How will you be assessed?
The level you will be assessed at
You will be assessed against the standards described in our core guidance, Good medical practice, and in our explanatory guidance. You will be expected to demonstrate safe and competent performance for the role (and level/grade) at which you are, or were, working.
If you are not working
All registered doctors must abide by Good medical practice, regardless of whether they are currently in clinical practice or hold a licence. You don't need to be working or licensed for an assessment to go ahead. The content and structure of your assessment will be tailored to the circumstances – so if your job or employment status change you should tell us.
How will your performance be recorded and graded?
Your performance will be judged in up to eight categories based on the content of Good medical practice. The assessment team will focus on assessing the categories that relate to the known concerns, but may also give an opinion on your performance in other categories if they have sufficient evidence to do so. The categories are:
|
Assessment category |
Areas that might be assessed |
|
Maintaining professional performance |
Educational activities, keeping up-to-date, knowledge of guidelines and regulations, audit and appraisal. |
|
Assessment |
History taking, examination, initial investigations and reaching a diagnosis. |
|
Clinical management |
Providing treatment, advice to patients or a referral, safety netting, follow-up and working within the limits of competence. |
|
Operative/technical skills |
Carrying out procedures, administering an anaesthetic, slide preparation etc. |
|
Record keeping |
Accurate record keeping. |
|
Safety and quality |
Protecting patients and taking action if patients are at risk (including inadequate care, policies and systems). |
|
Relationships with patients |
Communication, information sharing, supporting self-care and treating patients (including carers and relatives) with fairness and respect. |
|
Working with colleagues |
Teamwork, leadership, communication (including written), teaching. |
Throughout the assessment the assessors will independently record comments, both positive and negative, on their observations in each category. Comments are recorded as either:
- acceptable – performance that is consistent with Good medical practice
- unacceptable – performance that clearly departs from Good medical practice.
Neither you, nor the assessors, are permitted to make an audio or video recording of any part of the assessment.
