Overview

Post-CSCST Fellowships are designed for doctors who need to acquire additional training or experience that was not available on their Higher Specialist Training programme, and that may be required for a consultant post (for example, stroke medicine).

In association with the HSE, RCPI has established a register of approved Post-CSCST Fellowship posts in the Irish health service. These Fellowships offer training opportunities for doctors who are within two years of completing their HST programme and obtaining a CSCST.

The additional training is designed to expose you to subspecialties and advanced clinical skills.

What is a Fellowship Post?

A Fellowship Post is a 12 month period of additional training, beyond what is available during Higher Specialist Training.

The post will offer:

• A structured educational experience designed to deliver those requirements of a particular subspecialty which are not readily available within HST
• A supervisor with authority and accountability for the Fellowship Post
• Opportunities for audit and research
• An enhanced salary

Where appropriate, the post will fulfil training body requirements and HSE employment requirements for consultant posts. All posts are recruited, evaluated and approved by the appropriate training body.

Please note, these hospital-funded posts will most likely be created by the conversion of existing SpR or non-training posts. We are unable to guarantee availability of posts on an annual basis as approval is only ever valid for 12 months. Fellowship posts will not necessarily be occupied each year.

Training bodies are supported and funded by HSE NDTP.

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Entry Requirements

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Post-CSCST Fellowship Subspecialty Areas

We are continuing to identify suitable Post-CSCST Fellowship opportunities in Ireland. We currently offer Fellowship Posts in the following subspecialty areas - please click through the headings below for details and available curricula.

How a Post-CSCST Fellowship is Approved

• Post-CSCST Fellowships can be identified by the National Specialty Director or an approved trainer in the specialty.
• Written confirmation is required from the hospital where the post is located of a guarantee of the salary for the Post-CSCST Fellowship prior to seeking approval from HSE NDTP or development of a curriculum. The Post-CSCST salaries are set at the 7th or highest point of the SpR scale.
• A clinical lead is appointed by the NSD/Specialty Training Committee.
• The lead will work with the education team in RCPI to develop an overview of the Post-CSCST Fellowship (for approval from HSE NDTP) and curriculum for the Post-CSCST Fellowship.
• The Post-CSCST Fellowship and curriculum must be agreed and approved by the Specialty Training Committee.
• When a suitable post arises (vacant SpR/Reg/Locum post), an HSE Approval Application Form and supporting documentation is completed by the appointed Clinical Lead. RCPI will then submit this to the HSE NDTP for approval.
• Once approval is confirmed from HSE NDTP, the post is advertised, and interviews are held to appoint the Fellow.
• A register of approved Post-CSCST Fellowships will be listed on the RCPI website.
• An appointed Fellow is treated the same way as a trainee on the SpR programme: they will record their training, complete an end of year evaluation and receive a certificate of completion.

Please note:

• Doctors eligible to be appointed into a Post-CSCST Fellowship must have completed their HST training through an RCPI training programme.
• Post-CSCST fellowships are ordinarily for one year; however, they can be split over two years (50% training per year) and should ordinarily start in line with the HST SpRs (July – July).
• Training is ordinarily in the one location, however, there may be an option to split training over two or three sites with prior approval from each site and the HSE NDTP.

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HSE Aspire Fellowships

The NDTP Aspire (Post-CSCST) Fellowship Awards have resulted from the collaborative efforts of HSE’s Acute Hospitals’ Division, Mental Health Division, National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP) and the Post-Graduate Medical Training Bodies in Ireland. The NDTP Aspire Post-CSCST Fellowships are Fellowships funded by NDTP and recognised through the training body.

Successful Aspire Fellows receive the following:

• SpR salary for the duration of the Fellowship
• Eligibility to access the Higher Specialist Training Fund during the Fellowship
• Formal recognition of achievement following completion of the Fellowship from the relevant Irish postgraduate medical education body/bodies
• A high-quality Fellowship experience in Ireland that will improve competitiveness for consultant positions within Ireland

Aspire applications open each autumn; the relevant training bodies will release information and application process once applications open.

Read more about HSE Aspire Fellowships

Recent Aspire Fellowships:

• Endocrinology – Obesity
• Medical Oncology – Adolescent and Young Adult Medical Oncology
• Neurology – Deep Brain Stimulation
• Paediatric – Neonatal Echocardiography
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology – Early Pregnancy Management
• Haematology – Geriatric Assessments and Haematological Malignancies

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Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding Post-CSCST Fellowships, please contact RCPI at helpdesk@rcpi.ie.

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