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RCPCH ePortfolio is your online portfolio. It facilitates your development and offers structure and evidence to support your training. It is easy to use and stores everything you do in your timeline.

Improvements and updates

We continue to improve RCPCH ePortfolio, which is on the risr/advance platform, so that it works best for you. We have an ePortfolio User Group toÌýaddress and prioritise improvements. We communicate regular updates via the 'important messages and announcements' section, so do make sure to check this section regularly on your portfolio.

August 2024 - Transfer of Doctor in Paediatric and MTI roles to Progress+ curriculum

Doctors having these roles on ePortfolio will be transferred to the Progress+ curriculum by 1st August 2024. All previous work will remain on your timeline. You will see a new version of the assessments, yourÌýdashboard and the way you view your completed assessments against the curriculum. Tagging to the curriculum has been simplified.Ìý

For detailed guidance, download the ePortfolio guidance for Doctors in Paediatrics and MTIÌýguide document

July 2024 - A new Files area

risrÌýhas updated the way all users view their files, or documents on risr/advance, the ePortfolio platform. As of 2 July, there is a Files area, replacingÌýthe Document library. (This is part of the risr developmentÌýrelease v2.29Ìýfor all clients, and is not an RCPCH development)Ìý

For details, see the section,ÌýAdding documents and access to Files area

May 2024 - Current and upcoming improvements

• We are working with risr to restore linksÌýthat did not pull through to reports in the recent transfer to Progress+. This has now bee completed in July 2024.
• We have established a 'one source of truth' for curriculum display. Our advice stands to only check curriculum coverageÌýreports via the hyperlinks on your dashboard. For details, download the Progress+ traineeÌýguidance,
• Where possible, we are unifying the different views of trainees, supervisors and others viewing a trainee ePortfolio.

November 2023 - ImprovementsÌý

• Educational Supervisor and Joint supervisor report for ARCP - Trainees are asked to 'showcase their evidence'ÌýtoÌýtheir educational supervisor for two reasons:
  • Ìý It puts the trainee back in control of the evidence they want to demonstrate to supervisors, and by extension ARCP panels or specialty committees.
  • Ìý It removes the expectation of a supervisor to have to check through high numbers of tags.
• CSAC Progression forms - Adjustments to forms in terms of presenting data with subspecialty curriculum evidence qualitative report embedded within.
• One dashboard - We removed the ‘My Information’ dashboard. We streamlined the dashboards to replace the bulky boxes with links. Further details below
• Evidence tagsÌýto curriculum - There is now only one type of way to do this rather than multiple. This reduces the expectation to tags lots and consider quality of experiential reflection.
• Readiness for Tier 2 form - ThisÌýis now mandatory for trainees moving to Tier 2 rotas.
• Key capability evidence report and Level requirement report - These replaced theÌýLearning outcome goals and Level requirement checklist, which are now redundant. Detailed guidance inÌýthe Downloads box

How to get an account

If you are a trainee paediatrician in the UK, you will need to be registered for training with us, as well as be an active member. Find out your membership / training type and apply.

If you need access with the RCPCH ePortfolio for a different reason, please contact training.services@rcpch.ac.ukÌýÌýfor training related access or cpd@rcpch.ac.ukÌýfor CPD Diary access.

You can then access your ePortfolio by signing in to your RCPCH online account.

Your timeline

Your timeline hosts all of your activities in one place. This includes workplace assessments, reflective logs, skills and development logs, curriculum comments, training posts, supervisors added,Ìý ARCP (Annual Review of Competence Progression) forms and more.

You can also create new forms from your timeline by selecting the Create New icon, or the + button at the top.

Your To do list

This is indicated by the red bell at the top of your screen, including the number of items pending.

It shows requests to complete assessments for other trainees, or forms that have been returned to you for further work as part of their process.

Your dashboard and profile

This is your ePortfolio landing page and has changed as part of the Progress+ implementation.ÌýDashboards have been streamlined to remove the bulky boxes and use links instead. All your necessary reports are present as hyperlinks. There is only one dashboard, we have removed the ‘My Information’ dashboard.

From your dashboard, you can:

• Create new forms, such as assessments or development logs
• Read the RCPCH important messages inbox
• View theÌýkey capability evidence reports and level requirement reports.
• Outstanding assessments, when you created them and when you sent reminders (for those sent on or after 01 April 2022)
• Indicative CCT date, usually based on your last ARCP
• Skills and development logs summary
• Assessments summary
• Certifications for child protection and life support

Video guide: Doctors in trainingÌý- Covers CORE and SPECIALTY level trainees dashboard, timeline and header bar and to do lists

Tagging your events to the RCPCH Progress+ curriculum

You can find detailed guidance regarding tagging your events at Page 8 of theÌýePortfolio guidance for Progress+ Trainees - June 2024Ìý»å´Ç³¦³Ü³¾±ð²Ô³Ù.

Tagging to SPIN under Progress+ is slightly different, as the SPIN modules were built alongside the previous Progress curriculum. For detailed process, please refer to theÌýGuidance for tagging to SPIN curriculum for Progress+ traineesÌýdocument.

Video guide: Doctors in training -ÌýCovers ensuring correct curriculum access, tagging assessments and logs to Progress+ and SPIN curriculum

Add a supervisor with your training post

We have combined adding your supervisor with your training post.Ìý

• Go to your dashboard
• Click Create new event, selectÌýAdd supervisor and Core/Specialty level training postÌý
• Add a start date and end date to cover the period for which your supervisor needs to be connected with you. If you add the same start and end date, you will add them for one day only
• Add your educational and clinical supervisor detailsÌý
• Always ensure you have a training post with no overlapping dates as reports pull data from within the range of your training posts

Send an assessment to an assessor

Once you have completed your part, you can send to your assessor.

• From your timeline, select New event
• Select Event type and choose an assessment
• Complete all relevant fields (the mandatory fields are marked with a red star)
• In Specify next responsible person, start typing the name of your assessor and select the right name (scroll down to see what to do if the name is not listed)
• Click Send to Assessor to send to your chosen assessor

If your assessor is with you

You can select Fill in on the same device. The assessor section will display at the bottom of the event. They can complete their part and click Submit, which will send your assessment over to your assessor’s To Do list for authorisation. (They will need to log in to their account to authorise the event.)

Remind your assessor

You can click Remind to send an automatic reminder email to the assessor. This includes a link to log in and complete the assessment.

We have an outstanding assessments report hyperlink toÌý list the assessments you have sent that have not had a reply.

If the assessor's name is not listed

Most of the time, your assessors will have an RCPCH ePortfolio account, and you will be able to find them by name. It is important that you do this so that they get your assessment.

However if you cannot find their name, you can invite them to join RCPCH ePortfolio by entering their email address. They will get an automated email from no-reply@kaizenep.com.

We are aware that some Trusts are automatically filtering these emails. In these cases, please ask your assessor to speak with their IT department to allow these emails.

Video guide: Doctors in training -ÌýCovers adding your supervisor and training post, sending assessments to assessors and other colleagues.

Using development logs and skills log effectively

RCPCH ePortfolio has a range of development logs and a skills log you can use to meet curriculum requirements. Bear in mind, they cannot solely demonstrate evidence of the curriculum key capabilities as these need to be shown from the assessments table. For guidance on using any of the 13 development logs please see this video (approximately 7 minutes):

If you want to see an example of how the skills log can be used, please see this guidance video:

Please note:ÌýThe video refers to three training levels within Progress curriculum. This is now changed to Core and Specialty level in Progress+ curriculum. However the format and other aspects of Development log and skills log remain the same. We are in the process of creating new guidance soon.

Supervision reports

All supervision reports are in the same form. From here you can select:

• Induction meeting with PDP (Educational Supervisor) - we consider this mandatory at the start of your placement to identify your Personal Development Plan (PDP).Ìý Here's a quick video guideÌý

• Clinical supervisor induction meeting - an optional form if there is a clinical area you specifically want to focus on outside of your educational PDP.
• Midpoint review - good practice suggests these should be used, especially if placements are longer than 6 months, to see how progress against curriculum and PDP is going.
• Educational supervisor trainer report for ARCP - a mandatory form for your ARCP panel. This is where your supervisor formally reviews your progress against the curriculum. Only at the end of a level of training do curriculum objectives need to be signed off.ÌýThese recommended ARCP panel judgements for Progress and Progress+Ìýwill help guide educational supervisors.
• Clinical supervisor trainer Report - can be used if your educational supervisor is different from your clinical supervisor and your educational supervisor would like to see one as part of their review (most useful for those supervising trainees in Specialty level training that have two curricula to complete.
• Joint Educational and Clinical Supervisor Report - this is the same as the Educational Supervisor Trainer Report for ARCP when your educational and clinical supervisor are the same person.
• Placement reflection discussion (not for ARCP) - can be used where a placement ends but an ARCP convenes after the end of the next placement and progress in first placement needs recording.

If you are uncertain which supervision report to use, consider if an ARCP panel would need to review your form. In most cases, the Educational supervisor trainer report for ARCP is necessary, even for six-month posts.

Preparing for your ARCP

While the RCPCH has no direct involvement in your ARCP, this is solely run by your local programme, we do host the ARCP form in the ePortfolio and have created a new ARCP preparation document form in your ePortfolio. This requires as a minimum:

• You upload a copy of your Form R (Trainees in Scotland:Ìýcomplete your annual SOAR declaration)
• You generate the reports of your life support and child protection certificates (as they appear on your dashboard)
• You display the list of meetings you have had with your supervisor
• You can also attach further files to address the requirements your local programme might wish you to prepare

We can offer some general guidance relevant to all trainees from our experience and work with heads of schools of paediatrics.

• Make sure you adhere to timelines for completing supervisor reports and, if in higher level subspecialty training, CSAC progression reports..
• You only need to have your curriculum learning outcomes signed off when you are moving levels (e.g. from Core Level TrainingÌý(ST1-ST4) to Speciality Level Training (ST5-ST7) and completing training by exiting Specialty Level Training for CCT.
• NB owing to the recent changes to how the RCPCH Progress+ curriculum is presented in the RCPCH ePortfolio, it is possible that you won't have sign off for theÌýprevious level (e.g. in Specialty LevelÌýat ST5 you don't have Core Level signed off). This is not a problem and it is accepted that you will have demonstrated all of the Core level requirements by having moved into Specialty. Further guidance for trainees at ST4 or ST5(C4) can be accessed here -ÌýFor ST4 or ST5(C4) trainees moving to Progress+ Core - guidance | RCPCH

Personal development plan and goals

As part of your induction meeting with PDP with your educational supervisor, you can identify areas that you wish to progress and your supervisor will help craft these into SMART goals. These videos offer helpful guidance on how to get the most out of your ePortfolio (this video gives an example of how a trainee might use the PDP at the start of their training):

We also have an example of how a middle grade trainee might use the PDP goals functionality:

Adding documents and access to Files area

As of 2 July 2024, as part of risr development, the Files area replaces what was the Document library. Risr development updates are quarterly, applicable over all their clients, including RCPCH.

When you click on Files in the main menu, you can view all files you have uploaded to your ePortfolio. This gives a quick, read only view of your training journey.

Using the Files area

These are the key features of the Files area compared to the previous Document library:

• The Files area is read only. You can view all your files here, but unable to add or delete files. Rather you can add or delete files on your Events - see below for details
• Existing folder structures have been incorporated into the relevant file's name.
• The search is improved. You can search by file name or the folder name. You can also bookmark your searches so you can use them again later.
• There is no storage limit.
• You can no longer attach a document to an event after it is completed via the 'Add documents' function at the bottom of the event.

Here is a screenshot of the Files area:

Adding and deleting files

You can upload a file to an Event that has an Attach/Choose File field. When a file is added to an Event, it can then be viewed in the Files area.

You can delete a file from an Event if you have the necessary permissions.Ìý

Viewing files in an Event

You can go to an Event and see the file(s) attached to the event in the sidebar.

Here is a screenshot of a sample Event with one file showing in the sidebar:

risr has created a three-minute video about this change to the Files area.

Downloading your ePortfolio

For individual events

• Open one of your assessments or logs and click on blue box that states download PDF

For the whole of your ePortfolio

• Go to Reports tab at the top
• Click on All ePortfolio Report
• Click Generate

This report can then be downloaded if needed.

Note on web browsers

As of July 2020, RCPCH ePortfolio does not support the web browser, Internet Explorer This is due to Microsoft discontinuing support and security updates for this browser.

We strongly recommend the Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browsers to ensure the system works as expected; other browsers may not work as well.

Privacy and using ePortfolio

The purpose of the following is to:

• inform trainees, trainers and CPD Diary users of circumstances under which the College may be asked to disclose information held on ePortfolio to a third party without consent
• provide guidance to trainees, trainers and CPD Diary users on how to enter information on ePortfolio whilst retaining the educational value.

Legislative background

There are two legislative frameworks which govern the way that we process data held on ePortfolio: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018 and Medical Act 1983.

We are governed by the GDPR principles outlined by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) - see our membership privacy notice and the ePortfolio privacy statement below. To find out more about your rights, visit the or to make a request please contact the Data Protection Officer on information.governance@rcpch.ac.uk or writing to: Data Protection Officer, RCPCH, 5-11 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8SH.

Section 35A of the Medical Act 1983 states that, for the purpose of assisting the General Council or any of their committees in carrying out functions in respect of a practitioner’s fitness to practice, a person authorised by the Council may require a practitioner or any other person to supply such information or produce such a document which appears relevant to the discharge of any such function.

Disclosure of information

Under our legislative requirements, there may be certain circumstances where we are asked to disclose information to a third party without the consent of the data subject because a Data Protection exemption applies. It is important that you are aware of these:

1. Under section 35A of the Medical Act 1983, the GMC may ask us to release information held on ePortfolio in a case of fitness to practice.
2. We may receive a court order or coroners request to release information.
3. The Police may request that we release information on ePortfolio for crime prevention purposes.
4. We may be asked to release information by a patient subject access request, if the patient is identifiable.

Advice on using reflective notes in ePortfolio

Keep reflective notes, as fully anonymised as possible. Other practitioners, patients, parents and staff should not be named or be readily identifiable from the information you provide. For example, instead of referring to patient Jane Smith, refer to them as patient X. Never include the patient ID number or name. Avoid including date of birth (if necessary refer to the patient’s approximate age), addresses or any unique condition or circumstance of that patient which may allow someone to identify them when used in conjunction with other information they have access to. Occasionally it will be unavoidable as the condition of a particular patient will be unique, but try and minimise the patient identifiable information that you provide.

Word the reflective notes in terms of:

• Brief description: what are you reflecting on? Outline the circumstance in general terms. Ensure that you anonymise data. You can describe a situation without including identifiable data. For example, use ‘patient x’ or ‘Dr S’ instead of names or patient numbers.
• Feelings: what were your reactions or feelings to the event in general? Try not to be judgmental, both to yourself and others, particularly when your reactions and feelings are still raw.
• Evaluation: what was the outcome? What was good and could have been done differently about the event?
• Analysis: what have you learnt? What steps will you now take on the basis of what you have learnt? – This is the most important section and will allow the other sections to be brief, generic and unidentifiable. This section will demonstrate both the learning outcome and reflection.
• Take advice from a senior, experienced colleague when writing reflection about cases that may be contentious or result in an investigation.
• The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges .
• The AoMRC has also created which can be applied to paediatric training as wellÌýÌý

Most importantly, ePortfolio is an educational tool and not a medical record. It is important that trainees, trainers and CPD Diary users continue to participate openly and meaningfully with the appraisal process by continuing to use ePortfolio for genuine and detailed reflection that adds value to learning. However, this should be done without including patient identifiable or personal data. In the event you are referred to the GMC (a rare event, but more likely than a criminal prosecution), they will want to see evidence of refection. Good reflective learning will support you.

Over emotional reflections, written in the heat of the moment should be avoided, as should criticism of others or discussion of personal differences.

If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an incident with a serious outcome, it is helpful to set out the narrative on paper immediately so that the events are recorded while still fresh in your mind, but formally documented reflection is probably better done after some consideration.

• Data regarding trainees and CPD Diary users will be held by RCPCH for twelve years following achievement of certification of completion of training/trainees have left the programme/CPD Diary users having last accessed their account in line with GMC guidance and best practice. After this retention period, the records will be destroyed. If you need to retain any information after this period, you will need to ensure that you have downloaded the records.
• If a request to release portfolio information is made directly to a trainee/CPD Diary users, advice should be sought from the Head of School or Regional Advisor (trainees only) and the doctor's Defence Society.
• Reflections following a SUI are important but a detailed description of the incident does not need to be stored in the ePortfolio. A doctor could reflect on an incident with their Educational Supervisor or TPD or more senior colleague. The discussion, reflection and learning points could then be recorded in the ePortfolio without a need to include the identifying clinical details either as a reflective log/note or using a workplace-based assessment tool such as Case Based Discussion.

For more information, download the privacy notice below.

Contact

For any help you need, queries you have or suggestions for improvements with your ePortfolio, please do contact our Training Services team (in Training & Quality) at training.services@rcpch.ac.uk.