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Supervisor Professional Development Program

Supervisor Professional Development Program

The Supervisor Professional Development Program (SPDP) is a high-quality training program for final year Advanced Trainees and Fellows who supervise trainees in RACP-accredited positions.

New deadlines

COVID-19 has significantly impacted our ability to provide face-to-face SPDP workshops. This means you may not be able to complete the workshops to the deadline. To take pressure off you and support quality supervision, we have extended the deadlines by 12 months.

Supervisors must complete:

1 x SPDP workshop by the end of 2021 (an extension of 12 months)
all remaining workshops by the end of 2022

You'll be an RACP-approved supervisor (previously 'accredited supervisor') when you've completed all 3 workshops.

Note: If requested by your workplace or specialty society, we will provide your name and SPDP completion status.

Workshop specifics
Exemption
Get involved
Resources

Workshop specifics

You can complete SPDP 1, 2 and 3 in any order and in 3 different formats:

face-to-face (3-hour workshop)
virtually via Zoom (3-hour workshop)
online (across a 5 week period)

Workshops are voluntarily presented by Fellows trained specifically in SPDP facilitation.

SPDP is considered a 'Category 2: Reviewing Performance' activity in the 2020 MyCPD Framework. MyCPD participants will earn 3 CPD credits per hour.

There is no charge for these workshops. Any costs associated with attending (like travel or accommodation) are at your expense.

Workshop content

SPDP 1 — Practical Skills for Supervisors

Workshop theme | Developing trainee expertise and using coaching techniques to improve feedback delivery

In this workshop, 2 frameworks are used, the GROW model and the 'Four areas of feedback'. By using these models, supervisors can facilitate change and growth in trainees and encourage expert performance.

Objectives

develop a culture for learning
provide feedback and improve performance
deliver feedback in challenging situations

SPDP 2 — Teaching and Learning in Healthcare Settings

Workshop theme | Teaching strategies to manage and overcome challenges faced by supervisors in a complex healthcare setting

Strategies include planning for learning, differentiated instructions for multi-level groups and using teaching techniques such as questioning. The workshop explores some cultural aspects that may impact on learning, including the hidden curriculum, tribalism and the need for effective role modelling.

Objectives

outline challenges supervisors face in the healthcare setting
identify strategies to maximise teaching opportunities
evaluate personal attitudes, beliefs and behaviour and influence on supervisory practice
assess workplace culture issues that can affect education experiences

SPDP 3 — Work-based Learning and Assessment

Workshop theme | Techniques and solutions for supervisors to navigate work-based learning and assessment

Work-based learning and assessment is a complex and necessary part of physician training. The challenges of undertaking work-based learning and assessment amidst the complexities of the healthcare environment are many and varied. This workshop offers techniques and solutions to these challenges that will help supervisors in their vital role.

Objectives

discuss the purpose and importance of work-based learning and assessment
analyse the process of planning for learning and assessment
identify challenges and solutions associated with work-based assessment in a complex environment
draw on evidence of learning and achievement to determine overall performance and progression

Exemption

Exemption from SPDP 1 and 2 is only possible for supervisors who have both relevant education, skills and experience.

All supervisors must complete SPDP 3, including those granted exemption from SPDP 1 and 2. SPDP 3 focuses on work-based assessment and the content is specific to the trainee assessment process.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you have completed both of the following eligibility criteria:

formal medical education studies or equivalent supervisor training with another medical college (e.g. RCPA)
a minimum of 3 years’ experience as a RACP supervisor.

Apply

Note: We may contact you for further information to support your application.

Outcomes

Application outcomes take up to 6 weeks. We'll update you on the application outcome.

Where an outcome cannot be determined, the relevant overseeing committee will make the final decision.

Get involved

You can become a SPDP workshop facilitator or host a workshop.

Become a facilitator

SPDP workshop facilitators are Fellows interested in medical education and facilitating skill-based workshops with their peers.

"Through participation in the SPDP workshops, I have been able to facilitate positive changes within my own practice, allowing me to grow as both a supervisor and mentor. I attended a combination of online and face-to-face sessions, finding the content so valuable that when the RACP offered the opportunity to become a facilitator, I jumped at the chance."

Dr Dayna Law

Facilitators plan, manage and guide SPDP workshops to ensure each one is:

credible — physicians are best placed to facilitate training for their peers
focused on supervisor needs — ensure relevancy to supervisors from all training programs
accessible and flexible — workshops can be held at a variety of locations

Training and support is provided for facilitators:

training for facilitators of face-to-face workshops (6-hour 1-day Facilitator Training Workshop)
preparation of facilitator and participant workshop materials
onsite support from locally based Member Support Officers
organisation and logistics support from the Supervisor Learning Support team
online courses and training in facilitation with technical support are under development

To become a SPDP workshop facilitator or to host a workshop, contact us.

SPDP 1

Post-workshop reading

Developing Expertise (PDF)
Feedback and Performance (PDF)
Feedback in Challenging Situations (PDF)
Supporting Trainees in Difficulty (PDF)

Support

Trainee support
RACP Support Program

SPDP 2

Post-workshop reading

Dynamic healthcare settings and diverse learners (PDF)
Planning for learning on the ward round (PDF)
Questioning techniques (PDF)
Setting a culture for learning (PDF)
Supervisors as role models (PDF)
Teaching at the bedside (PDF)
The hidden curriculum and tribalism (PDF)

eLearning

RACP Online Learning Resources
Curated collections

SPDP 3

Post-workshop reading

Learn and gather evidence (PDF)
Learning at work (PDF)
Make evidence based judgement (PDF)
Reflect and prepare (PDF)
Set goals (PDF)
Training support (PDF)
Work-based assessments (PDF)
RACP work-based assessment tools

Supervisor Professional Development Program

The Supervisor Professional Development Program (SPDP) is a high-quality training program for final year Advanced Trainees and Fellows who supervise trainees in RACP-accredited positions.

New deadlines

Workshop specifics

Workshop content

SPDP 1 — Practical Skills for Supervisors

Workshop theme | Developing trainee expertise and using coaching techniques to improve feedback delivery

Objectives

SPDP 2 — Teaching and Learning in Healthcare Settings

Workshop theme | Teaching strategies to manage and overcome challenges faced by supervisors in a complex healthcare setting

Objectives

SPDP 3 — Work-based Learning and Assessment

Workshop theme | Techniques and solutions for supervisors to navigate work-based learning and assessment

Objectives

Exemption

Eligibility

Outcomes

Get involved

Become a facilitator

Dr Dayna Law

SPDP 1

Post-workshop reading

Support

SPDP 2

Post-workshop reading

eLearning

SPDP 3

Post-workshop reading

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