Good Medical Practice in Paediatrics and Child Health

Teaching and training, appraising and assessingMaking assessments and providing referencesGood Medical Practice - May 200213. You must be honest and objective when appraising or assessing the performance ofany doctor including those you have supervised or trained. Patients may be put at risk ifyou describe as competent someone who has not reached or maintained a satisfactory standardof practice.• The Royal College has undertaken to provide guidance in the assessment of competenciesand, where available, these should be followed.• Trainees should be assessed at the start of a training post to ensure that they receiveappropriate supervision in tasks that they will be expected to perform.• Paediatricians or trainees who are not competent should be trained and reassessed toensure that they have acquired appropriate skills.• Paediatricians responsible for assessing trainees should undertake training in the RITAprocess.• Paediatricians should take steps to ensure that measures are in place to check that locumshave appropriate references.• Non-consultant grade staff and locums also need supervision and support and should begiven the opportunity to participate in CPD.14. You must provide only honest and justifiable comments when giving references for,or writing reports about, colleagues. When providing references you must include allrelevant information which has a bearing on your colleague’s competence, performanceand conduct.• References should also include an indication of the individual’s ability to work in a multidisciplinaryteam and to communicate with families.Unacceptable practice:• Knowingly to provide a misleading assessment of a trainee’s performance• Knowingly to provide a misleading reference where there are concerns about competence,performance or conductTeaching and training15. You should be willing to contribute to the education of students or colleagues.16. If you have special responsibilities for teaching you must develop the skills, attitudesand practices of a competent teacher. You must also make sure that students and juniorcolleagues are properly supervised.• Particular care must be taken when supervising students and trainees in the care andmanagement of children and young people.• Families should always be aware of the status of those involved in the care of their child.11