Assessing show how competence
Assessing the trainee's ability successfully apply knowledge to carry out the functions of public health is done in two ways:
Part B Exam
The Part B examination is a 'shows how' assessment of the candidate's ability to apply relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes to the practice of public health. It is designed to be taken and passed with at least 2 full years of training left.
It takes the format of an exam used in clinical training (the Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) but uses public health rather than clinical scenarios. The Part B exam is also called the OSPHE (Observed Structure Public Health Exam).
Further information about the Part B exam can be found in the examination section of the website.
Employer / Work Based Appraisals
The employer appraisal follows the ARCP and uses the outcome of the ARCP as its basis.
An appraisal is an individual and private planned review of progress, focusing on the trainee, achievements and future activity. It allows key training and development needs to be identified for the year ahead as well as objectives, which relate to the appraisee's personal and/or professional development.
The workplace based appraisal forms are to be completed annually by the StR and their educational supervisor.
Please see Appendix 7 of the Gold Guide for further details on the Work Based Appraisal process.
Workplace Based Appraisal forms [Word]
Work Based Assessment
'Shows how' competence is assessed in the workplace by accredited trainers through a variety of methods including:
- multiple source feedback,
- work based discussion,
- direct observation of practice
- and structured assessment of components of daily public health practice.
Assessment may take place in a real life situation or in a simulated environment.
As training progresses trainees are expected to demonstrate the maintenance of performance in increasingly varied, challenging and less controlled situations. Therefore learning outcomes will need to be demonstrated and assessed more than once, often several times, to confirm progression.
At the end of training the trainee will need to demonstrate a level of performance comparable with that of a consultant rather than a trainee simply delivering a series of more clearly defined projects.
At the end of training knowledge, understanding, skills and competences need to be integrated and the trainee needs to show that s/he can function in complex situations. Such performance should be robust under pressure, and be able to withstand the demands of increasing responsibility.