The Royal College of Psychiatrists is pleased to announce that on 4 August 2010 it will launch Portfolio Online – a new web-based tool for trainees allowing them to build an electronic repository of their professional activities, development and achievements, including workplace-based assessments (WPBAs).  Portfolio Online is a performance based tool designed to promote the use of the postgraduate psychiatric curricula in educational planning and enhance learning based on reflection. The portfolio can support the deaneries during the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) by demonstrating how and what the trainee is learning and by allowing the supervisor to measure their progress, both in relation to the curriculum.

Portfolio online has been developed with extensive input from trainees and heads of school and is currently being piloted in three Schools of Psychiatry across the country. The new system has been built on the existing Assessments Online platform and centres on the trainee’s learning objectives, that are derived from the curriculum and includes the full set of Assessments Online functionalities PLUS these additional features:

• Developing a learning plan
• Linking learning plan to curriculum
• Compiling evidence
• Linking evidence to curriculum
• Sharing with supervisors
• Supervisor functions
• Storing reports
• Facilitating reviews
• Archiving annual content
• Content printing.

To complete specialty training and obtain positive ARCP outcomes trainees are expected to meet the competencies set out in the relevant curriculum – and provide evidence to support this. The e-portfolio is, therefore, the perfect tool to collate all the educational activities and show documented evidence of developing key skills and meeting the required competencies.  Linking assessments/experiences to the curriculum is the most efficient way to demonstrate adequate coverage of the curriculum – it also looks good and makes it much easier for users to navigate.  And it is a great way to keep everything in one place!

The Assessments Online (AO) usernames and passwords of all users have been retained, so if you were registered with the AO, either as a trainee or an assessor/supervisor, you do not need to do anything. After 4 August 2010, when you log into your account (using the same username and password) you will notice the name has changed to Portfolio Online and you will be able to explore new areas straight away. Trainees who have not used the system before can register here.  This facility is provided to all trainees as a benefit of their trainee registration fees. Please remember that GMC requires all trainees to register with the College. For more information on this go to Annual Trainee Registration.

If you are a Clinical or Educational Supervisor, Tutor, Training Programme Director, Director of Medical Education (or equivalent) or Head of School and have not registered before please register in order to monitor and review the progress of your trainees.

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