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ISTP: Trust Responsibilities

ISTP trainees come to the UK for a variety of reasons. Some will have a specific skill or area that they wish to develop, and others may be looking to widen their overall experience. 

Therefore, the amount of support, development, and training required will vary between individuals. 

Trusts are responsible for ensuring that IMGs on this programme:

  • are assigned a Clinical Supervisor and/or Educational Supervisor on or before their start date
  • agree a personal development plan / learning agreement with their Educational Supervisor within one month of arrival
  • are provided with a sufficient period of induction. The College strongly recommends that IMGs ‘shadow’ for at least four weeks so that they can assimilate into the UK and the NHS before given full registrar responsibilities and on-call duties
  • are provided access to training, support, and study days that they require to fulfil their personal development plan / learning agreement
  • are engaged in the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) and attend the Annual Review Meeting (ARM) conducted by the ISTP Clinical Leads
  • have regular and appropriate assessments to review progress
  • comply with the trusts requirements for annual appraisals
  • receive a salary at standard UK rates, in accordance with the BMA salary scale


Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP)

The College will ensure that all trainees participating in the ISTP are enrolled onto the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme.

In is expected that ISTP trainees aim to complete a minimum of 20 Workplace Based Assessments (WBA’s) per year and participate in at least one audit per year. 

Evidence will need to be collected throughout the placement for submission to the ISTP Annual Review Meeting panel. 

The College also encourages trainees to consider sitting the FRCS (if applicable) and engaging in research throughout their time in the UK.  

Study leave and attendance at training

ISTP trainees must be given the access to training, support, and study days that they require to fulfil their personal development plan / learning agreement.

Trust rotas should allow the candidate to access training opportunities and the College recommends 1PA per week on  job schedules, and a minimum of 10 study leave days per year.

Trainees should also be permitted to attend local higher surgical training if the local HEE office agrees.

Annual Review Meeting (ARM)

It is a College requirement that all ISTP trainees attend and participate in a mandatory Annual Review Meeting (ARM) with the relevant ISTP Specialty Clinical Leads. These meetings were introduced in October 2020 and the aim is to ensure that trainees are engaging with the ISCP, progressing in their career/ training goals and meeting agreed objectives.

Trainees will be required to submit the following documents to the ARM Panel prior to attending the meeting:

  • Clinical and/or Educational Supervisor report (for each placement)
  • ISCP logbook
  • Evidence of WBA’s
  • Evidence of audit and/or research activity

Quality Assurance

We maintain regular contact with trainees and their Clinical Supervisors and/ or Assigned Educational Supervisors (AES) throughout the placement to ensure that all parties are happy with the placement and to ensure that expectations are being met.

Feedback forms are sent to trainees and their supervisors periodically at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months during the placement. These forms are reviewed and where necessary or appropriate, follow-up meetings are arranged to explore areas in more detail.

Any problems experienced with the placement should be conveyed to the ISTP team at the earliest opportunity so that we can assist in resolving them. 

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About Advancing surgical care. Worldwide.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) is the professional membership organisation and standard-setting body for the education, training, assessment and professional development of surgeons in the United Kingdom and around the world.   We exist to advance surgical and patient care. 

We are a registered charity and our work supports 30,000 members in the UK and internationally by improving their skills and knowledge, facilitating research and developing policy, standards and guidance.

Read more about our mission

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