In-training assessments

The in-training assessment (ITA) process aims to:

• Facilitate discussion and the setting of appropriate clinical and educational goals for the training term, between a trainee and their supervisor of training.
• Assess a trainee's progress towards obtaining these goals.
• Provide trainees with regular, constructive feedback.
• Identify and develop any remedial activities that may be required.

The ITA process uses the curriculum framework, which has been implemented in the 2013 hospital year. An overview of the ITA process and its background is provided in ANZCA professional document TE14.

In-training assessments

Trainees are required to undertake in-training assessments (ITA) for each period of accredited training completed in the course of ANZCA’s 260-week program. ITAs must be conducted at least every 26 weeks.

A global assessment indicating whether a trainee is performing at a level consistent with the stage of training will be made at the end of each training term, so it is important that trainees clearly understand the process. This assessment is based on feedback obtained by the supervisor of training (SOT) from specialist staff with whom each trainee has worked in the course of the training term.

The main features of the ITA process are fully described in the following documents:

• Frequently asked questions about the in-training assessment.

• Podcast 1: The Online ITA – process, data and context.
  
• Podcast 2: The Online ITA – completing the online ITA form.

Trainees start each term with an initial interview with their supervisor of training where they set goals and objectives (for example, modules to be completed, examinations, case load) and develop a plan of action. Depending on their progress, a trainee may be required to also do a mid-term interview.

All trainees will have an end-of-term interview where the supervisor of training provides details of the assessment and comments received from contributors. Trainees are required to acknowledge the feedback and have the opportunity to make any comments, should they wish to do so.

Appearance on the online ITA list

Prior to the beginning of each hospital employment year, the College receives a list of trainees who will be participating in the ANZCA training program. These lists are prepared by the rotational supervisors and include the name of the hospital or training site at which each trainee will be training, and the start and end dates of each term.

This information is used to assign trainees to the correct hospital, and ensures that their records can only be accessed by ANZCA representatives at the given hospital.

Trainees will not appear on the correct hospital list if:

• They have not registered with the College.
• They change hospitals after the list has been recorded by the College.

Should you not appear on the appropriate list please email records@anzca.edu.au or call the Records Management Unit on +61 3 9510 6299.

Assessments of under-performance

The supervisor of training is required to assess whether trainees have performed at the expected level of someone with that level of training. He or she will allocate a rate of:

• Yes: meets expectations.
• Borderline: does not consistently meet expectations.
• No: does not meet expectations.

Assessments that do not meet expectations are ‘flagged’. Borderline assessments receive one flag; under-performing assessments are given two flags.

These flags are viewable by ANZCA representatives (the regional/national education officer, rotational supervisor and supervisor of training) with authorised access to the trainee's data for a period of one year (excluding any time when training was interrupted).

They flag to a supervisor those areas where additional support is required. Only supervisors of training at the hospital in which a trainee has or will be training in the current hospital employment year have access to these flagged records.

The flag is removed on the successful completion of a subsequent assessment and the accreditation of 52 weeks of training subsequent to the end date of the flagged ITA (excluding interruptions to training). The flags therefore remain for a period of at least one year.

The ANZCA Training and Assessments Unit monitors assessments and if a trainee is not performing at the expected level, will contact the supervisor of training and the regional/national education officers to assist them in providing support to the trainee, using the TE18 Policy for Assisting Trainees with Difficulty process.

The TE18 Policy for Assisting Trainees with Difficulty and Regulation 33 Trainee Performance Review Process have been reviewed and updated to incorporate changes to in-training assessment.