• Engage in ongoing peer review / assessment
• Review of GP Registrar Reports

Be sure to include the involvement of other GPs and staff of the practice.

Application Process

• Practices who are interested in becoming accredited for GP training are invited to send a letter of interest to the Program Manager, Linda Kruger (see Contact Us).
• You will be notified when the next round of accreditation is occurring.
• Information night held and formal application follows.
• Evaluation of applications and pre-selection occurs.
• Practice visit.
• Practice / supervisor ranking.
• Offers to practices / supervisors as accredited training sites for Basic / Advanced / Subsequent terms.

The Practice Visit

This is done by a medical educator in consultation with a registrar and peer GP supervisor.

• Every third visit external visitors from other consortia, nominated by ACRRM and the RACGP, accompany the local assessors.

• The format of the visit includes:

  - Review of Reflective Self Assessment

  - Viewing of video of GP supervisor engaged in teaching 

    session or consulting

  - Interview of GP supervisor, registrar and practice staff.  

    Each area is scored on a scale of 1 - 5

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THE GP SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION (GPSA)

The GP Supervisors Association was formed as a representative body for supervisors' interests and views.

Each Regional Training Provider appoints a GP Supervisor Liaison Officer (GPSLO) who is usually the GPSA representative for the region. They are paid for one session a week through GPET. A national chairperson is elected from the group. Dr Simon Young from Sydney was elected in March 2003, taking over from our own Dr Peter Stevens, who did a magnificent job during the setting up and early development phases of the Australian GP Training Program.

The GPSLO acts as a local reference person for all GP supervisors for issues of concern, for support, and to encourage development of the significant role of the supervisor in the registrar's educational experience.

GPSLOs meet face to face two or three times a year and have teleconferences 6-8 weekly. GPET offers limited funding to this GP Supervisor Liaison Officer Network to cover conferences and administrative support.

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RECOMMENDED READING

Adult learning and teaching in general practice can be a fascinating extension of your practice, with its own theories, approaches and skills. Following are books worth delving into:

• Mackway-Jones, Kevin and Walker, Mike (eds) 1999, Pocket Guide to Teaching for Medical Instructors, BMJ Books.
• Hayes, Richard 1999, Practice-Based Teaching: A Guide for GPs, RACGP publication, Erudition Publishing, Melbourne. (Available to borrow from getGP office) Teaching Rural General Practice: A Teacher Training Program by Distance Education for Rural GP Supervisors, Monash, JCU, RACGP publication, 2001.

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