Professionalism & Management | Communication | Underperforming colleague - What to do

An underperforming colleague: what to do?
Session overview
Description
This session discusses the complex and often challenging issues of underperformance in doctors across the training grades, and ways to identify and help to manage and support trainees in difficulty.

UKFP Curriculum 2021

This elearning session covers some of the behaviours in:

• FPC 5: Continuity of Care: Contribute to safe ongoing care both in and out of hours
• FPC 7: Fitness to Practise: Develop the skills necessary to manage their own personal wellbeing
• FPC 8: Upholding Values: Act as a responsible employee including speaking up when others do not act in accordance with the values of the healthcare system

Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• differentiate between underperformance and personal and professional misconduct in medical practice
• identify the underlying reasons for underperformance in medical practice
• detect the 'early' signs of underperformance
• recognise ways in which problems related to poor medical performance may present
• use a practical and systematic framework to identify and help to manage and support trainees in difficulty

Most doctors deliver a high standard of care and are committed to continuous professional development.

A few run into difficulty, giving rise to performance concerns. Most problems are amenable to remediation.

The GMC's guidance 'Good medical practice' [1](read details regarding the reference) advocates that:

• individual doctors are responsible for their own professional performance and education
• all doctors, including foundation trainees, must be alert to the issues of performance concerns and fitness to practise of colleagues
• patient safety is a priority at all times when dealing with performance-related issues