The findings of a specially commissioned report produced by the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham, which set out to independently evaluate the impact of the Royal College of Physician's (RCP's) scheme on the chief registrars, the individuals and teams they work with, and their wider organisations.
Key recommendations
- Positive overall influence: Overall, the chief registrar scheme had a positive impact upon chief registrars and the individuals with whom they worked.
- Significant contributions to service improvement, education provision and junior doctor engagement: Chief registrars implemented a diverse range of locally tailored initiatives that delivered positive outcomes for organisations, and are likely to have contributed to cost savings through improvements in quality and safety.
- Very strong evidence of personal leadership development: Chief registrars developed leadership and mentoring skills and gained greater self-awareness, more confidence, and increased understanding of their role as a doctor and a medical leader. Direct experience of senior management activities and exposure to senior staff was extremely beneficial in understanding organisational decision-making and governance.
- Enhanced medical engagement: Chief registrars ‘breathed life’ into junior doctor fora and improved overall medical engagement between junior doctors, senior clinical leaders and managers. The ‘bridge’ role allowed a two-way flow of information which was welcomed on all sides.
- Increased engagement with and facilitation of quality improvement (QI) across teams: Chief registrars developed QI skills and became a source of QI advice within organisations. They were involved in developing a ‘QI culture’, which will benefit their organisations in the long term.
- RCP leadership and management development programme: The RCP development programme was well-regarded by the chief registrars.
Recruitment for the 2018/19 phase of the chief registrar scheme is now open. Read the latest recruitment guidance and register your interest at chiefregistrar@rcplondon.ac.uk.
Chief registrar scheme
In 2016 the RCP launched a pilot of the chief registrar scheme – a new senior leadership role for doctors in training, supported by a bespoke leadership and management development programme provided by the RCP and Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM).
An updated version of the evaluation report with minor revisions to the key messages section was uploaded on 28 September 2017.
