Rheumatology (NI) ST4 - Specialty Specific Application Form Questions

These are the Specialty Training application form questions used on Oriel for applications to Rheumatology ST4 higher specialty training in Northern Ireland. These are the application form questions used for posts advertised in November 2023 with a start date from August 2024.
 
The questions are presented here to help you prepare for your future applications. Please be aware application form structures, questions, word counts, etc. can change and there is no guarantee that future application forms will remain the same. 

Supporting Information

1. Supporting Information

Please advise if you have any of the following achievements that would be relevant to your application.

(Ticking the box will open up a table below, in which you should provide further information.)

  • Additional Undergraduate Degrees or Qualifications
  • Additional Postgraduate Degrees or Qualifications
  • Additional Achievements (ie. Prizes, Awards, Distinctions)
  • Training Courses


2. Presentations and Publications

In this section please provide details of your most relevant publications in journals or presentations to local bodies, regional or national societies. Please state whether the presentation was oral or a poster. Please give full citation details of any published work (please provide PubMed link or alternative in your answer). Please give a statement about your personal contribution to the work (e.g. first author, lead investigator)

If you do not have an achievement in that area, please put ‘N/A’ in the relevant box.

Please provide details of your most relevant presentations and/or posters. Please give a statement about your personal contribution to the work. Other than the option of being a significant contributor at a national or international meeting, it is a requirement that you deliver presentations yourself (or co-present) and for posters that you are available for questions/answers where it is shown.  See the PHST Recruitment website (https://phstrecruitment.org.uk/recruitment-process/applying/application-scoring) for full guidance. This domain has additional guidance on the website should an activity have been disrupted due to COVID-19 (Words allowed: 300)

Please provide details of your most relevant publications. Please give full citation details (as in Pubmed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed)) of any published work and then give a statement about your personal contribution to the work. If adding details of an abstract, please add ‘(abstract)’ as a note. (Words allowed: 300)

3. Supporting information

Use the spaces below to provide information to demonstrate how you are suitable for a training post in this specialty.  Please refer to both the essential and desirable criteria on the person specification as you complete the following sections.

If you do not have an achievement in that area, please put ‘N/A’ in the relevant box.

Teaching Experience

Please provide details of your teaching experience. Please give full details about the type of teaching, your personal contribution, details of any feedback obtained and how you have reflected on this; the PHST Recruitment website (https://phstrecruitment.org.uk/recruitment-process/applying/application-scoring) has guidance to help choose the right option. This domain has additional guidance on the website should an activity have been disrupted due to COVID-19 (Words allowed: 250)

Training in Teaching

Please provide details of your training in teaching. Include details about: the course provider, any qualification gained, start and end dates, the length of training and how the course was conducted (Words allowed: 100)

Quality Improvement

Please provide details of your experience of quality improvement activities, providing details of your experience of quality improvement activities, giving titles and dates. What specifically was your contribution, what did the project show, how was it sustainable, was it presented or published? Remember that projects/audits which do not demonstrate use of QI methodology and repeated Plan Do Study Act cycles should be scored no more highly than the two point option; although it is permissible to claim for projects where you were only involved in one complete PDSA cycle, provided that additional cycles for that project were completed either before or subsequent to your work. See the PHST Recruitment website (https://phstrecruitment.org.uk/recruitment-process/applying/application-scoring) for full guidance. This domain has additional guidance on the website should an activity have been disrupted due to COVID-19 (Words allowed: 250)

Leadership / Management

Please provide details of your experience in leadership and management, specifying the: name of the organisation, nature and scope of your role, start and (if applicable) end date. You must also include details of the positive impact you were able to make. Roles must be subsequent to commencing your first undergraduate degree (ie this includes any degree undertaken prior to your primary medical qualification); See the PHST Recruitment website (https://phstrecruitment.org.uk/recruitment-process/applying/application-scoring) for full guidance. (Words allowed: 250)

4. MRCP(UK) or qualifying alternative

Applicants must demonstrate one of the following criteria to apply to medicine at ST3/ST4 level:

  • MRCP(UK) Part 1 at time of application and MRCP(UK) full diploma by initial offers (Initial offers for Round 2 ST3/ST4+ is 5pm Thursday 18 April 2024)
  • Eligibility for the specialist register in general internal medicine by time of application; this must have been approved by the GMC to be considered.
  • Completion of Irish Basic Specialty Training in medicine and the MRCPI full diploma by initial offers (Initial offers for Round 2 ST3/ST4+ is 5pm Thursday 18 April 2024)


Please note the following regarding these rules:

  • These rules only apply to the MRCP(UK) criterion. It will still be necessary for any trainee applying on this basis to submit the relevant alternative certificate to enter higher specialty training with their application and to meet the necessary experience requirements for the specialty of application.
  • This rule only applies to the MRCP(UK). If you are applying to a specialty which accepts trainees/examinations from other pathways (e.g. paediatrics/MRCPCH), you will need the relevant UK membership examination.


Please visit the PHST Recruitment website for details about eligibility: https://phstrecruitment.org.uk/recruitment-process/am-i-eligible

Please select from the options below how you satisfy the requirement to have MRCP(UK), or qualifying alternative. Alternative specialty examinations must be specifically referenced on the person specification for the specialty to which you are applying.

  • Full MRCP(UK) at time of application (or alternative specialty exam referenced on the person specification)
  • On track to complete MRCP(UK) by initial offers date for this recruitment round (or alternative specialty exam referenced on the person specification)
  • Completion of Irish Basic Specialty Training in medicine AND the MRCPI full diploma by initial offers date
  • Eligibility for the specialist register in general internal medicine by time of application


If you are applying on the basis of an alternative specialty UK examination, please supply the name of the examination here:

5. Commitment to specialty

Your answers in this section will not contribute to your application score, but commitment to specialty is a significant part of the interview so, should you be invited, your answer will be reviewed and may be discussed at that stage

Explain in the space provided why you have applied for this specialty (Words allowed: 150)

Please outline any specific skills or attributes that you possess that make you suitable for a career in this specialty (Words allowed: 150)

Interests Outside Medicine

In this space please describe any other attributes or activities outside of the field of medicine that you feel may support your application. It is not mandatory to enter any information here but is recommended to refer to the person specification when considering information to include (Words allowed: 200)

6. NIMDTA Welcome Event 

NIMDTA runs an annual Welcome Event for trainees new to Northern Ireland. This event is predominately aimed at doctors who have neither worked nor lived in Northern Ireland before.  The course is designed to address some of the elements of life particular to Northern Ireland, both inside and outside medicine.

All new appointments are welcome; however we would appreciate if you could answer the questions below to indicate the range of trainees attending.

Do you identify yourself as someone New to Northern Ireland (N2NI)? (Yes | No)

i.e. If you don’t have enough experience of working or living in NI, then please answer yes.

Would you like to receive an invitation to NIMDTA’s New to Northern Ireland Welcome Event (Yes | No)

Self-assessment

1. Higher Medicine Self-Assessment

The questions below require you to select the most appropriate achievement from each section. The answers to these questions will make up the application score used to allocate candidates to interview.  

  1. All Candidates MUST upload evidence for ALL self-assessment domains at time of application.
  2. All Evidence MUST be uploaded in PDF FORMAT.
  3. You MUST upload an index page before completing the self-assessment. The index should detail the evidence you have provided for each domain, to help the validators navigate through your evidence. This document MUST be named 00Index.pdf. An approved index template can be downloaded from the document library for this vacancy which illustrates how we expect your evidence to be organised. Failure to provide an index that clearly lists where all required evidence can be found AND which domain it is linked to will result in your application being rejected. 
  4. Please combine evidence for each domain into ONE pdf per domain in the order listed within your index document. Each Domain should then be labelled accordingly (ie. 01Quals)
  5. If it is not possible for you to combine documents into one pdf, you will be permitted a max of 5 documents per domain and they should be labelled accordingly (ie, 01a, 01b, etc. in order based on your index page)
  6. Please ensure you keep to the naming convention above and DON’T use any non-alphanumeric characters (ie. &*.%$) as this will prevent the transfer of your documents into SharePoint for validation.  The naming convention is provided to allow the validation panel to quickly identify your evidence and identify which domain it applies to.  If it is not clear from the file name which domain the evidence relates to, the validation panel reserves the right to reject that file. 
  7. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure uploaded documents FULLY DEMONSTRATE the required evidence based on the rating they have chosen. Failure to do so may result in the score for that domain being reduced. (ie. if you have claimed that you have presented at a national or international meeting, do not expect your slides alone to be accepted as evidence; instead please upload confirmation from the conference organisers that your presentation was included in the programme of events.  Similarly, if your score depends on a publication having a PubMed reference, please ensure this is clearly visible within your evidence submission.)
  8. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure uploaded documents are CORRECTLY ORIENTATED AND LEGIBLE. Failure to do so may result that domain being scored zero.
  9. ONLY upload documentation directly relevant to your self-assessment. The validating panel cannot be expected to review your entire portfolio. If a candidate is deemed to have uploaded unnecessary documentation that prevents the validation panel from quickly identifying the correct evidence, their application will be rejected.
  10. You can only claim on the basis of achievements completed at point of submission of your application.
  11. Scores are not adjustable after submission – you cannot amend your self-assessment score after should you have made a mistake on your application form, or gained an achievement after the submission of your application.
  12. It is never permissible to share or upload patient identifiable data.  Any file found to contain patient identifiable data will be removed from your evidence folder, prior to validation, to prevent it being shared further. NIMDTA may also be obliged to raise this as a GDPR issue and inform your Responsible Officer.

When completing this section you must read the guidance on selecting options on the Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment website, which includes the scoring framework for each area: https://phstrecruitment.org.uk/recruitment-process/applying/application-scoring. The guidance includes specific rules about the application scoring process and what you can claim and in which section, this includes but is not limited to:

– Completed achievements only – you can only claim on the basis of achievements completed at point of submission of your application.

– Scores not adjustable after submission – you cannot amend this section after application should you have made a mistake on your application form, or gained an achievement after the submission of your application.

The questions below require you to select the most appropriate achievement from each section. The answers to these questions will make up the application score used to allocate candidates to interview.  

Unless specified otherwise on the website, all achievements should relate to the field of medicine (in its broadest sense – ie not just hospital medicine).

Queries about which option to choose

In addition to the guidance there are also some frequently asked questions which you may find helpful in completing this section available from: https://phstrecruitment.org.uk/help/applying-faqs 

The single most common question we receive is from candidates unsure which options to choose when it appears unclear. Unfortunately we are restricted in the guidance we can provide as completion of the form must be solely your own work, including choosing achievements from each list.

The general advice is to consider the options available, the guidance on the website and your experience/achievements in this area, and then use your professional judgement to select the highest available option you deem to be appropriate. Subsequent to this, provide all additional information required within the form, so as to make a case as to why you have selected this particular option.

Validation panels are aware that the options do not always neatly describe a candidate’s achievements and so can employ a degree of flexibility when reviewing forms. However, you must be able to upload evidence to Oriel that fully evidences your claims, so please ensure the achievement you choose is a fair representation of what you have done to the best of your knowledge and belief.

2. Postgraduate degrees

Postgraduate degrees and qualifications

Degree classifications – Where you have gained a degree/qualification which does not appear to fit exactly within one of the options available here, please select the option here which you deem equivalent based upon your knowledge of the level of the qualifications within the UK and the country where you gained your qualification. You will be required to justify your selected option on the application form as to why you deemed this the equivalent option; interviewers may ask you about this further at interview.

Intercalated degrees

Intercalated degrees cannot be scored in any section of self-assessment. There are usually awarded at bachelors’ level but are sometimes given at masters level. Regardless of which level your degree was awarded at, you cannot claim for intercalated degrees in this, or any other section. 

  • PhD or MD by research (can include non-medical related qualifications) : 4
  • Masters level degree eg MSc, MA, MRes, etc. (can include non-medical qualifications). Typically lasts 8 months or longer, full-time equivalent : 3
  • Other relevant postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate typically lasting between ONE AND TEN MONTHS(whole-time equivalent). You cannot claim for the MRCP(UK), or parts thereof, in this section, or an alternative membership examination which is required for entry to the specialty (eg MRCPCH, MRCPI) to which you are applying. Qualifications unrelated to medicine cannot be claimed for in this option. : 2
  • None : 0


3. Additional achievements 

Please note that where a stated percentage is given you must be able to demonstrate this to claim that option. If your medical school do not specify this, you will need to contact them to ask them to supply something in writing to verify that your performance met the specified criteria.

Examples of evidence – This would normally be a letter or certificate from the medical school or organiser which confirms the award.

  • High-achievement award for primary medical qualification (eg honours or distinction) awarded to no more than the top 18% : 3
  • Awarded international/national prize related to medicine : 2
  • ONE or more prizes / distinctions / merits related to parts of the medical course awarded to no more than the top 20% : 1
  • None : 0


4. MRCP(UK)

No score is given for passing MRCP(UK) Part 1, as this is an essential eligibility requirement at time of application. See the MRCP(UK) page for more information on this.

Alternative specialty examinations

Where you have an alternative UK specialty examination which is specified on the person specification, you can substitute the MRCP(UK) with the corresponding examination for that specialty.

For example, if you are applying to haematology, which accepts the MRCPCH, you can claim the points for completing Part 2 Written if you have completed all of the theory examinations and the points for both Part 2 Written and PACES if you have additionally completed the clinical examination and have the full MRCPCH diploma. 

Non-UK alternative training

If you are applying without the MRCP(UK), on the basis of having completed Irish Basic Specialty Training and the MRCPI, or you are eligible for the GMC specialist register in general internal medicine, you can only apply if you have completed training, including postgraduate examination, at time of application so should only select the top option

MRCP(UK)

  • I have passed both MRCP(UK) Part2 Written and PACES or a stated alternative on the person specification : 8
  • I have passed MRCP(UK) PACES but not Part 2 Written or a stated alternative on the person specification : 6
  • I have passed MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written but not PACES ora stated alternative on the person specification : 2
  • I have not passed MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written or PACES or a stated alternative on the person specification : 0


5. Presentations

Presentations/Posters

Examples of evidence This could include a range of documents, examples include: a certificate or letter confirming the invitation and/or delivery of the presentation/poster, an abstract submitted to the organiser, inclusion in the abstracts book for the meeting, a copy of the presentation slides or poster.

  • An ORAL PRESENTATION in which I was a first or second author was given at a NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL medical meeting : 7
  • A POSTER in which I was a first or second author was shown at a NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL medical meeting : 5
  • An ORAL PRESENTATION in which I was a first or second author was given at a REGIONAL medical meeting : 5
  • An ORAL PRESENTATION in which I was a first or second author was given at a LOCAL medical meeting : 2
  • A POSTER in which I was a first or second author was shown at a REGIONAL OR LOCAL medical meeting : 2
  • None : 0


6. Publications 

PubMed citations 

Any item included under an option stating ‘PubMed-cited’ must be cited in PubMed, so as to demonstrate that it is both peer-reviewed and relevant to medicine. 

Where possible, you should include the PubMed reference when giving details of publications and the application form will require you to leave the web link for your article; Cochrane reviews can be regarded as equivalent.

The only exception to this is in the case of published medical books, which do not require PubMed citation.

  • I am first author, joint-first author or corresponding author, of one or more PubMed-cited original research publication (or in press) : 8
  • I am co-author of one or more PubMed-cited original research publication (or in press) : 6
  • I am first author, joint-first author, corresponding author or co-author of more than one PubMed-cited other publication (or in press) such as editorials, reviews, case reports, letters, etc : 5
  • I have written one or more chapters of a book related to medicine in its broadest sense (this does not include self-published books) : 5
  • I am first author, joint-first author, or co-author of one PubMed-cited other publication (or in press) such as an editorial, review, case report, letter, etc : 3
  • I have published one or more abstracts, non peer-reviewed articles or published articles that are not PubMed-cited : 1
  • None : 0


7. Teaching experience

  • I have worked with local tutors to ORGANISE a teaching programme (a series of sessions) for healthcare professionals or medical students on which I REGULARLY TAUGHT over a period of APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS or longer. I have evidence of FORMAL FEEDBACK. : 6
  • I have provided REGULAR teaching for healthcare professionals or medical students over a period of APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS or longer. I have evidence of FORMAL FEEDBACK. : 3
  • I have taught medical students or other healthcare professionals OCCASIONALLY. I have evidence of FORMAL FEEDBACK. : 1
  • None : 0


8. Training in teaching

  • I have been awarded a masters level teaching qualification. : 3
  • I have a higher qualification in teaching eg PG Cert or PG Diploma. : 2
  • I have had training in teaching methods which is below the level of a PG Cert or PG Diploma : 1
  • I have had no training in teaching methods. : 0


9. Quality improvement

  • Involvement in all aspects of two cycles of an original QI project where you can demonstrate a leadership capacity by supervising other members of the team : 5
  • Involvement in all aspects of two cycles of a QI project : 4
  • Participating in QI activity – this requires Involvement in one aspect of a completed, multi-cycle QI project OR involvement in two or more aspects of a single cycle QI project : 1
  • None : 0


10. Leadership and management

  • I hold/have held a NATIONAL/REGIONAL leadership or managerial role for 6 OR MORE MONTHS and can DEMONSTRATE MAKING AN IMPACT : 4
  • I hold/have held a LOCAL leadership or managerial role for 6 OR MORE MONTHS and can DEMONSTRATE MAKING AN IMPACT : 2
  • None : 0


11. Evidence Index

Please upload your index page to help the validators navigate through your evidence.  Index templates can be downloaded from the document library for this vacancy.  Please list all evidence you have uploaded as part of this self-assessment in the order it will appear.  The document should be named ‘00Index.pdf’.