JointCommitteeonIntercollegiateExaminations
GuidanceNotesforReferees
CompletionoftheStructuredReferenceForm
(tobereadinconjunctionwiththe2012ExaminationRegulations;Referenceformavailablefromwww.jcie.org.uk)
GuidanceNotesforReferees
SectionAmustbecompletedbytheApplicant.
SectionsBGmustbecompletedbytheReferee.
AsaRefereeyouMUST:
beontheUKorIrishMedicalRegister[refereesdonotrequirealicencetopractiseintheUKorIreland]
[refereesmustbeingoodstandingwiththeGMCorIMCwithnorestrictionstopractise]
havedirectexperienceoftheapplicantscurrentclinicalpracticewithinthelast2years
The Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum defines the breadth and depth of knowledge, professionalism and
technicalskilltobeattainedbysurgeonsintraining.Itspecifiesthelevelsofexpertisetobeanticipatedatentry
andatvariousstagesintraininganddefinesthestandardsofcompetenceexpectedoncompletionofthetraining
programmes.TheJointCommitteeonIntercollegiateExaminations(JCIE)adoptsthisstandardastheoneagainst
which assessment will be made. Candidates will be required to provide verification that this level has been
reached in their clinical experience prior to sitting the Intercollegiate Specialty Board examination. The
supportingendorsementwillnormallybeprovidedbythetrainersorseniorcolleagues.
ItisimportanttotherelevantIntercollegiateSpecialtyBoardthatyou,ingivingyoursupport,arefullyawareof
the standards defined in the relevant specialty curriculum (www.iscp.ac.uk). The standards are those which
applytotheappropriatedisciplineattheendofthetrainingprogramme.Pleasenotethatthedescriptionof
these standards should be taken as a guide to assist you in formulating your reference for the applicant
irrespectiveofhis/herpositioninclinicalpracticeorinatrainingprogramme.
The JCIE recommends that if a referee cannot provide support, the referee should complete the structured
referenceformfortheirownrecordandretainacopy.
Theexaminationisconductedintwosections.Section1(MultipleChoiceQuestionsintheformatofSingleBest
Answer[SBA]andExtendedMatchingItems[EMI])andSection2(clinicalspatientbasedandscenariobased).
CandidatesmustmeettherequiredstandardinSection1togaineligibilitytoproceedtoSection2.
The examination will assess various elements of applied knowledge, diagnostic skills, clinical judgment and
professionalism. Referees are therefore asked to comment specifically on these elements of an applicants
competencetoensurethatcandidateshaveattainedtherequisitestandardinthesedomains.
EligibilitywillbegrantedbytherelevantBoardbasedontheapplicanthavingmetallentrycriteriaandhaving
submittedthreesupportivestructuredreferences.
Diagnosticskills(ReferenceSectionC)
Werequireyourdetailedcommentsonthecandidatessuitabilitywithrespectto:
Skilled,logicalandanalyticalelucidationofapatientshistory.
Carefulacquisitionandprocessingofinformationdeterminedinthephysicalandclinicalexamination
andconstructionofasatisfactorymanagementplanforallpatients.
Pleasenotethatcandidateswillfaceassessmentscenarioswhichmaybecomplexanddemandingandapplicants
musthavesatisfiedyouthattheyhavethenecessaryskillsandexperiencetodealwithpatientsandsituations
whicharenotstraightforwardorroutine.Itisexpectedthatdiscussionwilltakeplaceintheexaminationon
aspectsofdiagnosticstrategyandontheuse,advantagesanddisadvantagesofvariousrelevantinvestigations.
Youshouldthereforebeinapositiontoindicatethatyoursupportisbasedonknowledgeofthecandidates
abilityintheseareas.
ClinicalManagement(ReferenceSectionD)
TheexaminationissetatthelevelofknowledgeandstandardrequiredofanewconsultantintheUKorIreland.
Giventherangeofcases,thespectrumofcomplexityandtheabilitytodealwithvariationsandcomplications
withinthepracticeofthisspecialtycandidatesshouldhavebeenabletoconvinceyouthattheirtraining/
experienceissuchthattheycansafelymanagebothcommonandmorecomplexclinicalproblems.
Operativeskills(ReferenceSectionE)
WhiletheIntercollegiateSpecialtyBoardExaminationdoesnotformallyassesstechnicaloperatingabilitythe
Boardsconsideritinappropriatetoadmitcandidatestotheexaminationifthereisanydoubtastotheirtechnical
skill.Itisthereforeconsideredveryimportantthatyoursupportinthisareaiswellfoundedeitherfromyour
personalobservationsandexperienceofthecandidateorfromreliableandsystematicallyassessedobservations
ofthecandidatesabilityinthisarea.Thelogbookofsurgicalproceduresonitsownshouldnotbeconsideredas
anymorethanaroughguide.Thevalidobservationsofexpertobserversareknowntobereliableandthedegree
towhichyoucansupportthiscandidateshouldbecarefullyrecordedinthissection.
ProfessionalismandProbity(ReferenceSectionF)
Thedevelopmentofamatureandprofessionalapproachtoperformanceinclinicalpracticeisessentialforsafe
andsuccessfulpatientcare.Attitudestowardspatientsandcolleagues,theirworkethic,theirabilitytodealwith
stressful or even confrontational issues and the effectiveness of their communication skills in providing
supportivecareforpatientsandtheirfamiliesareindicativeoftheprofessionalqualitiesrequiredofacandidate.
Communication&LanguageSkills(ReferenceSectionG)
TheBoardswouldconsideritinappropriatetoadmitcandidatestotheexaminationifthereisanydoubtasto
their ability to demonstrate satisfactory communication and English language skills necessary for their daily
practice in the UK/Ireland. You should therefore be in a position to indicate that your support is based on
knowledgeofthecandidatesabilitytodemonstrate:satisfactorycommunicationinallsituations,anticipating
andmanaginganydifficultieswhichmayoccur;theabilitytobreakbadnewsinbothunexpectedandplanned
settings;appropriatecommunicationwithteammembers,predictingandmanagingconflictbetweenmembers
ofthehealthcareteam.
Declaration(ReferenceSectionH)
Referees must have evidence to justify their Declaration should this be required by the Board. Structured
ReferenceFormsmustbecompletedintypedformatandreturnedtotheapplicant.
Itistheapplicantsresponsibilitytoensurethatall3completedstructuredreferencesaresubmittedatthe
timeofonlineapplication.
ISB/GuidanceNotesforRefereesGeneric[October2013]
