This article is your roadmap to PDPs and Clinical Supervisor Reports (CSRs),  two simple but essential parts of your portfolio. Done right, your PDPs help you set meaningful goals, demonstrate your learning, and make your ESRs and ARCP panels much smoother.

Let’s break down what they are, how to do them well, and how to make sure you don’t miss anything. 🧃

       

🗂️ What is a PDP?

A PDP (Personal Development Plan) is your way of saying “Here’s what I want to get better at. Here’s how I plan to do it. Here’s when I’ll get it done.”

You’ll agree these goals with your Educational Supervisor (ES) at the end of each review period (usually every 6 months). Your PDP should be personal, practical, and GP-focused. It also forms part of your ESR - so it needs to be done each review period.

The RCGP specifies that you must have a minimum of 4 PDPs: ‘3 proposed in each review related to capabilities and 1 not related. At least one of each type achieved in each year’.

      

🔑 What Makes a Good PDP?

It’s all about SMART goals:

• Specific: “Improve my knowledge of LARCs” is better than “Do more women’s health”
• Measurable: “Log two contraception oriented CCRs”
• Achievable: “Complete e-Learning for Health contraception module”
• Relevant: Should link to your actual learning needs
• Time-bound: Set a date (next month, next post, end of ST2, etc)

      

📋 PDP Checklist

✅ 4 specific PDP entries each review period
✅ SMART structure
✅ Include action plan, target date, and success criteria
✅ Add new ones as you go along (not just at ESR time!)
✅ Review old ones and carry over unfinished goals
✅ Avoid vague goals like “pass AKT” or “do more log entries”

💡 Tip: Start your PDP ideas early. Add them as you go, not just the night before your ESR!

          

👩‍⚕️ Clinical Supervisor’s Report (CSR)

The CSR is a structured report from your Clinical Supervisor (CS) about how you’ve performed in the post 👩‍🏫

🧾 When Do I Need a CSR?

Placement Type	CSR Required?
Hospital Post	✅ Yes – always
GP Post	🔁 Not always.. Only mandatory if your CS is different to your ES, or extra evidence is needed

              

🧠 What Does the CSR Cover?

The CSR covers all the GP Capabilities and gives your ES (and the ARCP panel) extra insight into how you’ve been getting on.

It includes:

• A section for feedback on various capabilities such as Professionalism, Communication, Working with Colleagues & in Teams, Clinical Assessment, Management, Record-Keeping.
• Supervisor comments and grading (e.g. Meets Expectations / Needs Development)
• An assessment of how much supervision you needed

As the name suggests, your CSR is done by your Clinical Supervisor - usually your hospital consultant or your GP trainer in GP placements. 

They’ll ideally observe at least one workplace-based assessment (Mini-CEX / CBD / COT) before writing the CSR and may discuss your performance with other team members.

        

📩 How to Request a CSR on FourteenFish

🖱️ From the Portfolio homepage:

1. Scroll to ‘Educational Assessments’
   
   
2. Click ‘CSR’
   
   
3. Click ‘Request a new assessment’
   
   
4. Invite your supervisor from your FourteenFish contacts (or add a new one)

💡 Tip: Be organised & don’t leave this to the last week of placement. Touch base with your supervisor early to arrange a date. They are often busy, on annual leave, or may just require multiple emails to pin down.. 

           

🧾 CSR Summary

✅ Needed for all hospital posts
✅ May be needed in GP placements too if your CS is different to your ES
✅ Make sure your CS has seen you consult and ideally completed an assessment
✅ Talk to your CS early and remind them regularly!

       

📌 Final Thoughts

• Your PDP shows how you plan and reflect on your learning - make it meaningful and SMART.
• The CSR gives your ES vital feedback on how you’ve been getting on.
• Both feed into your ESR and ultimately your ARCP - so don’t ignore them!

             

📎 What’s Next?

Now that you've nailed your PDPs and CSR, it's time to look ahead to one of the most important portfolio entries of the year: the Educational Supervisor’s Review (ESR).

📖 ESRs & iESRs Made Easy - What your supervisor’s looking for and how to avoid the last-minute panic.