The Council of Education (COE) has approved all recommended changes following an out of session vote on 11 February 2020. These changes are effective immediately.
The majority of the changes standardise requirements and terminology while maintaining the intent of the specific Special Skills Placement (SSP).
However, there are two major changes in line with the new curriculum:
- The Medical Education SSP has been combined with the Simulation SSP
- The Medical Administration SSP has been combined with the Safety & Quality SSP
What Does This Mean?
Sites are no longer able to hold accreditation for both Medical Education SSP and Simulation SSP or for both Medical Administration SSP and Safety & Quality SSP.
The Simulation SSP will be renamed Medical Education/Simulation SSP.
The Safety & Quality SSP will be renamed Medical Administration/Safety & Quality SSP.
Transition Plan
All sites which are currently accredited for both Medical Education and Simulation SSPs or Medical Administration and Safety & Quality SSPs, will be assessed against the new Guidelines at their next routine five year reinspection (of whichever SSP inspection is due first).
The numbers of trainees which may be accommodated will be to the maximum of the current SSP bearing in mind that the new objectives of each SSP would be expected to be met.
The Simulation and the Safety & Quality SSPs will be discontinued at that time. The accreditation team will be in touch with affected sites to arrange the transition at the appropriate time.
Sites that are only accredited for either Medical Education, Medical Administration, Simulation or Safety and Quality will have the SSP renamed accordingly and there should be no change to the accreditation. These sites will be assessed against the new guidelines at the next routine five year inspection.
For sites intending to apply for any SSP accreditation, the amended Guidelines should be reviewed prior to application submission. The guidelines details are available on our website.
What Does it Mean for Trainees?
As per normal College practice, no Trainee will be disadvantaged in the process.
All trainees currently working in the Safety & Quality SSP or the Simulation SSP and all Trainees who have agreed to placements in either the Simulation or Safety & Quality SSPs, will have their term counted towards their FACEM training time as previously applied for all.
All new placements from this point on will be undertaken as Medical Administration/Safety & Quality or Medical Education/Simulation.