Training posts
All posts undertaken for training credit must have both educational approval from the PMETB and approval by the relevant postgraduate dean.
All posts which are accredited for training must be advertised openly in the British Medical Journal . In addition, public health trainers in most regions regularly hold open days for those wanting to know more. For information, contact one of the regional training programme directors.
Terms and conditions of employment
The Faculty makes no comment on terms and conditions of employment, including leave and study leave . However, t raining placements are required to comply with the European Working Time Directive and relevant health and safety at work standards. These will be assured through regular external quality assurance systems .
Trainees will be expected to understand the limits of their own competence, in accordance with Good Public Health Practice , and to seek help when practising outside this.
For more information, please refer to local dean, Faculty advisers or the British Medical Association.
Approval of training posts
The approval of training programmes and inspection of training posts resides with the PMETB. For approval of posts outside the UK, please see overseas out-of-programme experience .
In line with PMETB procedures and set criteria the following information is required for approval of training posts.
- Each deanery should complete a PMETB application FORM B for post approval.
- The deanery may also set up local reviews of the post to assess its appropriateness for training.
- The cover sheet/letter on the application must state:
- What PMETB is being asked to approve, specifying what grade, the number of posts and the specialty.
- What paperwork is included in the application
- Confirmation that the Faculty is happy that the new post meets criteria
- Which EdFAC representative is responsible for making the recommendations.
Please see PMETB's criteria for approving training posts and programmes, and the approval rules that detail PMETBs's exact requirements.
A complete application should be sent by email to PMETB and a copy to the Faculty of Public Health.
PMETB criteria for approving training posts and programmes
To be approved without conditions a training post or programme must comply with the following requirements:
Management of training
Equality
At all stages training programmes must comply with employment law, the Disability Discrimination Act, Race Relations Amendment Act, Sex Discrimination Act and the Human Rights Act and be working towards best practice. This will include compliance with any public duties to promote equality.
Induction
All programmes must provide induction when a trainee is entering the specialist programme and at the transition from one post to another within a specialist programme. Protected time must be given for induction at each stage. Induction must ensure entrants are informed about:
- the institution and department
- the curriculum
- assessment and expected learning outcomes from each post within a programme
- educational and support facilities and access to them
- their responsibilities and those of particular members of their local faculty
- how to raise issues of concern, formally and informally
- the basic technical skills needed from day 1.
Job description and Objectives
Each trainee must have an up-to-date job description, and agreed educational and training objectives agreed between the trainee and the educational supervisor at the start of the training period and reviewed at appropriate intervals.
Appraisal
Each trainee must be appraised at least once during each post within their programme.
Health, safety and wellbeing
Arrangements for the health, safety and well-being of the trainees must be sufficient to ensure they are able to fulfil their educational and training objectives.
Trainee feedback
Trainees must have a means of feeding back their concerns and views about their training and education experience to the Clinical or College Tutor locally.
Education and learning
Organised learning programme
Trainees must have opportunities for and protected time to attend appropriate organised taught programmes and learning experiences (such as audit, journal clubs).
Study time and leave
Trainees must have timetabled and protected study time and study leave appropriate to their stage and programme.
Educational resources
Resources (such as library facilities, Internet access and clinical skills centres) needed for the programme must be of a standard appropriate to enable trainees to achieve the outcomes established for each phase of the programme.
On the job experience
Training experience
Trainees must have the opportunity to gain the necessary experience identified in the curriculum.
Supervision
Trainees must be appropriately supervised clinically and educationally. They must not be asked to perform tasks beyond their competence which could jeopardise patient safety.
Working with other staff
Trainees' experience must include opportunities for working with staff from other disciplines and professions. Their performance working with such colleagues must be appraised.
Overall
Institutional capacity
Each element of a training programme must be within the capacity of the provider unit, taking into account educational facilities:
- the practicalities of managing acceptable training standards alongside service requirements
- the adequacy of the clinical experience of those supervising and teaching trainees
- other resources.
Delivering the curriculum
Training programmes must deliver what is required by the curriculum. Training posts must deliver that element of the curriculum identified in the educational and training objectives.
Where existing programmes do not currently fully meet these requirements approval may be given either to part of the programme or subject to certain conditions designed to bring the programme/posts into compliance with the criteria. Where PMETB attaches conditions, deans and providers must agree a plan with PMETB which will set out the action they will take to ensure the requirements will be met within the timescale set.