Portfolio

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has now launched Portfolio Online – this is a new web-based tool for trainees to build an electronic repository of their professional activities, development and achievements, including workplace-based assessments (WPBAs).

 

Portfolio Online is a performance based tool designed to promote the use of the postgraduate psychiatric curricula in educational planning and enhance learning based on reflection. The portfolio will be used throughout the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) period by demonstrating how and what the trainee is learning and by allowing the supervisor to measure their progress, in relation to the curriculum.

 

Please click on the following link for a link to the 2010 Curriculum (and previous curricula).

The Purpose of the Portoflio

The portfolio builds from a collection of documentary evidence with regard to training, learning and experience with the inclusion of personal reflection. Reflection gives the doctor the opportunity to consider and consolidate their recorded achievements. In the short term the portfolio is used to track training outcomes; in the longer term the portfolio will form a cornerstone of the revalidation process.

Portfolios are used to:

  • Evaluate a doctor’s ability to reflect and learn
  • Demonstrate professional development
  • Enhance learning and thus improve the ability of the doctor to care for patients

Portfolios can be adapted to the needs and aspirations of the individual and research studies have shown that they can be rated with sufficient reliability and contain the face validity that is needed for “high stakes” assessment. Their use is greatly enhanced by consistency (but not necessarily total uniformity) of content and by the training of assessors.

It is expected that the framework of an individual portfolio will be agreed between the trainee and those responsible for their training.

You must ensure that you have covered all parts of the curriculum relevant to your stage of training, so that you can present your portfolio at your ARCP. You will be able to link evidence and objectives to the curriculum within the online portfolio itself.

Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2010.

For further information regarding the Portfolio please go to the Royal College of Psychiatrists website.