Information for applicants to Worcester VTS

	Joining the course
	Information for applicants
	Making a good application
	Person Specification
	More Reading
	Why choose us?

Joining the South Worcestershire course

West Midlands Region has now taken responsibility for all appointments to individual schemes.
All applications for Worcester VTS have to be made through the West Midlands Region who advertise in the British Medical Journal and interview twice yearly.

Why applications are now through Region

General Practice Training Application forms online

West Midlands Region downloads

When you apply through Region

At the time of application you should state that you want to come on the South Worcestershire scheme. We advise you to put Worcester VTS first preference - as the best scheme in the West Midlands we are very popular.

Informal enquiries

Informal enquiries about Worcester VTS can be made at any time:

in writing - post or email

by appointment - made through the Postgraduate Centre

(Please do not ring the Course Organisers at their Practices)

[Course Organiser and Region contact details]

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Information for applicants

Worcester Vocational Training Scheme runs for two terms of fifteen weeks on Thursday afternoons. The Term starts in February and in August.

Each term we have visits to Practices. People on the scheme are encouraged to get to know as many practices as possible during their hospital years and the course aims to maintain an awareness of General Practice throughout two years of hospital jobs.

The people on the course determine the format and content of the Thursday afternoons. Teaching is directed at General Practice but, for people doing hospital jobs, cases that they have been dealing with on the wards are used as teaching material. Each term has a theme which determines some of the content and this changes each term through the broad areas of interest of General Practice namely: problem solving, communication (listening and explaining), the practice organisation, ethical and moral issues and the doctor's own personal development.

By changing the theme of each term over three years we cover all the important aspects of General Practice and repetition is kept to a minimum.

We believe that General Practice is a Speciality in its own right, and part of being a good GP is having a professional qualification. It is not compulsory to do the exam, but preparation for the MRCGP is an integral part of our course.

Social events are important throughout the three years. The course participants determine the nature of these and in the past they have shown remarkable diversity. There is a good supportive atmosphere on the course and anyone joining can expect that other members and the Course Organisers will be helping them develop the necessary skills to become effective GPs.

Making a good application

Through your letter of application and at interview we are interested in your reasons for choosing General Practice as a career and the experiences that have led you to make your choice. Think about your experience to date: What skills have you learned that can be used in General Practice?

For example, it may be that your experience talking to relatives has helped you develop communication skills, you may be working in a team and become aware of inter-professional issues. All these can be more impressive than telling us you have done so many lumbar punctures or have done open-heart surgery or held a retractor at a brain transplant.

The good candidate will have already begun to think of what qualities a good General Practitioner should have and will also have ideas on what they are looking for in a Vocational Training Scheme.

Before joining the course we suggest that you speak to one of the Doctors on the VTS scheme. Contact SHOs via Worcester Royal Infirmary switchboard and GP Registrars via the practices.

Worcester VTS is totally committed to equal opportunities. Candidates who feel their circumstances may place them at a disadvantage are welcome to discuss their application with a course organiser.

Person Specification for Worcester VTS

This template was used until applications became regionalised. It may not be what is currently used in the interviews but it is an example of the sort of qualities (essential and desirable) that are looked for.

Use it as a check list and think about how your application and responses to questions at interview will reflect your capabilities in each domain.

Quality	Essential	Desirable	Means of identification
Qualifications	MB ChB or equivalent		CV
Experience	6 months within the NHS	12 months within the NHS	CV
Knowledge, skills and attitudes	Shows a basic understanding of common physical and psychological illnesses and their management		CV
	Demonstrates clearly their reason for embarking on GP training		Application letter Interview
	Demonstrates an ability and willingness to learn and use their own experience		Interview CV Reference
	Demonstrates an ability to communicate intelligibly and sensitively with patients and colleagues		Interview Application letter Reference
	Ability to work within a team		Interview Reference
		Audit and Information Technology skills	CV
	A willingness to undertake Summative Assessment		Interview
Quality	Essential	Desirable	Means of identification
Personal Qualities	Flexibility, tolerance, reliability	Organisational skills	Reference
	Recognises own strengths and weaknesses		Interview
	Gives and takes responsibility commensurate with their experience		Interview Reference
	Candidate identifies need for and applies professional values (e.g. confidentiality, patient autonomy etc.) and demeanour		Interview
	Enthusiasm		Interview
	Self-motivation and commitment		Interview
	Balanced life interests		Interview CV
	Ability to cope under stress		Reference
	Caring	Emotional maturity	Interview Reference
Quality	Essential	Desirable	Means of identification
Other	GMC Certificate		Interview
	Eligible to work in UK General Practice (NB Eligibility to work General Practice is not the same as eligibility for work in hospital)		Interview
	Membership of defence organisation		Interview
	Driving licence essential before GP Registrar year	Clean driving licence	Interview

The National Person Specification

For 3 year GP training programme

For selection, a doctor applying for a 3 year GP training programme should be able to demonstrate that the following attributes are FULLY developed:

Medically Qualified
Appropriate level of experience for application (1 year PRHO or equivalent
Fully registered with GMC by GP Registrar time
Eligible for UK funding
Membership of defence organisation
Ability to meet all clinical commitments including on-call both in general practice and hospital posts within the time specified by the general practice or hospital
No unexplained career gaps
Communication skills – to be clear, fluent and articulate in communication in English
Clinical knowledge/expertise appropriate for level of training (including experience of common medical emergencies)
Personal attribute – enthusiasm
Personal attribute – punctuality/attendance record
Personal organisation/administrative skills – keep appropriate records
Professional integrity – is not discriminatory
Professional integrity – keeps patient as first concern
Professional integrity - maintains the trust of patients

For selection, a doctor applying for a 3 year training programme should be able to demonstrate the following attributes as being at least PARTIALLY developed:

Empathy/sensitivity – develops effective relationships with patients
Personal attribute – commitment to general practice
Professional integrity – takes responsibility
Seeks help appropriately
Commitment to learning

For a 1 year placement as a GP Registrar:

For selection, a doctor applying for a 1 year placement as a GP Registrar should be able to demonstrate that the following attributes are FULLY developed:

Medically Qualified
Appropriate level of experience for application (JCPTGP approved hospital training)
Fully registered with GMC by GP Registrar time
Eligible for UK funding
Membership of defence organisation
Ability to meet all clinical commitments including on-call in general practice within the time specified by the general practice
No unexplained career gaps
Empathy/sensitivity – develops effective relationships with patients
Communication skills – to be clear, fluent and articulate in communication in English
Clinical knowledge/expertise appropriate for level of training (including experience of common medical emergencies)
Personal attribute – enthusiasm
Personal attribute – commitment to general practice
Personal attribute – punctuality/attendance record
Personal organisation/administrative skills – keep appropriate records
Professional integrity – takes responsibility
Professional integrity – is not discriminatory
Professional integrity – keeps patient as first concern
Professional integrity - maintains the trust of patients

For selection, a doctor applying for a 1 year placement as a GP Registrar should be able to demonstrate the following attributes as being at least PARTIALLY developed:

Commitment to learning
Conceptual thinking/problem solving
Teamworking
Seeking help appropriately