The Foundation Programme Reference Guide - Academy of Medical ...

7. Quality assurance, management and control7.10 Several of the standards set by the regulator require deaneries to collect qualitymanagement data on a regular basis. In order to minimise the burden of datacollection, quality management processes should wherever possible reflect thetimeframe, domains, standards and criteria described by QAFP. From 2009, foundationschools also collect data for the Foundation Programme Annual Report which shouldalso help in the review of programme provision.7.11 Table 1 below sets out some of the main types of quality management processes thatmight be used in deanery quality management. The list is not exhaustive and someelements may not apply in some foundation schools.Section 7: Table 1Deanery policy/strategy onFoundationProgrammesService LevelAgreements (SLA)or other contractsTrainee feedbackThese should be clearly set out, with dates for implementation andreview. Each should include details of their own internal qualitycontrol process and how often they are to take place. Some functionswill be devolved to foundation schools or to LEPs - accountabilityfor both education delivery and quality control must then be clearlydefined. These might include:• policies for each of the QAFP domains;• educational governance;• job descriptions / person specifications for educators;• training to develop teaching skills;• recruitment policies for both supervisors and trainees;• policies on programme construction and placements;• equal opportunities policy/single equality scheme;• provision of careers advice;• policies for supporting underperforming trainees.Any arrangement by which the deanery devolves responsibility foreducation provision, should be covered by a Service Level Agreementor other contract agreement (see quality control below) andsubjected to regular monitoring and review including equality anddiversity.Questionnaires and surveys are a widely used method of gaugingfoundation doctors’ opinions. The results need to be thoroughlyanalysed and where appropriate, used for reviewing and changingthe programme. If the information collected never results in change,then its continuing collection should be questioned. The resultsshould be made available to the foundation doctors and the facultyconcerned in a timely manner. Feedback can be obtained using thefollowing:• distributing end of post/year questionnaires to solicit feedbackon the quality of the post and/or programme, e.g. to includeclinical and educational supervision, induction programme,workload, bullying and harassment;• checking employers’/LEPs’ EWTD monitoring returns;The UK Foundation Programme: Reference Guide24