What are the key competencies required for specialty training in general practice according to UK guidelines?

Key competencies required for specialty training in general practice according to UK guidelines include:

• Shared decision making skills: Trainees must develop knowledge, skills, and confidence to support shared decision making, including encouraging patients to discuss what is important to them, understanding evidence-based models (e.g., the three-talk model), communicating clearly without jargon, sharing information about risks and benefits, involving family or carers as appropriate, and using patient decision aids. Training should be practical, including role play, and include clinical supervision and train-the-trainer workshops for champions in shared decision making ¹.
• Interagency and integrated care understanding: Trainees should learn about the needs of patients (including children and young people with complex needs) in different contexts and understand how other services work collaboratively to meet those needs. This includes observational placements and training on delegated clinical tasks with competency assessment and ongoing supervision ².
• Competence in contraceptive care: Trainees must be competent to help patients consider and compare risks and benefits of contraceptive methods relevant to their needs, manage common side effects, and understand legal and safeguarding issues, especially for young people and those with learning disabilities. Training should include skills to provide long-acting reversible contraception and mechanisms for referral when necessary ³.
• Competency in organisational governance and use of patient group directions (PGDs): Trainees should understand the governance arrangements, training requirements, competency assessments, and organisational policies related to PGDs to ensure safe and effective use in practice ⁴.