The Role of KSS Deanery

Specialty Training: The Role of KSS Deanery

The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Deanery (KSS)was established in April 2001 and is responsible for the coordination, delivery and funding of postgraduate medical and dental education in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.  

 The KSS Deanery Medical Workforce Department and, in particular, the Specialty Workforce Team is responsible for co-ordinating and facilitating the delivery of medical education to specialty trainees. The team works in conjunction with the KSS Deanery specialty schools (see below) to recruit trainees and support their education to the next level of training. The specialty schools in KSS Deanery have their own structures and oversee the relevant specialty curriculum in the region, working to the curriculum, policies and guidance of the relevant medical Royal College and their affiliates. The specialty schools, however, were established and are now supported and serviced by the KSS Deanery Specialty Workforce Team.

KSS Deaneryrelates to a range of local education providers (LEPs) within NHS trusts across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, with trainee numbers of approximately 600 in core specialty training and an additional 850 in higher specialty training posts. It has a working relationship with approximately 14 LEPs (11 Acute and 3 Psychiatric LEPs) across KSS in relation to all aspects of trainee recruitment and management.

 KSS Deanery Speciality Workforce Team maintains a professional working relationship with other Deaneries, particularly London Deanery, taking into consideration the necessity occasionally to accommodate trainees from other deaneries and/or manage trainees occupying training posts outside of KSS boundaries.  Some areas of higher specialty training are jointly provided by KSS Deanery together with London Deanery, and trainees have placements in both during their training. In such cases a memorandum of agreement is drawn up and signed by representatives from both deaneries. Key clauses of such an agreement cover:

•  how representatives from each deanery will be included in recruitment panels and processes for posts 
•  the placement requirements of specialty programmes in London teaching and district general hospital 
•  arrangements for consultation between key post holders such as Training Programme Directors in the respective deaneries
•  timelines and deadlines for processes and rotation arrangements to take place
•  arrangements for communication between the deaneries and key postholders in each
•  estimated numbers of training places required, allocation of National Training Numbers
•  arrangements for conducting ARCPs, and monitoring portfolios
•  each deanery’s responsibility for OOP, LTFT, and TiD
•  in which respects each deanery is responsible for quality and how each deanery is represented in quality monitoring visits
•  and how changes to the memorandum of agreement will be managed.

The Postgraduate Deaneries are responsible for implementing specialty training in accordance with General Medical Council (GMC) approved specialty curricula. They work closely with Royal Colleges and LEPs to quality manage the delivery of postgraduate medical training to GMC standards.

The specialty trainees are managed via the Medical Workforce Department within KSS Deanery and work within the specialties listed below:

The GMC recognises specific sub specialties within most specialties. The full GMC list of specialties and sub-specialties can be found here.