How to become accredited as a GP Supervisor

If you are interested in becoming a GP Supervisor for GP Registrars during their Mentor time (also called Subsequent General Practice Experience, or Extended Skills-General Practice) you will need to do the following:

1. Contact GP Synergy for an application for Initial Accreditation as a GP Trainer/Training Post or an application for Reaccreditation as a GP Trainer/Training Post with the RACGP. Please ensure you attach the required supporting documentation otherwise the application cannot be processed. The application form outlines the minimum standards and requirements for a practice to be accredited as a training post

2. Return the completed form to GP Synergy. We need to endorse the application before forwarding it to the RACGP.

3. Complete the Practice Profile information located on GPRime (please contact GP Synergy for questions on how to go about this).

What is involved in being a GP Supervisor?

There are some significant expectations and responsibilities of GP Supervisors, even at this later stage of training for the Registrar. The practice will only be accredited by the RACGP as a teaching post, and the GP Supervisor as a Level 2 Trainer (this is the jargon term for a GP Supervisor employs a GP Registrar in the later stages of training), if the Supervisor agrees to:
1. Be available for clinical guidance and support for the GP Registrar. The Registrar must always be able to contact the Supervisor if necessary, and the GP Supervisor must be on site with the Registrar at least some of the time.

2. Set aside one hour every week for a full time Registrar, and half an hour for a part time Registrar, to discuss cases and topics, and review the Registrar's performance and development as a GP. Please note that this is a new requirement. At present the GP Supervisor is not paid for this time, although the expectation is that payment will be available in the future.. In the meantime, the GP Supervisor may need to factor in the time required for teaching when negotiating employment and remuneration arrangements for the GP Registrar.

3. Spend some time in activities which develop their skills as a clinical teacher. This involves agreeing to:
a. Spend two hours on an induction activity which involves a GP Synergy Medical Educator visiting the practice prior to the commencement of the term and discussing the program and educational requirements of the term
b. Attend at least one of the GP Supervisor Development activities delivered by GP Synergy during the first six months of the GP Registrar’s term

4. Complete a formative assessment on the GP Registrar every three months (this is an on-line form which just summarises the GP Supervisor's judgement of the registrar's performance and which is discussed with the GP Registrar)

5. Assist the GP Registrar develop their learning plan, and review this with them.
These requirements are not onerous and in fact contribute to the Registrar becoming an effective member of the practice team (and are a great way for the Supervisor to ensure the Registrar is providing a high level of service to patients of the practice).

How long will your accreditation last?

Accreditation as a Level 2 GP Supervisor lasts for twelve months. After this time, you will be required to complete a simple re-accreditation form. Part of the re-accreditation process requires the RTP (GP Synergy) to endorse your application, based on GP Registrar feedback and participation in GP Synergy workshops. It is therefore important that you attend GP Synergy GP Supervisor Development workshops, held throughout the year. Upon approval of the re-accreditation application by the RACGP, you will be accredited for three years.

Remuneration

Supervisors training Basic and Advanced Registrars (Level 1 Supervisors) pay their Registrars according to the National Minimum Terms and Conditions document (a prescribed salary or percentage, whichever is higher) and receive subsidies for hosting a Registrar and for practice based teaching. In contrast, Subsequent term Registrars are subject to market rates and part of their training experience is to negotiate their contract and remuneration with you.

How to recruit a GP Registrar to your practice

When you have a Registrar interested in undertaking their mentor term with your practice, please contact GP Synergy as we will have to approve the placement, provide the Registrar with an HIC number and arrange an in-practice visit prior to their commencement.

If you have any questions about this process, or would like to know more about becoming a teaching practice, please contact GP Synergy on 9818 4433. We are also happy to put you in touch with some current GP Supervisors so you can hear first-hand what is involved (and how rewarding it can be).

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