General psychiatry CESR Portfolio Guide
Complete guide to the General psychiatry Portfolio Pathway: 9 High Level Outcomes (HLOs), 4 evidence sections, and a 10-year currency window. Based on official GMC Specialty Specific Guidance, published by Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych).
SSG Version: 07/02/2025
High Level Outcomes (HLOs)
The General psychiatry SSG defines 9 High Level Outcomes (HLOs) that Portfolio Pathway applicants must demonstrate competence in.
Professional Values and Behaviours
- 1.1 Professional Relationships
- 1.2 Professional Standards
Professional Skills
- 2.1 Communication
- 2.2 Clinical skills
- 2.3 Complexity and uncertainty
Professional Knowledge
- 3.1 Knowledge of legal and organisational frameworks in your UK jurisdiction
- 3.2 Working within NHS organisational structures
Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
- 4.1 Health promotion and illness prevention in community settings
Leadership and Teamworking
- 5.1 Teamworking
- 5.2 Leadership
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
- 6.1 Patient safety
- 6.2 Quality improvement
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups
- 7.1 Safeguarding
Education and Training
- 8.1 Education & Training
- 8.2 Supervision
Research and Scholarship
- 9.1 Undertaking research and critical appraisal
Evidence Requirements
The SSG specifies 4 evidence sections. Each section describes what evidence to provide and how to present it.
Evidence of training, qualifications, and employment
Evidence to demonstrate how you meet your self-identified KSE cohort, including evidence of your core competencies and specialist training and/or experience.
What to provide
- KSE cohort statement
- CV
- Primary medical qualification (PMQ)
- Specialist medical qualification(s)
- Specialist training curriculum/syllabus
- Evidence of formal periodic assessment
- Employment letters
- Job descriptions
How to present
Grouped by type, matching CV
KSE cohort 1A – evidence requirements for High Level Outcomes (HLOs)
Evidence requirements for applicants who have completed Core Psychiatry Training AND passed MRCPsych (or equivalent), plus 2 years higher training or consultant experience.
What to provide
- Evidence for HLOs 1-9 based on Cohort 1A criteria (e.g., 10 clinical cases for HLO 2)
How to present
One PDF document for each organisation per HLO. Documents named with HLO/Organisation/evidence type/dates.
KSE cohort 1B – evidence requirements for High Level Outcomes (HLOs)
Evidence requirements for applicants who have completed Core Psychiatry Training but NOT passed MRCPsych (or equivalent), plus 5 years consultant experience.
What to provide
- Evidence for HLOs 1-9 based on Cohort 1B criteria (e.g., 20 clinical cases for HLO 2)
How to present
One PDF document for each organisation per HLO. Documents named with HLO/Organisation/evidence type/dates.
KSE cohort 2 – evidence requirements for High Level Outcomes (HLOs)
Evidence requirements for applicants who cannot demonstrate completion of all elements of core psychiatry training.
What to provide
- Evidence for HLOs 1-9 based on Cohort 2 criteria (e.g., 30 clinical cases for HLO 2)
How to present
One PDF document for each organisation per HLO. Documents named with HLO/Organisation/evidence type/dates.
Knowledge Requirements
Primary Path
Completed Core Psychiatry Training (or equivalent) AND MRCPsych (or equivalent) passed
Alternative Path
Evidence of advanced professional knowledge in the speciality i.e. in assessment of comorbidity, complexity, knowledge of evidence based treatment, prescribing, non-pharmacological interventions, knowledge of governance and framework of care. Advanced knowledge of methods of quality improvement, teaching and critical appraisal.
Applicants must self-identify their KSE cohort (1A, 1B, or 2) based on their core competencies, specialist training, and experience, which dictates the volume and type of evidence required.
Volume and Assessment Targets
The SSG specifies minimum volume and assessment targets for this specialty.
Total cases demonstrating proficiency (Cohort 1A)
HLO 2
Total cases demonstrating proficiency (Cohort 1B)
HLO 2
Total cases demonstrating proficiency (Cohort 2)
HLO 2
Quality improvement project
HLO 6
Currency Window & Evidence Volume
Currency Window
Years
Your evidence is expected to be submitted from the timeframe as described within each HLO (the time frame is all in WTE and doesn’t need to be consecutive) and overall, within the last ten years. If you have worked less than full time (LTFT) or have had a break in practice in the last five years, evidence can be provided from additional years or whole-time equivalence (WTE).
Evidence Volume
no more than 1500 pages of evidence
Additional Notes
You must self-identify your KSE cohort – this will inform the evidence you need to submit in your application.
We recommend that you do not submit more than one PDF document for each organisation per HLO.
All case history evidence should be organised by case and coordinated to tell the story of the patient and the work of the applicant.
Do not submit original documents. You must provide your evidence electronically.
Anonymising (redacting) identifiable information is required.
Translating any documents not in English is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the General psychiatry CESR portfolio?
How many framework units does General psychiatry require?
What evidence is required for General psychiatry specialist registration?
How long is the currency window for General psychiatry?
Start Your General psychiatry Portfolio
Map your evidence to the General psychiatry framework, track readiness, and export your GMC submission.