North Specialised Foundation Programme

The Specialised Foundation Programme (N11) comprising 12 posts based in Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William will be available. It offers the same clinical training as other Foundation posts but will also include additional tuition and assessment intended to prepare the post holder for a future career in academia.

The F1 year is a generic clinical Foundation year which allows newly qualified doctors to gain experience in a range of clinical posts with the F2 year focusing on academic elements alongside additional clinical experiences.

The primary objective of this programme, as for all other Foundation Programmes, is to ensure satisfactory clinical training through the attainment of foundation competencies (as defined by the Foundation Curriculum and demonstrated through successful completion of the Foundation ePortfolio (Turas)).

The North SFP is a two-year fixed programme.

This page provides a brief overview of the programme. Full information about rotations can be found by following the links on the left-hand menu.

This is a recruitment website and is not used to provide information for current trainees. Current Foundation trainees should visit the Scotland Deanery website for information about their training.

All rotations are indicative and subject to change.

What the programme offers

The programme offers 12 posts: six research themed posts (three each on medicine and surgical themes) and six medical education-themed posts. These posts are based in Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William. 

All programmes offer a dedicated 4-month academic block for research/medical education activities. It also includes additional academic support and mentorship intended to prepare the post holder for a future career in academia.

As well as acquiring clinical competencies expected of all trainees, each SFP trainee will be assigned to an academic supervisor/project supervisor and a mentor who are actively engaged in promoting and undertaking research at University and/or NHS level.

Additional features of the programme include the opportunity to engage in the following research activities depending on an individual's interests:

• regular seminars on research skills offered by the NHS Grampian Research & Development
• development of laboratory or clinical research skills offered by the University of Aberdeen
• regular research seminars and staff development courses offered by the University of Aberdeen
• attendance at internal and external scientific meetings
• teaching and assessment of undergraduate medical students
• participation in audit/QI projects, research projects, and ongoing clinical trials of academic departments the trainee rotate through
• regular meetings with Academic Foundation Programme Director and Director of Aberdeen Clinical Academic Training and Development (ACAT)
• supporting activities of the active academic student society (Aberdeen Student Society for Academic Medicine (ASSAM))- examples of such activities include running journal clubs, giving talks at career evenings hosted by ASSAM, information sessions for SFP programme application for senior medical students.

Several Post Graduate Taught Programmes are available. We encourage trainees to enrol in PG Cert. in Research Methods for Health (can be done fully online). Further information can be found here.

The aim of the Specialised Foundation Programme is to prepare the best newly qualified Foundation doctors to become future leaders in academic and clinical medicine. Every opportunity will be made available to enhance the academic profile of successful candidates.

The trainees will also be encouraged to formulate plans for medium to long-term research opportunities which may include fellowship applications or MD/PhD studentships. The academic mentor will facilitate academic development at every opportunity and in every rotation within the 2-year programme. All trainees will also have access to guidance and supervision of many academic clinicians participating in this programme.

The specialised  programme is led by the University of Aberdeen and full details of all that it has to offer are available at Aberdeen Clinical Academic Training (ACAT) Programmes’ webpages.

Research opportunities are supported through our institutes, details of which can be found on their websites as below. 

• The Institute of Applied Health Sciences
  
• The Institute of Medical Sciences
  
• The Rowett Institute
  
• The Institute of Education for Medical and Dental Sciences
  
• The Institute of Dentistry
  
• The Health Services Research Unit
  
• The Health Economics Research Unit
• The Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials
  
• The Aberdeen Cardiovascular & Diabetes Centre
• The Aberdeen Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health
• The Aberdeen Centre for Women’s Health
  
• The Centre for Rural Health
  
• The Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science
  
• The Centre for Healthcare Education Research and Innovation  

Contacts and more information

For more information about the Specialised Foundation Programme, please contact one of the following:

Dr Sneh Banik - Foundation Programme Director

Prof. Colin Lumsden - Academic Lead

Information is also available on their website.