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

8. Becoming a foundation doctorMatching to two-year programmes, F1 and F28.9 Some foundation schools allocate successful applicants to two-year rotations whereall placements are known at the beginning of foundation training. Other schoolsonly describe the placements in the first year of foundation training. Each foundationschool must publish details about the process used to match to either F1 or two-yearprogrammes, prior to the opening of national foundation recruitment.8.10 The matching process should take into account an individual applicant’s specialcircumstances where possible.8.11 Schools which only describe the F1 rotation at the beginning of the two-yearprogramme should run a competitive process to allocate F2 rotations. The processshould be published in advance and enable the foundation doctor to discuss choiceswith the educational supervisor. The F2 rotations available to foundation doctorsshould complement their F1 rotation, to ensure that they have a two-year programmewith an appropriate breadth of experience.8.12 All rotations must meet local service need and training capacity and are subject tochange. Appointees must be notified of changes to their rotations.8.13 Appointees to foundation schools may appeal against decisions made as part ofthe process of matching foundation doctors to rotations. Each foundation school isresponsible for publishing and managing the appeals process.Pre-allocation to a foundation school (special circumstances)8.14 There is a UK-wide process for pre-allocation of applicants to particular foundationschools on the grounds of special circumstances. It is run under the governance ofthe Medical Schools Council (MSC) in collaboration with UKFPO. Special circumstanceinformation is published on the UKFPO website at www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk.8.15 UK medical students who wish to remain in a geographical area for specific caringor health reasons to undertake their F1 training can apply to their medical schoolto be considered for pre-allocation on the grounds of special circumstances. It is theresponsibility of the medical school to inform its students of this process, as part ofthe information that is given about the national recruitment process for foundationtraining.8.16 UK medical schools may also nominate students with educational special circumstancesfor pre-allocation to their local foundation school.8.17 Each UK medical school is responsible for convening a local panel to considerapplications from its undergraduate students, which includes a deanery/foundationschool representative. The panels must keep strictly to the published national timeline.8.18 Those who qualified two or more years prior to their expected date of entry to theFoundation Programme, and those who are not graduates from UK medical schools,can apply to the UKFPO for consideration of their special circumstances. The UKFPOfollows a similar process for those wishing to remain in a specific geographical area forspecific care, health or other accepted criteria.The UK Foundation Programme: Reference Guide30