Training programme to meet the medical needs of adults with a learning disability

Workplace Based Assessment

Health Education England (HEE) commissioned the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) to undertake the development of a training programme to meet the medical needs of adults with a learning disability.

The training programme has been developed and will be delivered with the input of experts by experience. Successful completion of two 30 credit modules will result in a post graduate certificate in Medical Practice in Adult Learning Disability through Edge Hill University.

Who is this for?

The PG Cert has been designed for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals working at a senior level and caring for people with a learning disability within their role to add to their skillset and to address a number of cross-cutting themes that will enable practitioners to provide high quality, person-centred care for adults with a learning disability.

Successful completion of the modules aims to enable learners to champion good care and provide clinical leadership in their workplace setting(s); for example, enabling practitioners to work as a Physician/Practitioner role with a special interest Learning Disability.

Places are now closed. However, you can register interest to be contacted when applications open for 2024/25 cohort in June 2024.

How will learners study?

This is a university certificate level training programme consisting of two modules of 30 credits each and takes 15 months to complete. The first module is clinical and workplace based and assessed in the workplace. The second module is academic and assessed by writing up a service development or audit. Participation requires attendance at teaching sessions, extensive reading, clinical experience with assessment and regular input to a learning electronic portfolio.

Applicants must identify a clinical tutor to support them through the training programme. Their role will be to guide the learner to find local learning experiences and enable achievement of the learning outcomes. The clinical tutor will need to meet with the learner at least three times during the first six month module and will be responsible for writing a final report outlining the learner’s overall progress and confirming whether the learner has completed the requirements.

How will learners be assessed?

To demonstrate achievement of the module learning outcomes learners will have to complete two assessments.

The first assessment requires the submission of a portfolio of evidence of meeting the requirements of an assessment decision aid. This will require learners to undertake a minimum of three mini-CEX, three case-based discussions (CBD), multisource feedback including patient/carer feedback and reflections.

You will also be required to submit four critical reflections of personal professional development episodes linked to key patient-doctor interactions, including one reflection based upon patient and carer feedback.

Study dates and venues

Induction day and tutorial 1 (in person at the Spine): February 2025.

Tutorials (online):

  • Tutorial 2: March 2025, 1-4pm
  • Tutorial 3: April 2025, 1-4pm
  • Tutorial 4: May 2025, 1-4pm
  • Tutorial 5: June 2025, 1-4pm
  • Tutorial 6: July 2025, 1-4pm

How to apply

Applications for this programme are now closed. If you have any questions please contact credential@rcp.ac.uk.

Register your interest for the 2025 cohort using the form below.

Apply now