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Tutor Guidelines

Tutors are the College’s representatives in accredited training hospitals. They are the primary link between the trainees, the hospital site and the College. They are responsible for the organisation of training activity at the training site, ongoing monitoring of trainees’ progress and ultimate assessment of trainees at the end of each rotation.

Please see link to revised ‘Initial Assessment of Competence’ below:

Guidelines for CAI Education Fund

(Administered by CAI Tutor)

To assist Tutors in the fulfilment of their duties, the College will provide funding for training and educational purposes of €3,000 per tutor or per 8 trainees (where there is more than one Tutor) and up to a maximum of €9,000 per hospital in any 3-year period. The funding can be claimed over a 3-year period, e.g. €3,000 from 1st September 2019 to 31st December 2022 and again from 1st January 2023 to 31 December 2025.  The funding is principally for equipment / events with an educational / training purpose which can include wellbeing / team building. The fund is to reimburse the Department of Anaesthesiology for expenditure of this nature.

Criteria for funding:

Applications for funding can be submitted on behalf of the hospital by a College approved Tutor.  In submitting an application, the Tutor is acknowledging their responsibilities as outlined in the Training Regulations and agreeing in particular to:

  • Oversee in-hospital training, including teaching, presentations, access to modules and competencies
  • Meet trainees at the start of the rotation to agree goals and objectives
  • Brief a departmental meeting with an overview of the objectives agreed for all trainees
  • Provide the opportunity for one-to-one meetings to gauge progress, provide feedback and take remedial action if required
  • Arrange interim and end of rotation meetings
  • Organise the completion In-Training Assessments for each trainee for each six-month rotation following the process outlined in the Training Regulations
  • Keep College informed of relevant developments that may influence trainee’s performance and well being
  • Attend one Tutor Training Day per year

Purposes of funding

Expected purposes of funding include:

  • Equipment for the department with a training / educational function, e.g. laptop / projector, copies of invoices will be required.
  • Wellbeing events or events for team building exercises not including alcohol.

Requests for funding

  • The funds will be requested on behalf of the Department
  • Copies of invoices and Department of Anaesthesiology Bank account details will be required
  • The request will be subject to the approval of the Training Department and processed by the Finance Department.

Apply for Educational Fund

Click here to apply for fund

Appointment of Tutors:

To be eligible for nomination as a tutor, a doctor must meet the following criteria:

  • Hold the Fellowship of the College or equivalent;
  • Be ‘In Good Standing’ with the College;
  • Be registered on the Specialist Division of the Register for Anaesthesiology with the Medical Council of Ireland;
  • Be registered on and compliant with a Medical Council accredited PCS;
  • Be employed as a permanent consultant at an inspected and accredited training site

 

The Chair of the Department at an accredited training site nominates a proposed tutor to the Training Department of the College. The Training Manager tables the nomination for consideration at the next meeting of the Training Committee.  The Training Committee reserves the right of approval of tutor appointments in its sole and absolute discretion. In the event, that the Training Committee does not approve a nomination, the Anaesthesiology Department may propose an alternative nominee.  A Tutor is appointed for an initial term of three years.

The principal duties of the tutor are outlined below:

  • On allocation of trainees to hospital sites:
  • On receipt of notification from the College the tutor should contact each trainee to establish initial preferences regarding modules, on-call requirements, examinations and course requirements;

–     The tutor reviews preferences and appoints the rota maker;

–     The tutor is responsible for releasing trainees to attend mandatory courses and examinations as part of the Training Programme. A trainee should not be expected to attend a Mandatory Training or Simulation course if they are post-call;

–     The tutor is responsible for releasing SAT 6 trainees for non-clinical day;

  • The tutor should identify who is the appointed Lead Anaesthesiology Trainee (‘LAT’) and ensure that the Anaesthesiology Department is aware of the appointment. Where the Anaesthesiology Department considers that the LAT appointment may not be appropriate, e.g. in terms of seniority or experience, the tutor should refer this to the Training Department;
  • The tutor should be familiar with curriculum requirements, training guidelines and examination regulations;
  • The tutor should be familiar with all electronic processes for trainee management, e.g. log books,

training diary and assessment tools;

  • The tutor is primarily responsible for the in-hospital training, including teaching, presentations, access to modules and competencies;
  • The tutor is primarily responsible for monitoring trainees:

–     Meeting trainees at the start of the rotation to agree goals and objectives;

–     Meeting trainees in the middle of the six months’ rotation to provide the opportunity for one-to-one meetings to gauge progress, provide feedback and take remedial action if required;

–     Arranging end of rotation meeting

 

Should you have any queries regarding appointment of a Tutor or the Tutor Role please contact Tutor Liaison Administrator on training@coa.ie.