Navigating through the Competency Based Fellowship Program: two trainees’ experience of the 2012 program

Abstract

Objectives: This article discusses the real-life experience of two senior registrars who are approaching the end of their training under the 2012 Competency Based Fellowship Program. We have shared some practical tips to assist trainees in completing the Program, with particular emphasis on examination preparation. Conclusion: Whilst stressful at times, we believe that going through the Competency Based Fellowship Program has helped us build our knowledge, skills base, and expertise for practising psychiatry as consultants.

Promoting and protecting trainee welfare in an imperfect world

“…We have previously highlighted the importance of trainees taking a proactive stance in ensuring that their needs are met through training and supervision. 3,5 But trainee assertiveness may be compromised if the services they work in are underfunded and neglected, 6 and rates of burnout among their senior colleagues is high. 7 The demands relating to scholarship relating to the Scholarly Project provide an example of the kinds of conflicts trainees face in meeting the "competency" expectations.…”

“…There has been a lot of discussion about the burden of assessment under the CBFP. 3 The RANZCP has shown leadership in taking action to limit this burden and improve the trainee welfare. 4 Such initiatives have included the attempt to "cap" inpatient patient number allocated per trainee, the RANZCP Member Welfare Support Line, and the rural psychiatry trainees mentoring program.…”

On being supervised: getting value from a clinical supervisor and making the relationship work when it is not

“…The CBFP is demanding, and a high level of organisation and proactivity is required to get through it. 17 As trainees have limited choice regarding who provides them clinical supervision, knowledge about what makes a ‘good’ or ‘poor’ supervisor offers limited practical assistance to navigating the CBFP. Additionally, there is evidence that supervisors struggle to understand how to perform their role best 7,15 and may value feedback from their supervisees.…”

‘Stranger than Fiction’: a description of an online essay examination preparation club for Queensland trainees

“…Completing the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Fellowship is challenging. 1 In particular, the Critical Essay Question (CEQ) component is often perceived as one of the most difficult requirements of the competency-based fellowship programme (CBFP). There may be several reasons for this including the trainees’ readiness and the timing of their examination attempts, 2 and difficulties associated with balancing their training needs with service delivery requirements.…”