How does our FourteenFish GP trainee portfolio support package help GP trainees? Learn more about our support package content.

Our FourteenFish GP trainee portfolio support package is here to help GP trainees with the most challenging aspects of the GP trainee portfolio.

We appreciate that the RCGP has provided a helpful basis and introduction to the portfolio. Still, as newly qualified GPs, we also understand that there is no practical information on how to master the portfolio from the outset.

Since launching WellMedic in 2020, we have found that GP trainees struggle with efficiently using the FourteenFish portfolio. Based on our one-to-one interactions, we have designed a support package focussing on our commonly asked questions.

This support package is targeted at all GP trainees, and our core content will benefit trainees at all stages of training. For example, our GP-based examples benefit ST1s and ST3s in a GP placement.

This infographic summarises each aspect of the support package. If you would like a more in-depth description of each area, please scroll below the infographic.

1. Learning logs – the basics

This lesson introduces the core learning logs available on the FourteenFish GP trainee portfolio. A step-wise approach explains the learning logs.

Here is an example of a learning log entry.

Supporting Documentation (CPD)

This is an essential aspect of your learning logs and the most important area after your clinical case reviews.

It is a multi-purpose area, and here is how you can best utilise the CPD log entry.

1. Complete your Doctors’ Educational Needs (DENs) identified within your clinical case reviews.

You planned to improve your knowledge of cows’ milk protein allergy. You can add a reflection on the guidance you have studied to close the learning loop.

2. Check off your PDP.

You planned on attending a minor surgery course. You can add the reflection here.

3. You can reflect on Unscheduled and Out of hours attendance.

It is vital to the training programme that you reflect on unscheduled care. You can include that here and ensure it is clearly stated for your ARCP.

4. Reflect on your general learning.

Other learning, such as eLearning, tutorials, courses/certificates, lectures and reading, can appropriately be recorded in the CPD area.

Step One:

Briefly describe your key learning events. Simply stating a course or lecture title is not sufficient.

Step Two:

Reflect on what went well and what could be better.

Step Three:

Have you identified any new learning needs?

2. Curriculum capability links

We will teach you how to utilise the detailed descriptors best to demonstrate competence and curriculum coverage during your log entries and in preparation for your educational supervisor review.

Capability coverage is tricky, and preparing for your educational supervisor review (ESR) is onerous. The commonest mistake is failing to prepare for your ESR as you complete your learning log entries.

When you complete a log entry, you will be asked to select and link to your capabilities if you feel it is appropriate. Doing so means you must provide evidence of why you feel this is appropriate evidence for that capability.

Your educational supervisor must agree that your justification is correct when you first submit the evidence/learning log.

We will demonstrate how you can justify your capability and prepare for your ESR simultaneously, reducing how much time you need to spend submitting your ESR.

3. Reflective effectively

We demonstrate an easy approach to reflection. Several actionable points that you can implement directly into your GP trainee portfolio.

We all have a tendency to over-complicate our GP trainee portfolio reflections. We rely heavily on clinical narratives and fail to reflect on our learning experiences and future outcomes.

We cover how our feelings, evaluations and conclusions support effective reflection.

4. Case review video example

From the beginning, we work through a clinical case review by highlighting the importance of brief descriptions, a bottom-heavy reflection pyramid and capability linkage.

5. Capability examples

This is the most extensive area within our FourteenFish GP trainee portfolio support package. We focus on the importance of curriculum coverage across the thirteen RCGP capabilities.

Each capability is split into four hospital rotation examples and two primary care-based examples. The clinical scenarios used are not based on real-patient data and have been created to demonstrate how capabilities can be achieved.

We build on our strategies covered early in the course with seventy-eight examples!

We share seventy-eight clinical case review examples with capability linking across the thirteen capabilities. We have six examples for each capability split across primary and secondary care.

6. Reflection examples

Following our earlier reflection point, we demonstrate examples of reflection using our feelings and evaluation for change.

Here is an example taken from our FourteenFish GP trainee portfolio support package.

Reflection: What will I maintain, improve or stop?

During this case, I focussed on the psycho-social context of this presentation. When I was asked to review the patient, I felt uncomfortable as there was a lot of pressure from the nursing team and family to discharge the patient immediately.

By understanding the social context leading to the request for an early discharge, I empathised with the patient and family, and this is a skill that I will aim to maintain during challenging consultations. However, despite feeling pressured, I was unwilling to compromise patient safety by making an unsafe or unwise decision out of my competence.

If I think about my role as a future GP, I imagine there will be circumstances where patients may have unrealistic expectations from me, for example, prescribing unlicensed medication. It will always be best to stay with an area of practice where I feel safe and competent with my decision-making.

7. PDP examples

Our PDP lesson is split into two sections. Understand the four key strands of a PDP, and we demonstrate this with examples split across primary and secondary care placements.

Our examples will help you write achievable PDPs.

Here is an example taken from our course;

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Learning or development need

To learn about the gynaecological causes of acute abdominal pain and demonstrate my skills in managing patients with acute abdominal pain.

Action plan

I will attend departmental teaching on “common presentations in the gynaecology assessment unit.”

I will study the NICE CKS on ectopic pregnancy and pelvic inflammatory disease.

How success will be demonstrated?

I will reflect on the departmental teaching session in a log entry.

I will summarise my learning points from the CKS modules in a log entry.

8. Self-rating ESR example

If you follow our FourteenFish GP trainee portfolio strategy preparing for your educational supervisor review will be relatively straightforward. We will demonstrate how you can use your written justifications to demonstrate competency in preparation for your ESR.

If you’ve made it to this part of the blog, I suspect you’re interested in signing up for our FourteenFish GP trainee portfolio support package.

Click here to sign up today!