For Northwest Trainees
The focus of Stage 2 training should be completing the necessary HALOs and passing the Final FRCA Exam. Thus, study leave will not usually be granted for anything other than the regional teaching courses, attending the exam, exam preparation courses and life support courses. An in-date ALS should be the priority for life support courses and these courses are often available at your local Trust. Locally arranged teaching courses already provide time away from training to prepare for the Final FRCA and so further study leave for exam preparation will not be supported except for those courses listed in Appendix 1. Trainees who are repeating any component of the Final FRCA may apply to attend the locally arranged teaching in the Mersey side of the School. Local Study Days on specialist areas may be supported, provided the trainee can demonstrate it is supporting their learning. Whilst developing teaching skills is important, this can be done as part of the training programme, so study leave for teaching and instructing will be limited to 5-days per training year, providing the trainee has not exceeded their study leave time. Any teaching and instructing activity must be supported by evidence of consultant supervision and a plan for completion of work place based assessments. There is some discretion for those trainees who pass the Final FRCA exam within their first year of Stage 2 training, but overseas study leave will not usually be supported.