The requirements
- One leadership activity in ST3. Preparation can start earlier, but the activity must be completed in ST3.
- Agree the activity with your ES first.
- It is judged against the descriptors for Organisation, management and leadership.
- It must not be your QIA or QIP: quality improvement is assessed separately.
- Leadership MSF afterwards, in the second half of ST3. Invite more than 10 people who saw the work; very small practices may struggle, so discuss early with your ES.
The numbers by year
| Requirement | ST1 | ST2 | ST3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leadership activity | Not required | Not required | 1 per year |
| Leadership MSF check current RCGP guidance | Not required | Not required | 1 per year |
Full time, per training year unless stated. Less than full time: per-year totals stay the same and each 6-month review needs a pro rata share; 6-monthly ESRs and 12-monthly certificates are not pro rata. Check with your deanery and educational supervisor.
Notes on these numbers
- Leadership activity, LTFT: Same single requirement in the ST3 training year.
- Leadership MSF, LTFT: Once in the ST3 training year.
- Leadership MSF, confidence: medium (respondent minimum); high (timing). Our sources were partly secondary for this item: check current RCGP guidance.
Good leadership activities
- Organising and chairing a practice meeting on a topic, with agreed actions you follow up.
- Leading a change to a practice protocol (for example results handling, home visit triage or a new pathway) with the team.
- Planning and running a teaching programme for students, FY doctors or the nursing team.
- Facilitating a significant event meeting and following through on actions.
- Representing trainees on a committee and delivering an output.
- Coordinating the practice response to a new service requirement.
What makes it leadership rather than a task
You influenced other people, made decisions with them, handled some difficulty and delivered an outcome.
How to write it up
- Context and why it mattered.
- Your role and who you led or worked with (roles, not names).
- What you did: planning, communication, handling resistance.
- What happened: the outcome and its evidence.
- What you learned about yourself as a leader: style, strengths, blind spots.
- What you would do differently, and a PDP objective.
The Log Writer has a Leadership entry type with these prompts.
Common ARCP pitfalls
- Leadership MSF before the activity is finished.
- An activity with no team to lead.
- Leaving it until the final months of ST3.
- Re-using the QIA or QIP.