Applying
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) or locally funded (but will receive NIHR recognition) Academic Clinical Fellowships are specialty training posts that incorporate academic training. This is an integrated clinical and academic training programme. Academic Clinical Fellows (ACFs) spend 75% of their time undertaking specialist clinical training and 25% undertaking research or educationalist training.
If you apply for an ACF post, your academic /research training can be supported by professional researchers and academic clinicians at the
- University of Exeter Medical School.
- The Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol, (CAPC)
- University of Plymouth
ACFs are aimed at those who, at the early stages of their specialty training, show outstanding potential for a career in academic medicine or dentistry. The duration of a Primary Care ACF is 4 years. During this time, alongside clinical training, ACFs will be able to develop their academic skills and be supported in preparing an application for a Research Training Fellowship (to undertake a higher research degree) or an application for a place on an educational programme (leading to a higher degree).
Applications for these highly competitive posts are made by completing both the standard GP training application and the additional academic training form.
Applicants must demonstrate suitability for a clinical GP training programme via the usual assessment methods in order to be considered for an academic programme.
Further recruitment information can be found on the GPNRO Website or Academic Clinical Fellowships | Medical Hub
Supervision
There are 3 types of supervisors for academic trainees:
- Clinical Supervisor: Each trainee should have a named clinical supervisor for each placement. A clinical supervisor is a trainer (e.g. hospital consultant, GP or nurse) who is selected and appropriately trained to be responsible for overseeing a specified trainee’s clinical work and providing constructive feedback during a training placement. Some training schemes appoint an Educational Supervisor for each placement. The roles of clinical and educational supervisor in general practice posts are usually held by the same person.
- Educational Supervisor: An educational supervisor is a GP trainer who is selected and appropriately trained to be responsible for the overall supervision and management of a specified trainee’s educational progress for the duration of their training over the 4 years. The educational supervisor is responsible for the trainee’s Educational Agreement.
- Academic (Educational) Supervisor: An academic supervisor is a trainer who is selected and appropriately trained to be responsible for drawing up an academic training programme with the trainee, and overseeing and managing their academic progress over the 4 years.
Meeting with Supervisors
The academic trainee should arrange to meet with their Academic and Educational Supervisors to review their development and to set objectives for the period until the next review. They should arrange to meet formally at least twice a year (i.e. six monthly) to review progress, and maintain regular contact in between
During the academic placement, more frequent meetings between the trainee and academic supervisor will take place. These would be at least bi-monthly in supporting them in their academic training e.g. mentoring, a tutorial, supervision, or formal review.