RCPsych Curricula Framework for 2022 – approved

Since 2017, the College has been working on an extensive review of our trainee curricula, led by Dr John Russell, Associate Dean for Curricula - and in 2021 we submitted a revised curricula framework to the General Medical Council (GMC).

We’ve recently been informed by the GMC that our curricula framework has been approved, subject to minor actions. This represents a huge milestone for the College.

The next stage is implementing the changes, with trainees due to start transitioning across in August 2022, and we will shortly be launching an implementation hub with all relevant information for trainees and trainers.

What is the new framework?

The curricula framework will consist of five key elements:

  • Psychiatry ‘Silver Guide’ – an all-encompassing guide containing all relevant information regarding psychiatry training, aligned to COPMeD’s ‘Gold Guide’.
  • Core, specialty and sub-specialty curricula – containing high level outcomes (HLOs) and key capabilities (KCs) that trainees are required to attain through training.
  • Placement specific personal development plans (PDPs) – flexible and adaptable development plans to support trainee progression, feeding into the psychiatric supervision report, educational supervisors report, and ARCP decisions.
  • ARCP decision aids – to support ARCP panels with decisions on trainee progression.
  • Assessments – formative and summative assessments taken throughout training.

The College will begin producing guidance for trainees and trainers on navigating the new framework, and we will continue to provide updates in the lead up to implementation in August 2022. It is expected that all trainees will transition across to the new curriculum by August 2024.

We will shortly be publishing a transition timetable and other relevant information for trainees on our implementation hub. In addition, we will be opening curricula ‘drop-in’ sessions from December on Thursdays – further information will be circulated in due course.

If you have any queries in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact the curricula team at curricula@rcpsych.ac.uk.

Back to our October 2021 eNewsletter.

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