Special Interest (SPIN) module application guidance

About SPIN

Special Interest (SPIN) modules are additional training and experience in a particular clinical area. This is complete over 12 to 18 months, or longer, of clinical time. SPIN modules enable a paediatrician to lead in the clinical area to meet a service need, and so it's vitally important you articulate this service need in your SPIN application.

There is now a SPIN mid-point review to monitor your progress through the SPIN. You'll use this form on ePortfolio with your SPIN supervisor or CSAC lead.

Once you complete a SPIN, you can be the local lead and part of the clinical network providing for children who need specialist paediatric care.

The SPIN process is currently under review.

Types of SPIN

Progress+ training pathway: SPIN in training for Specialty level trainees - Additional training and experience in a clinical area, completed in 12 to 18 months during specialty level training. Once you complete the SPIN and paediatric training, you can apply for posts as a General Paediatrician with a special expertise. (There is currently a pathway for trainees on the Progress / Level 3 pathway, and this will soon phase out.)

Post completion SPIN for paediatricians on the GMC specialist register - Additional training and experience in a clinical area, completed in 12 months to five years.

Pilot for doctors in paediatrics in: child mental health, audiovestibular medicine and palliative medicine

We have been piloting a third type of SPIN: for doctors in paediatrics(DiP) who are not in training positions nor consultant-level appointments.

Applicants for these pilot SPIN modules will need to use RCPCH ePortfolio as a Doctor in Paediatrics. You can add ePortfolio to your membership subscription - email the Member Services team on [email protected] and ask for training to be added to your subscription.

To demonstrate parity with the SPIN modules undertaken by trainees, you will need to evidence outcomes from these domains of the Progress+ curriculum:

• Communication
• Health promotion

Your sign-off for these modules will be through review by the CSAC (College Specialty Advisory Committee) most connected to the specialty area of your SPIN. If you have any queries about this pilot, email us on [email protected].

List of SPIN modules

• Adolescent health
• Allergy
• Audiovestibular medicine (pilot for DiP)
• Cardiology
• Child mental health (pilot for Dip/module under review)
• Dermatology
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition
• High dependency care (HDC)
• Infectious diseases
• Neonatal medicine
• Nephrology
• Neurodisability (module under review)
• Oncology
• Palliative medicine (pilot for DiP)
• Respiratory medicine
• Rheumatology
• Sleep medicine

We have withdrawn the Safeguarding SPIN module for new applications. If you would like information about our decision, contact us on [email protected]. 

Most SPIN modules have a SPIN module curriculum each. This lists the requirements you need to demonstrate to complete the SPIN training. The new SPIN curricula are aligned to the Progress+ curriculum learning outcomes and key capabilities; as the old versions are replaced, we may ask you to move to the current version.

Download the SPIN modules curricula at the bottom of this page

Applying for SPIN and about the training

Applications typically open twice a year:

• November - to start in February / March of the following year
• May - to start in August / September of the same year

When can I apply as a trainee?

We accept applications from ST4 trainees onwards.

You cannot usually undertake SPIN training at the same time as sub-specialty training. There are some exceptions to this rule and we will update this page as we develop our SPIN work. If you have an enquiry about SPIN eligibility for you, contact us on [email protected].

When can I apply as a post-completion paediatrician?

You can apply for a post-completion SPIN at any time, as long as you have completed training or been entered on the GMC Specialist Register. There is an additional charge on top your RCPCH membership of £125 per year for using the training services of RCPCH to support your post-completion SPIN.

As the SPIN modules are built on assumed knowledge and capability acquisition of the UK curriculum, we do not currently offer SPIN modules to other doctors.

How long does the SPIN training take?

For trainees, the indicative training time is about 12-18 months full-time, though this is purely indicative based on usual training placements and rotations.

For post-completion paediatricians, the time ranges from 12 months to 5 years, depending on existing working arrangements (see Step 1 - submit your application).

Are the modules GMC accredited?

No, modules are not recognised by the General Medical Council. However, we adhere to GMC curricula principles in new SPINs revised with learning outcomes and key capabilities.

Trainees in general paediatrics will enter the GMC specialist register with paediatrics when signed off for training by local ARCP panels and RCPCH officer for training and quality.

How do I get a SPIN placement during my training?

Contact your Head of School and Training Programme Director to request a placement. Find yours

How do I get a SPIN placement as a post-completion paediatrician or in the pilot phase for specialty level paediatrician?

You will need support from a Trust figure who has the authority to approve job plans, such as a medical director or clinical director. This signatory is required so you can demonstrate your suitability and that your faculty are prepared to provide your training and enable you to acquire the experience.

What about retrospective experience?

• Trainees - You can request to count small amounts of retrospective evidence from your Specialty level (or Level 3) training completed before your SPIN application. You must be undertaking the majority of your SPIN module prospectively and we cannot consider fully retrospective applications.
• Post-completion paediatricians - You must ensure that you describe which SPIN requirements you have already met and how you will maintain these while completing your SPIN. You will need to detail what requirements you have outstanding and how you will achieve these. Indicatively, retrospective evidence older than five years is unlikely to be considered current enough for a SPIN module and should be commensurate with Specialty level (or Level 3) curriculum capabilities.
• Specialty level paediatrician - As with post-completion paediatricians

There is no guarantee that your retrospective experience will be approved and this is at the discretion of the CSAC/ SPIN lead and will be evaluated when you come to complete your SPIN. If you are unsure, please contact us at [email protected].

This does not apply to the Diabetes SPIN.

Step 1 - Submit your application

• Complete the SPIN application form, which is available during application periods on RCPCH ePortfolio
  • Trainees have access to ePortfolio
  • Post-completion paediatricians can request access to ePortfolio on [email protected]
• Identify in your application where you will get the training and experience 
• Trainees will need to provide commitment from the TPD that they will ensure you will get the necessary SPIN placements before the end of Specialty training to meet the SPIN requirements. If you wish to apply for paediatric consultant posts with a special interest, we recommend you complete your SPIN training about six months before you complete training.

More details for some SPIN modules:

Allergy

Include in your application:

• Confirmation of supervision/mentor at the regional allergy centre
• Draft timetable of the clinical week

Download guide for allergy below

Cardiology

As paediatric cardiology is not a sub-specialty overseen by RCPCH, you will need to complete a different form. Please email us on [email protected]

Diabetes

Retrospective experience is not accepted to count towards post-completion SPIN modules in diabetes. Applications must be prospective.

Epilepsy

• You will need to include on your application that you have support from paediatric neurology Deanery Advisor to ensure that the SPIN will provide the necessary experience to achieve the competencies and that they will have access to paediatric neurology supervision.
• There is no mandatory course requirement for completing the SPIN module in Epilepsy. Only the capabilities/ descriptors in the framework are mandatory.
• The distance learning module 6 by BPNA is optional, as are PET2 and PET3.

Step 2 - Evidence your SPIN

When you are approved to start SPIN, we will add the SPIN curriculum to your ePortfolio

• Trainees - You will already have full access to ePortfolio
• Post-completion paediatricians - There is an additional cost for ePortfolio - £130 per year, pro rata for those in full time work. The LTFT rate is £78 per year pro rata. This will be added to your RCPCH membership.

You will upload and link evidence on ePortfolio to demonstrate you are meeting the appropriate requirements for the SPIN module.

Your SPIN supervisor will monitor your capability acquisition through ePortfolio and regular one-to-one meetings. Your SPIN Supervisor(s) must either be a General Paediatrician with an interest in the area relevant to your SPIN or a sub-specialist consultant in that area.

• Cardiology - Your SPIN supervisor must be a paediatric cardiologist

Evidence can be collected over a period of five years until the point at which your completed SPIN is submitted for the CSAC to sign off. During this period, three years can be retrospective from the date on which you start your SPIN, ie, when your application has been approved by the CSAC and ePortfolio access is granted. You must undertake at least 12 months of your SPIN module prospectively.

Step 3 – Complete your SPIN

Once you complete your SPIN module and link your evidence on ePortfolio, you can complete the SPIN completion report and send to your SPIN supervisor.

You only have 12 months from the end of your SPIN completion to be eligible to receive a certificate for SPIN completion (in line with rules on CCT certification).

If you are completing your SPIN post-CCT, and have exceeded the five-year limit which we expect most SPINs to take to completion, please conduct a mid-point review with your supervisor to help you target your efforts and attain all capabilities. Please inform [email protected] if this applies to you.

The process is: Trainee or other doctor taking SPIN > SPIN supervisor > RCPCH > CSAC/ SPIN lead > if approved, SPIN module certificate awarded

There can be delays in reviewing SPIN completion applications due to high applicant numbers and CSAC availability. We would advise that May and November are the most available times for CSACs to review evidence and sign off on completions.