Chemical Pathology CESR Portfolio Guide
Complete guide to the Chemical Pathology Portfolio Pathway: 11 Capabilities in Practice (CiPs), 22 evidence sections, and a 10-year currency window. Based on official GMC Specialty Specific Guidance, published by Royal College of Pathologists.
SSG Version: 06/02/2025
Capabilities in Practice (CiPs)
The Chemical Pathology SSG defines 11 Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) that Portfolio Pathway applicants must demonstrate competence in.
Able to function successfully within NHS organisational and management systems.
Able to deal with ethical and legal issues related to clinical practice.
Communicates effectively and is able to share decision making, while maintaining appropriate situational awareness, professional behaviour and professional judgement.
Is focused on patient safety and delivers effective quality improvement in patient care.
Able to carry out research and manage data appropriately.
Able to act as a teacher and clinical supervisor.
Able to lead and manage a laboratory.
Able to use the laboratory service effectively in the investigation, diagnosis, and management of disease processes.
Able to manage a multi-disciplinary team effectively.
Able to contribute effectively to the management of problems in patients in other specialties.
Able to lead and manage a clinical service, including the management of patients in an outpatient clinic or inpatient, ambulatory or community setting, and the management of long-term conditions.
Evidence Requirements
The SSG specifies 22 evidence sections. Each section describes what evidence to provide and how to present it.
Evidence of training, qualifications, and employment
Evidence of your training as background evidence to allow evaluators to see your whole career pathway.
What to provide
- Primary medical qualification (PMQ)
- Specialist medical qualification(s)
- Recent specialist training curriculum or syllabus
- ARCPs or formal periodic assessment
- Other relevant qualifications and certificates (e.g. MRCP (UK))
How to present
Provide authenticated copies of qualifications from outside the UK.
Evidence of employment in posts and duties (including training posts)
Evidence of your employment history.
What to provide
- Up to date CV
- Employment letters confirming dates, post title, grade, and type of employment
- Job descriptions confirming position, clinical/non-clinical commitment, and teaching involvement
How to present
Information in letters and job descriptions must match your CV.
Logbook or structured portfolio of evidence of professional experience
Evidence to indicate the breadth and volume of experience the applicant has had during their career.
What to provide
- Records of clinical consultations
- Patient-related letters
- Patient lists
- Workload data
- Rotas
- Job plans/timetables
- Log of total number and types of clinic undertaken and number of patients seen
- Duty rosters detailing duty biochemist and reporting sessions
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
ARCPs and training assessments
Records of periodic assessment undertaken during training.
What to provide
- Copy of all Annual Reviews of Competence Progression [ARCPs] undertaken
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Appraisals and assessments
Evidence of revalidation/appraisal documentation and workplace-based assessments.
What to provide
- Appraisal forms including appraiser comments and discussion
- Workplace-based assessments (WPBA)
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
360˚ and multi-source feedback
Evidence of regular multi-source feedback or external or peer-review reports.
What to provide
- MSF report including feedback from clinical colleagues, other medical specialties, other professions, and non-clinical colleagues
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Management and leadership experience
Evidence of management activities.
What to provide
- Evidence of developing, delivering and managing a high-quality service
- Staff management or clinical leadership evidence
- Letters/emails from Clinical Directors
- Rotas
- Management training course certificates
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
CPD record certificates, certificates of attendance, workshops and at local, national and international meetings or conferences
Evidence of life-long learning or CPD or CME.
What to provide
- Portfolio documenting evidence of life-long learning or CPD or CME
- Certificates of attendance for the five most relevant courses, conferences and meetings
- Annual summaries of CPD/CME activities (if part of a formal scheme)
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Membership of professional bodies and organisations
Evidence of current membership of relevant professional bodies.
What to provide
- Membership certificate(s)
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Audits and quality improvement activity undertaken by applicant
Evidence of audit/Qi activities.
What to provide
- Evidence of at least one complete cycle of audit/Qi activities (baseline, intervention, further measurement)
- Reflection to critically appraise the outcome and impact
- Project report and documentation, protocols or forms
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Reflective practice
Evidence of reflective practice.
What to provide
- High quality, detailed accounts of events demonstrating independent practice
- Scenarios of high complexity providing evidence of a mature approach to practice
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Service improvement and clinical governance
Evidence of participation in clinical governance activity.
What to provide
- Evidence of participation in an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme
- Engagement with service improvement activity
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Colleagues and patients
Evidence of chemical pathology practice interactions.
What to provide
- Letters requesting a second opinion from colleagues
- Letters of appreciation
- Communications advising or answering questions regarding a report
- Response to complaints or feedback from patients
- Letters to patients (e.g. results letters)
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Research papers, grants, patent designs
Evidence of research and critical appraisal.
What to provide
- Evidence of ability to critically appraise research evidence
- Participation in a departmental Journal Club
- Acting as a reviewer for a scientific journal
- Research methods applicable to service improvement
- Evidence of conference presentations or manuscripts published
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Teaching and lecturing
Evidence of medical education activity.
What to provide
- Timetables of teaching
- Involvement in postgraduate teaching and lecturing
- Evaluation forms/feedback
- Letters/emails confirming role in teaching/supervision
- Examining activity
- WPBAs undertaken for doctors supervised
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Attendance at teaching courses
Evidence of attending or delivering teaching courses.
What to provide
- Attendance at relevant teaching courses (certificates)
- Talks, presentations or teaching sessions given (timetables/programmes)
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Participation in assessment or appraisal and appointments processes
Evidence of involvement in conducting appraisal of others.
What to provide
- Letter of confirmation from Chief Executive or Medical Director
- Evidence of relevant training
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Working in multidisciplinary teams
Evidence of MDT participation.
What to provide
- Participation in multidisciplinary or clinicopathological meetings/MDTs
- Service improvement meetings
- Departmental or directorate meetings
- Advice provided in clinical liaison
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Data protection
Evidence of data protection awareness.
What to provide
- Course attendance certificates
- Anonymised patient evidence
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Laboratory experience
Evidence of experience in the selection, validation and interpretation of laboratory tests.
What to provide
- Logbook of cases covering the range of conditions seen
- Medical reports across the breadth of practice
- Communications with clinical colleagues advising them or answering queries
- Minutes of MDT meetings
- Evidence of participation in interpretive EQA
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Consolidation, cumulative data sheets, summary lists and annual caseload statistics
Evidence of departmental statistics.
What to provide
- Departmental statistics in relation to personal workload and turnaround time
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Equality and human rights
Evidence of equality and diversity training.
What to provide
- Recent equality and diversity training certificates
How to present
Mapped to relevant CiPs.
Knowledge Requirements
Primary Path
Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) by examination in clinical biochemistry
Alternative Path
Robust evidence of having passed a substantial examination (e.g. a nationally or internationally recognised postgraduate examination in clinical biochemistry) that demonstrates knowledge and skills to a similar standard as the FRCPath, OR submitting alternative evidence mapped to each element of knowledge and skills examined in the FRCPath examination.
If evidence of another specialist qualification is being provided, it must be supported by the original authenticated certificates and the curriculum/syllabi or standards for its award.
Referee Requirements
Referee Reports Required
Most recent 12 months of clinical practice (for clinical lead and consultants)
- At least one clinical lead or clinical director who has been your clinical manager during your most recent 12 months
- At least two consultants practising in the specialty, with whom you have worked closely during your most recent 12 months
- At least one reference from your most recent educational supervisor if you are in training or have been in a training programme within the last five years
Volume and Assessment Targets
The SSG specifies minimum volume and assessment targets for this specialty.
Detailed reflections to demonstrate skills across a range of clinical, laboratory or managerial scenarios
Reflections
Complete cycle of audit/Qi activities undertaken to include baseline measurement, intervention and further measurement
Audit/QI cycle
Multi-source feedback or external or peer-review reports
MSF
Currency Window & Evidence Volume
Currency Window
Years
Evidence from the last 10 years will be accepted although a small amount of older evidence can be considered where it provides a more complete account of your breadth of practice. Any significant gaps in training or experience (e.g. six months or more) in the last five years should be explained in your evidence of work experience and your curriculum vitae.
Evidence Volume
800-1000 pages
Additional Notes
Do not submit original documents. You must provide your evidence electronically.
If you have a piece of evidence that is relevant to more than one CiP, do not include multiple copies in your evidence. Instead, include one copy and list it in your application under each relevant CiP, stating that the evidence is located elsewhere, and you would like to cross-reference it.
Assessors attach high value to evidence that is readily identified as being personal, or unique, to the applicant.
Applicants should provide evidence of skills and experience in the direct clinical care of patients with conditions across the full range of Chemical Pathology, in particular: lipidology and cardiovascular risk management, disorders of calcium metabolism, metabolic bone disease and renal stone disease, nutrition, diabetes mellitus (out-patient care), inherited metabolic disease in adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chemical Pathology CESR portfolio?
How many framework units does Chemical Pathology require?
What evidence is required for Chemical Pathology specialist registration?
How long is the currency window for Chemical Pathology?
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