The Assessment Strategy defines the critical advancement stages that ophthalmologists in training need to pass through in order to progress to the next level of training and be awarded the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) at the end of the programme.

A separate Assessment Blueprint indicates the assessment requirements at each critical advancement point against Learning Outcomes.

The Matrix of Progression is intended to give ARCP panels consistent guidance as to the curriculum requirements for each ST year.

Formative tools are used to give immediate feedback. They may be employed to identify areas for development, guide learning, reassure about knowledge and skills, prompt reflection and nurture appropriate attitudinal responses. They may also be collated and used to give a rounded view of a doctor’s performance, contributing to summative judgements.

Summative assessments are utilised to make an overall judgment regarding competence, fitness to practice or qualification for progression to higher levels of responsibility.

Central to the assessment cycle is the professional, accountable judgement that trainers make to confirm that ophthalmologists in training have met the Learning Outcomes and the expected levels of performance.

Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA) tools map to all of the Learning Outcomes for each of the four levels in the Patient Management domain.  Learning Outcomes of a given level are assessed in an integrated way in the context of meaningful clinical activity. Summative entrustment decisions are made for that level, and the EPAs is employed to inform decisions taken by the Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) panel relating to progression at critical advancement points.

EPA forms include a self-assessment section, which is designed to facilitate professional insight and reflection on the formative feedback.  While longitudinal, periodic observation of performance is a key aspect on which to base the entrustment decision, trainers must consider some mandatory pieces of evidence.

Hover over a form code to download a Word version.

 

Assessment of Performance

Assessment tool Function Code Domain Level Required number

Entrustable Professional Activity

Function

Assessment of clinical learning outcomes for 12 Special Interest Areas (SIAs)

Code

EPA-L1

EPA-L2

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 1

Level 2

Required number

1 every 6 months

Entrustable Professional Activity

Function

Assessment of clinical learning outcomes for 12 SIAs – each SIA has its own EPA

Code

EPA-L3 OO

EPA-L3 COS

EPA-L3 CS

EPA-L3 G

EPA-L3 U

EPA-L3 MR

EPA-L3 VR

EPA-L3 OM

EPA-L3 NO

EPA-L3 PO

EPA-L3 UEC

EPA-L3 CO

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 3

Required number

1 for every SIA (12 in total)

Entrustable Professional Activity

Function

Assessment of clinical learning outcomes for 12 SIAs – each SIA has its own EPA. Some EPAs require Managing an Operating List EPA*.

Code

EPA-L4 OO

EPA-L4 COS

EPA-L4 CS

EPA-L4 G

EPA-L4 U

EPA-L4 MR

EPA-L4 VR

EPA-L4 OM

EPA-L4 NO

EPA-L4 PO

EPA-L4 UEC

EPA-L4 CO

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 4

Required number

2 out of 12 SIAs (1 each, every 6 months)

Multi-Assessor Report

Function

Assessment of clinical learning outcomes – reviewed as part of EPAs

Code

MAR

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Required number

Specified by Named Clinical Supervisor (NCS)

Generic Skills Assessment Tool

Function

Assessment of non-clinical learning outcomes – Educational Supervisor (ES) is responsible for completion

Code

GSAT-L1

GSAT-L2

GSAT-L3

GSAT-L4

Domain

Health Promotion

Leadership and Team Working

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement

Safeguarding and Holistic Patient Care

Education and Training

Research and Scholarship

Level

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Required number

1 every 6 months for all 4 Levels

Objective Assessment of Surgical and Technical Skills

Function

Tool to assess ocular surgery

Code

OSATS

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Required number

No indicative numbers

Direct Observation of Procedural Skills – Biometry

Function

Tool to assess biometry skills

Code

DOPSBi

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 2

Level 4

Required number

No indicative numbers

Managing an Operating List

Function

Summative tool to assess whether an ophthalmologist in training can be entrusted to manage an operating list independently in the relevant SIA

Code

EPA-OL*

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 4

Required number

No indicative numbers

Multi-source Feedback

Function

Tool used to assess professional competence

Code

MSF

Domain

Leadership and Team Working

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement

Safeguarding and Holistic Patient Care

Level

N/A

Required number

1 per calendar year

Supervised Learning Event

Assessment tool Function Code Domain Level Required number

Clinical Rating Scale

Function

Formative tool to assess a variety of clinical skill competencies (examination/use of equipment)

Code

CRSGon

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 1

Required number

No indicative numbers

Clinical Rating Scale

Function

Formative tool to assess a variety of clinical skill competencies (examination/use of equipment)

Code

CRSRet

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 2

Required number

No indicative numbers

Clinical Rating Scale

Function

Formative tool to assess a variety of clinical skill competencies (examination/use of equipment)

Code

CRS1

CRS2

CRS3

CRS5

CRS6

CRS7

CRS8

CRS9

CRS10a

CRS10b

CRS10c

CRS10d

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Required number

No indicative numbers

Case-based Discussion

Function

Tool to assess clinical judgement, decision making skills, case-note writing and clinical management

Code

CbD

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Required number

No indicative numbers

Direct Observation of Procedural Skills

Function

Tool to assess procedural skills and gain formative feedback

Code

DOPS

Domain

Patient Management

Level

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Required number

No indicative numbers