Supervision for interns
Prevocational medical training for interns incorporates aspects of the apprenticeship model of 'learning on the job’ as part of a team. Senior doctors supervise and assess the interns’ performance, providing them with ongoing feedback and gradually increasing their responsibilities.
Prevocational medical training for interns in postgraduate years 1 and 2 is overseen by Prevocational Educational Supervisors and Clinical Supervisors.
Prevocational Educational Supervisors
Prevocational Educational Supervisors are appointed by the Council. They are vocationally-registered doctors working at DHBs accredited as training providers.
Their role is to oversee the overall educational experience of groups of interns. Prevocational Educational Supervisors meet with each intern at the beginning of postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) to discuss the intern’s upcoming clinical attachments, required learning outcomes and help them develop their professional development plan (PDP). They also meet with interns after each clinical attachment to discuss the attachment and record comments in their ‘End of clinical attachment assessment’.
Towards the end of PGY1, Prevocational Educational Supervisors will help interns develop their PDPs for postgraduate year 2 (PGY2).
Clinical Supervisors
Clinical Supervisors are identified by training providers (eg DHBs) when they apply to have clinical attachments accredited by the Council. The supervisors' role is to oversee, support and assess interns during clinical attachments.
The relationship between Clinical Supervisors and interns is very important. They need to be empathic and act as role models, setting a tone where each team member takes responsibility to help educate less qualified members. Clinical Supervisors can also delegate day-to-day supervision to others in the clinical team. They are then required to seek feedback from the clinical team which is discussed at meetings with the intern.
Clinical Supervisors ensure adequate timings and procedures are in place so that educational requirements for each intern are met. They also meet formally with the intern three times during the clinical attachment:
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1
Beginning of clinical attachment
To discuss learning opportunities and help the intern develop goals in their PDP. These should target areas for improvement which were identified in the intern’s previous ‘End of Clinical Attachment Assessment’.
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2
Midway through clinical attachment
To discuss the intern’s progress and performance, and review goals in the intern’s PDP. This is an important meeting where the intern is given feedback on areas for improvement for the remainder of the attachment.
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3
End of clinical attachment
To discuss the overall performance, achievement of PDP goals and progress with New Zealand Curriculum Framework for Prevocational Medical Training (NZCF) learning outcomes. This meeting will form the basis of the intern’s ‘End of Clinical Attachment Assessment’.
Communication between supervisors
Clinical supervisors and Prevocational Educational Supervisors are encouraged to have regular contact. If an intern has any issues or poor reports, the Clinical Supervisor should advise the Prevocational Educational Supervisor. Similarly, should the Clinical Supervisor require additional support managing performance issues of interns, they can contact the Prevocational Educational Supervisor.
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The guide for clinical supervisors of prevocational medical training outlines the role of the clinical supervisor and provides and overview of the assessment process for PGY1 and PGY2
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This document sets out Council’s Policy in regards to prevocational medical training. It outlines the requirements for each component of prevocational medical training from PGY1 through to the end of PGY2.
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This guide outlines what Council views as the key responsibilities of the
prevocational educational supervisor throughout PGY1 and PGY2.