Clinical Excellence Awards in England and Wales

Applications for the 2012 Round

Work has commenced on the 2012 Clinical Excellence Awards round. The date for final online submission to ACCEA in England has been delayed until the New Year (2012).

Please visit the ACCEA website for latest news on the 2012 round and for full information about the scheme: http://www.dh.gov.uk/ab/ACCEA/index.htm

It remains in question as to whether the awards process will run as per usual for the 2012 round. We have recently heard that a decision will be announced in the Autumn when the review body presents its report. As with other Medical Organisations (Colleges and Societies), we will continue to follow our usual timetable until further notice, hence this letter to notify you.

The British Pain Society, as a specialist society, is a recognised nominating body for national awards in the 2012 round and recommendations made by our Society will be considered as official nominations. For the 2012 round candidates can apply at a single level, Bronze (Level 9), Silver (Level 10), and Gold (Level 11). We are asked to rank eligible consultants separately at these levels.

There is no fixed time limit that determines whether a consultant should be considered for a Bronze award. However, it takes time to accumulate the ‘over and above’ achievements necessary to succeed competitively, and in practice, consultants who successfully apply for a national award will normally have at least a level 4 CEA and will have been in post for about 10 years (or more). Nevertheless, exceptions do occur.

Consultants who hold a local Level 9 CEA can apply for a national award.

The BPS will rank the applications, specifically in relation to contributions in pain medicine, namely:

• Sustained and outstanding contribution to the provision and/or organisation of improved clinical care for pain patients (acute, chronic, cancer) that has a national or international impact
• Sustained and outstanding contribution to management and/or leadership in the field of pain that has a national or international impact.
• Sustained and outstanding contribution to research into the mechanisms and management of pain (acute, chronic, cancer) that has a national or international impact
• Sustained and outstanding contribution to teaching and education in pain medicine (acute, chronic, cancer) that has a national or international impact
• These achievements should be made partially or wholly outside normal contracted time.

There are supplementary forms available for management/leadership, research and innovation and teaching/training. Bronze or silver candidates may choose to submit ONE supplementary form; gold candidates can submit TWO supplementary forms.

Word versions of the 2012 application forms can be downloaded from the ACCEA website at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/ab/ACCEA/DH_128883.

Please enter your application in WORD format on a 2012 application form, with supplementary information, if appropriate, as above. Do not submit a supplementary form unless you have made an outstanding contribution in a particular area. Repetition does not enhance your chance of success.

In the past, "B" Distinction Award holders have been given the option of applying for either a Silver or Gold Clinical Excellence Award. "B" holders are reminded that they are now ONLY able to apply for a SILVER CEA.

Please ensure you read the Guide for Applicants carefully which should be available from September at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/ab/ACCEA/index.htm.

Please write your application very carefully, do not use acronyms, and remember that it must be comprehensible to a lay person. There is good advice about completing the forms on the RCoA website.

If you would like to be considered for the British Pain Society list of nominations, please return a fully completed and signed 2012 application form in a WORD document to accea@britishpainsociety.org by 30th September 2011. The employer's reference does not have to be completed.

The applications will be copied to all members of the sifting committee, who will be asked to score the applications on a scoring sheet recommended by ACCEA. The sifting committee will meet in October at the British Pain Society offices in order to produce a final ranking order, which will be submitted to ACCEA. Citations will be prepared and submitted to ACCEA for these leading ranked applicants.

The British Pain Society will consider applications from Consultants employed in NHS organisations in England and Wales, Scotland has its own system, and Wales is not linked to the online system. If Welsh candidates are nominated, their names will be detailed in the overall ranking list and sent by email to the Welsh ACCEA Secretariat.

Please note, that aside from your submission for consideration for BPS support, you will still need to complete your electronic, on-line application to ACCEA itself, which must be made by Friday 9th December 2011. By then, you must also have received your NHS employer’s reference, so you are advised to note your local Trust’s timetable and to complete the application in a timely manner.

Friday 30 September 2011
Closing date for electronic submission of forms to BPS. [accea@britishpainsociety.org]

Friday 9 December 2011, 5pm
Closing date for electronic submission of forms and citations to ACCEA.