Academic Foundation
programmes 2012
Professor Lorraine Harper
l.harper@bham.ac.uk
About academic foundation posts
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Provide opportunity to develop research teaching and
leadership/management skills as well as basic competencies
Intended to benefit those who plan to follow an academic route as
well as those choosing alternative medical careers
Programmes vary but all will allow completion of clinical
competencies as well as providing additional skills
– This means you will have to work harder or smarter
– Be organised and proactive
To succeed requires ambition, organisation and maturity
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5% of medical students achieve an academic foundation post ,
approximately 450 AFP
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http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/pages/academicprogrammes
What makes an academic foundation
programme different
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Dedicated research and education time
– Academic time spent as blocks or day release
– Attached to department with recognised
academic links
Project work
– Opportunity to undertake own project under
supervision of senior academic
Success in your hands
– Self directed learning and achievement
– Learn skills that translate across disciplines
Who can apply?
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Applicants must show potential to fulfil academic role while
still achieving clinical competencies
– Minimum requirements similar to normal foundation
programmes
– Desirable qualities
 previous academic experience - intercalation
 Academic achievement –prizes, publications or
presentations
 Commitment – participation in research project
Generic academic application form
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Register and enrol on FPAS available from 01/06/2011
at ww.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk DO THIS EARLY
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Same form as main FP recruitment
– Basic factual information
– Take 30 min to complete
– References one practising doctor and one academic
– Complete and submit by 12.00 noon (BST) on 10
June 2011.
How many posts can you apply to?
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Preferences – can choose maximum of 3
units of application
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A unit of application is a region NOT a
post
– Eg West Midlands 1 unit but covers
Birmingham, Coventry and Warwick,
Balck Country and Staffordshire
– Look on UKFPO website
Choosing a rotation
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Different programmes have different emphasis on
research, education, management
– decide what interests you
 Review rotations carefully – make a shortlist
 D your homework- Discuss rotations with those
in post, contact programme lead
 Decide on programmes to apply and contact the
academic supervisor to discuss experience and
skills they offer
 Programme information available 03/05/2011
 Check website of deanery you are interested in
for details
Research your choice
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Know requirements for selection
– National specification is minimum required
– Units of Application often have additional
requirements
– CHECK PERSON SECIFICATION FOR
PROGRAMME – make sure you are eligible
 Recruitment timetable, supplementary
documentation requirements and interview
information available 03/05/2011
 Interviews - not all will accept telephone/video
interviews – if not make sure you are available
before applying
IMPORTANT!
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You must complete Part 1 in order to apply
for an Academic Foundation Programme.
 If Part 1 is not complete, you cannot proceed
to Part 2 as you will need the RA number
generated from FPAS in order to apply to the
Unit of Application.
 If you try to apply without this number, your
application will be rejected.
Local Selection – Part 2
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Short listing based on supplementary
documentation based on how well you fit person
specification
– West Midlands last year had application form
Interviews
– Make sure you know dates and are available if
deanery does not accept telephone interviews
– Further help in June for interview support
Offers 15/9/2011
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Email stating offer of programme,
notification you are placed on reserve list
or notification not successful
 Must accept offer within 2 working days
failure to respond will result in withdrawal
of offer
– If reject WILL NOT be placed on reserve
list or considered at later date
 If no offer will automatically be nominated
for main foundation recruitment process
Cascade process
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If placed on reserve list
– A cascade system will run whereby
units of application will offer unfilled
programmes to the next highest scoring
applicant who has not accepted a post
 2 working days to accept offer
 Process runs 21/09-03/10/2011
Academic Foundation Programmes
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12 programmes West Midlands deanery
 6 x 4 month posts over 2 years
 One academic post in each foundation year
 F1- majority of time must be based in clinical
medicine
– Exposure to academic medicine
 F2 - a 4 month full time research placement is
feasible
 For other programmes see
http://www.westmidlandsdeanery.nhs.uk/Foundat
ionProgramme/AcademicFoundationProgramme.
aspx
Recruitment to Academic Foundation
Programmes
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Regional (Birmingham, Keele, Warwick)
2007
2008
2009
Vacancies
24
36
36
Applicants
52
61
58
Shortlisted
23
36
56
Appointments
16
22
28
67%
61%
78%
Fill Rate
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Fill rate for Birmingham posts for 2009
entry was 100%
Application form (last year)
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Prizes, awards and distinctions
 2 academic acheivements
 2 teaching acheivements
 2 non-academic achievements – relate to
academic attributes
 Professional, leadership and clinical
achievements
 Why are you applying
Application form
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Complete carefully
 Use relevant personal examples to demonstrate
skills etc
 Ensure answers focused and precise DO NOT
WAFFLE
 Take your time –ITS IMPORTANT
– Remember it always takes longer than think
 Proof read it
 Show it to a friend or collegue
 Do’s and don’t’s
http:\\foundationprogramme.nhs.uk
Scoring application
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Score based on application form depend
on previous academic experience, prizes
and academic excellence
 Quartile score provided by medical
schools for normal foundation programme
will not be available
Interviews
If shortlisted yu will be called to interview
 PREPARE
– Research programme
– Talk to current incumbents
– Familiarise yourself with interview
process – it will be in the letter
– PRACTICE
Important dates
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3 May 2011 -Programme details and local
application information available
1 - 10 Jun 2011 - AFP 2012 Recruitment - Part 1,
National application
6 Jun –12 Sep 2011 -AFP 2012 Recruitment – Part
2, Local selection
15 Sep 2011 - Initial offers made
19 Sept 2011 (12:00 noon BST) -Applicants to
accept or reject an offer
21 Sept – 03 Oct 2011 - Cascade process - offers
made to reserve list applicants
For further information

http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/new
s/story/ukfpo-academic-rough-guidepublished
 http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/pag
es/academic-programmes
 http://www.westmidlandsdeanery.nhs.uk/Fou
ndationProgramme/AcademicFoundationProg
ramme.aspx