Support for Ophthalmic Local Training

Resources to help prepare trainees to apply for Specialist Registration via the Portfolio pathway route, which confers eligibility to hold consultant posts.

Resources for the Ophthalmic Local Training (OLT) programme can help Local Trainees and Trainers to achieve high standards of patient care and develop professional skills during the Ophthalmic Local Training programme.

We aim to provide a ‘one stop shop’ which provides useful guidance and documentation to support you through the training programme.

Sign up to the standards

The Ophthalmology Local Training Programme Standards is guidance for Units/Trusts and the self-declaration form should be completed and submitted to the RCOphth Training Committee. The form demonstrates your commitment to the advised standards for local programmes.

The Guide to OLT provides further guidance around all these areas and should be read prior to completion of this form. It is essential that the additional training opportunities identified for OLT do not have any negative impact on current OST trainees.

Regional teams

Regional Education Advisers are currently working to create Regional Teams and as part of that team there will be a Regional Portfolio pathway/OLT Lead.Units will have an OLT Lead who will become a Portfolio Pathway Assessor and will take part in College assessments. Training and support will be provided for this part of the role. This post will be known as the OLT Lead/Tutor.

Key training information for Ophthalmic Local Training

We have developed a range of documentation to support the development of this training programme.

Introduction to Ophthalmology Local Training OLT Programme (2020)

Get an overview of the purpose, processes and support for the OLT programme.

Ophthalmology Local Training Programme Guidance (2020)

Read guidance on curriculum and assessment during training and the portfolio/e-portfolio; teaching, audit, quality improvement and research in training; Generic Professional Capabilities and recruitment and support.

Ophthalmology Local Training Programme Standards

This is a self-declaration form for Units/Trusts to complete and submit to the Training Committee at the RCOphth demonstrating their commitment to the advised standards for local programmes.

Regional Portfolio pathway/Ophthalmology Local Training Programme Lead Job Description & Person Specification

The Regional Portfolio pathway/OLT Lead is responsible for providing advice on the Portfolio pathway process to local OLT programmes and local candidates not in the formal programme. In order to do this effectively they need to be a trained College CESR assessor.

Unit Lead for Ophthalmology Local Training Programme Job Description & Person Specification

Work with the Clinical and Educational Supervisors in units to plan how the OLT Programme fits with the future delivery of the service, and the training opportunities and with the Regional CESR/OLT Lead who can also provide support.

Continuous cataract complications audit

Continuous cataract complications audit - synopsis template.

50 consecutive cases cataract audit guidance

It is a curriculum requirement to present a 50 consecutive cases cataract audit paper (with comparison to national standards), which must be supported by raw data. This document should be read alongside the 'Example model 50 cases cataract audit'.

Example model 50 case cataract audit

Example of how the 50 consecutive cases cataract audit should be presented.

Simulation

As a surgical-based specialty, ophthalmology encompasses a wide range of operations and clinic-based procedures, requiring ophthalmologists to make use of micro-surgical techniques. Simulation training enables trainee ophthalmologists to master these skills before in vivo training.

Find out more

A microphone with a computer screen with information about sound in the background.

Eye to Eye Podcast

Listen to 'How to succeed in your CESR application'. In this episode, we speak with Mr Soupramanien Sandramouli, a consultant ophthalmologist in Wolverhampton and the previous CESR lead for the RCOphth.

Listen now