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Letter of Competence Subdermal Contraceptive Implant Techniques Insertion Only (LoC SDI-IO)

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The LoC SDI-IO is open to those healthcare professionals working in abortion or maternity services only.

We are delighted to relaunch the LoC SDI-IO qualification. Following a successful pilot during 2019, we have revamped the requirements of this qualification. We are very grateful to the number of healthcare professionals involved in the pilot. 

This qualification is open to doctors, nurses and midwives working in the UK or Ireland and are registered and licenced to practice (as necessary) with either the GMC, NMC, IMC, or NMBI. The FSRH retains the right to amend this list. 

Our training programme has been designed to provide you with the evidence based knowledge, attitude and skills required to consult with a woman requesting contraception, and to appropriately provide a subdermal implant, manage complications and side effects.

This qualification involves both theoretical knowledge and practical training. We recommend that you start by reading the training requirements for the Letter of Competence in Subdermal Contraceptive Implant Techniques Insertion Only (LoC SDI-IO).

We are pleased to offer an extension on the £200 non-membership introductory fee for the LoC SDI-IO to the end of 2021.

Please note an introductory fee for 2021 is £200 as compared to the usual non-member fee of £400. This has been agreed to support improved implementation of post-natal contraception.

If you have any questions, please let us know at the Contact us page.

What/How do I study?

You must ensure you fulfil all the requirements for the Letter of Competence in Subdermal Contraceptive Implant Techniques Insertion Only (LoC SDI-IO) to allow a successful application.   

Entry Requirements:

The entry requirements for the Letter of Competence in Subdermal Contraceptive Implant Techniques Insertion Only (LoC SDI-IO)

Successful applicants must:

  • Be a Healthcare Professional working in abortion or maternity services. This includes doctors, nurses and midwives working in the UK or S Ireland and are registered and licenced to practice (as necessary) with either the GMC, NMC, IMC, NMBI.
  • Must have completed the FSRH Contraception Counselling online learning: Register and access the course here: FSRH Contraception Counselling Free Online Course (the certificate of completion must be reviewed by the Primary Trainer). Evidence will be required.
  • Must have completed the  e-SRH Modules 3 (Contraceptive Choices) & 14  (Additional Training in Sub-dermal Contraceptive Implants) online learning: Register and access the online learning here: e-Learning for Healthcare (certificates of completion must be reviewed by the Primary Trainer). Evidence will be required.
  • Must be competent in consultation skills (trainee to self-certify competence on application form)
  • Up to date with resuscitation and anaphylaxis – in accordance with local policy (up to date certificates must be reviewed by Primary Trainer)
  • Competent to give intramuscular injections (trainee to self-certify competence on application form)
  • To have read the current FSRH CEU guidance on SDIs and be conversant with its content and abide by them.

 

Useful learning: Essential Contraception for Midwives and Essential Contraception for Abortion Care Providers are evidence based courses, designed by FSRH to provide baseline contraceptive knowledge. Attendance at one of these courses is not an entry requirement for the LOC SDI-IO but is strongly recommended.


The LoC SDI IO Journey:

Find a Training Programme to undertake Practical Training - Insertions

Your practical training must be completed through a Faculty-recognised General Training Programme. You can find a list of these on our Find a Training Programme map which you can access before you apply. You can select your chosen qualification/s and search by postcode, or town / city name, up to a radius of 250 miles. 

Watch our video which explains how to use our Find a Training Programme map.

Please click here to register first to access a list of FSRH training programmes (if you do not already have a 'My FSRH' website account). Registration on this website is free.

If you already have a log in for 'My FSRH', please click on login and then navigate to 'Take a qualification/recertify' behind log in and select 'Find a Training Programme to Undertake Practical Training'. 

Complete Modules 3 and 14 of the e-SRH

Everybody must complete Modules 3 and 14 of the e-SRH, which is hosted on the e-LfH website. This is an e-learning package, free to NHS professionals, which contains interactive learning modules on various topics. Each module lasts around 20 minutes.

For access you will need to register with e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH).

Click view button at top right hand corner of e-Learning for Healthcare website to see a list of all modules and you will need to login first in order to be able to see contents of the modules.

This e-SRH is free to anyone holding an nhs.net email address. If you have previously registered on e-LfH site and have forgotten your details you can request a reset , or if you are having issues logging in you can contact e-LfH. 

 

Download LoC SDI-IO Record of Training Form

Download and complete in full the Record of Training form ahead of submitting all your supporting evidence and you payment to complete your award.

Download the LoC SDI-IO form here.

 

Submit your record of training for LoC SDI-IO

Once you and your Primary Trainer have completed all sections of your Record of Training Form, you may submit this form along with the supporting documents and LoC registration fee for a certificate award.

To do this, log into ‘My FSRH’ and scroll down to the ‘FSRH Training Hub’ tile and click ‘Browse Courses’.

Select ‘Letter of Competence in Subdermal Implant Insertion Only (LoC SDI-IO Application)’ and click ‘Go to Course’.

On this page, you’ll be able to

  1. Download a LoC SDI-IO Training Record Form
  2. Complete the online evaluation of your training experience. Your feedback will be shared with the FSRH’s General Training Committee to help us improve our programmes.
  3. Click orange button ‘Submit your training record and pay fee here’ to submit your documents and pay the fee.

    From submitting your application, it can take up to 7 working days to review your submission. At this time, we may contact you, requesting additional information to support your application If you meet all the required criteria we will award your LOC within 14 working days.

Please note failure to provide all required evidence, payment or correct information may delay or prevent the processing of your application.

 

Please note, updated versions of eSRH sessions have launched. Read our news story to find out more. 

Intellectual Property Rights

All intellectual property rights for any FSRH qualification including documents, materials and content belonging to and produced by the FSRH should not be used for purposes other than FSRH training. Should you wish to use any of the IPR for purposes other than FSRH training you must seek the FSRH’s approval in writing with your request via our copyright request form. We aim to respond to submissions of this nature within one working week.

 

Recertification

Update about recertification during the COVID-19 Situation

If you are due to recertify your Diploma, LoC, MFSRH, or FFSRH qualifications or FRT status this month or during the coming months, we realise that it may be difficult for you to meet all the recertification criteria due to the COVID-19 situation. To support you we have automatically given all our members an extra year to recertify, wherever they are in the recertification cycle.

For example, if you are not due to recertify until the end of February 2023, you will now have until the end of February 2024 to recertify. Anyone who is due for recertification this year will therefore also receive an extra year.

This process will happen automatically but if you are ready to recertify now you will still be able to do this in the usual way by completing the form below.

As a member you can recertify free of charge, as this is a benefit included in your annual membership fee. However, you must have paid your membership fee continuously for the five years leading up to recertifying.

How do I apply for my LoC SDI Recertification?

You can apply for recertification by filling in the online form.

Before filling in the online form, please have all the relevant information to hand before starting it, you will not be able to save it and then revisit it later, it must be completed in one sitting. You will also need a stable internet connection while completing the online forms:

Form for Recertifying Letter of Competence in Subdermal Implant Techniques (LoC SDI):

Please make sure to apply for recertification not more than six months before your recertification date and no later than six weeks afterwards.

To apply successfully for recertification, you need to demonstrate:

  • at least two credits of relevant CPD over the past five years 
  • completion of the relevant e-SRH module (for NHS professionals) or Faculty-approved distance learning (for non-NHS professionals) 
  • proof of basic life support and anaphylaxis training 
  • a log of IUT insertions 
  • a log of SDI insertions and/or removals

You can find more information on each of these requirements below. You can also find a calendar of CPD courses, meetings and events on this website.

Read some FAQs about Letters of Competence Recertification.

What are the CPD Requirements for my Letter of Competence recertification?

To recertify for either LoC IUT or LoC SDI, you need to collect at least two credits of CPD activity over the past five years. This activity must be relevant to IUT / SDI, and may be gained in the following ways.

 

  • Attendance at courses/meetings relevant to SDI
    Evidence: certificate of attendance, programme of meeting and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice.

  • Reading of appropriate current peer reviewed publications e.g. JFPRHC, BMJ
    Evidence: reference of article, and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice: 1 CPD credit per article
    Reading of FSRH CEU guidelines on subdermal contraceptive implant methods and completion of self-assessment questions Reading: 1 CPD credit and completion of self-assessment questions: 1 CPD credit. This may not be counted towards CPD if used to fulfil section 3.
    Evidence of reading: date read and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice. Evidence of questions: mark sheet, date completed and brief reflection on how this will influence your future practice.

  • Peer observation: For LoC IR you can claim 1 CPD credit for observing a peer perform an insertion or removal and giving feedback afterwards, 1 CPD credit for being observed performing an insertion or removal by a peer and discussing feedback afterwards.

  • For LoC IO you can claim 1 CPD credit for observing a peer perform an insertion and giving feedback afterwards, 1 CPD credit for being observed performing an insertion by a peer and discussing feedback afterwards.

  • For LoC RO you can claim 1 CPD credit for observing a peer perform a removal and giving feedback afterwards, 1 CPD credit for being observed performing a removal by a peer and discussing feedback afterwards.The observer/person being observed must hold a current LoC SDI. Evidence: date and name of observer/person being observed and brief outline of what you learned from this, either as an observer or from being observed)
  • Audit of SDI – personal or local

Evidence: date, summary of audit, brief description of your role in audit: 1 CPD credit

What evidence of CPD do I need to submit?

You do not always need evidence of CPD activity when you are applying for recertification. However, the General Training Committee audits 10% of all applications and reserves the right to ask for supporting documentation for all your activity. 

 

What other requirements and resources are there for my ongoing CPD?

If you are an NHS professional, you must also complete e-SRH module 14 (for LoC IUT) or e-SRH module 15 (for LoC SDI) during the two years before your recertification date.

To access the e-SRH learning modules, please register with e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH).

If you are not an NHS professional, you may instead complete Faculty-approved distance learning e.g. the latest CEU IUT / CEU SDI guidance and self-assessment questions.

You should also be up-to-date with basic life support and anaphylaxis training in accordance with your employer’s policy.

Finally, please submit a log covering a consecutive 12 month period that started no more than 24 months before your recertification date. 

  • For LoC IUT, this log should show 12 insertions, showing at least two different types of IUT method in conscious women. 
  • For LoC SDI Insertion and Removal (LoC SDI-IR), the log should show 6 procedures including at least one insertion and one removal.
  • For LoC SDI Insertion only (LoC SDI-IO), for individuals who work in an abortion or maternity services, the log will need to show a minimum of 6 insertions.
  • For LoC SDI Removal only (LoC SDI-RO), for individuals who work in deep implant services, the log will need to show a minimum of 6 removals.

Women's Health Library

Bringing together national guidance, resources produced and accredited by the RCGP, and resources from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), the Women's Health Library is a resource relevant to GPs and other primary healthcare professionals.

The Library is divided into four sections for ease of use with the free resources clearly marked:

  • Maternal Health
  • Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Pre-Menopause
  • Peri/Post Menopause

Access the library here. 

I'm late for my recertification, what should I do?

If you apply for recertification more than six weeks after your recertification date, you must: 

1. gain the necessary CPD credits and the Basic Life Support and anaphylaxis training outlined above
2. complete the relevant e-SRH module no more than 12 months before your recertification application date  (as opposed to within 24 months of recertification date) 
3. provide a log (described above) covering a consecutive 12 month period within 24 months of your recertification application date (as opposed to recertification date)
4. stop training or supervising anybody working towards an LoC.

If you are absent for more than a year and wish to apply for an extension on your recertification date, please email the Education team at education@fsrh.org.

If it is 10 years or more since your qualification was awarded or last recertified, you will need to retake the full training programme for your qualification. For Letters of Competence, this may be via the experienced practitioner route, if appropriate.

I'm a lapsed FSRH member and I want to recertify my qualification, what should I do?

FSRH Council believes that membership of the FSRH – and therefore access to the latest clinical guidance, standards, Journal, CPD questions and regular updates – is an important part of the membership and recertification process. The rules surrounding back payment of subscriptions were tightened up in 2015 by FSRH Council. 

Recertification is free to current FSRH members.  Recertification is one of our member benefits and supports you professionally in a number of ways.

It helps you to:

  • demonstrate the learning outcomes achieved from your qualification(s) have been maintained
  • show you have the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour needed to provide safe and effective sexual and reproductive health care (SRH)
  • meet the requirements of commissioners, who often require clinicians to have certified qualifications

If your membership has lapsed and you would like to re-join FSRH past the 31 March cut-off date for the current membership year or after one or more years, you will be required to pay back your 'missing' years to ensure you have continuous membership which is required for recertifying your primary qualification.

You can easily do this by contacting us by phone on 020 7724 5534 or by email to info@fsrh.org. We can take payment by phone using a debit or credit card, it will take a few minutes to do this for you.

You can also pay for a one-off recertification for Letters of Competence qualification. This is £400 per LoC. This option is not available for Diploma recertification. You can pay your Diploma membership back fees by telephone on the above number.

Read more about the recertfication requirements of our qualifications here. 

How much will I be paying if I'm a Member re-joining FSRH after a break of two or more years?
Please note, these figures below are correct until 31 December 2021.

Membership Category

& Annual Fee amount (2021)

Amount Payable

 

Diplomate £111

2 years (2020 and 2021) - £222 

3 years (2019, 2020 and 2021) - £333

4 years (2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021) - £444 

5 years (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021)- £555

Associate £94

2 years (2020 and 2021) - £188

3 years (2019, 2020 and 2021) - £282

4 years (2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021) - £376

5 years (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021)- £470

Member/Fellow £235

2 years (2020 and 2021) - £470

3 years (2019, 2020 and 2021) - £705

4 years (2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021) - £940

5 years (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021) - £1175

These figures are correct from 1 January 2022

Membership Category

& Annual Fee amount (2021)

Amount Payable in 2022
Diplomate £114

2 years (2021 and 2022) - £228

3 years (2020, 2021 and 2022) - £342

4 years (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022) - £356

5 years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2021)- £570
Associate £97

2 years (2021 and 2022) - £194

3 years (2020, 2021 and 2022) - £291

4 years (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022) - £388

5 years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2021)- £485
Member / Fellow £242

2 years (2021 and 2022) - £484

3 years (2020, 2021 and 2022) - £762

4 years (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022) - £968

5 years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2021)- £1210

 

If you think you might qualify for a reduced subscription on your back fees, please Contact us to find out how to claim. 

 

Contact Us 

If you need any more help with recertification, please read through our FAQs on the Contact us page.

How to Apply

Before submission of your documents using the application form on our website, please send an email via the Contact us page so that we can remove the eKA/OTA requirement from your profile. The eKA/OTA requirement must be removed first in order for you to be able to complete your application and pay online. 

Once you and your Primary Trainer have completed all sections of your Record of Training Form, you should submit this form along with the supporting documents and LoC registration fee for a certificate award.

To do this, log into 'My FSRH' or register if you do not already have a 'My FSRH website account. Once you have logged into 'My FSRH', scroll down to the 'FSRH Training Hub' tile and click 'Browse Courses'.

Then select ‘Letter of Competence in Subdermal Implant Insertion Only (LoC SDI-IO Application)’ and click ‘Go to Course’. 

On this page, you’ll be able to

  • Download a LoC SDI-IO Training Record Form
  • Complete the online evaluation of your training experience. Your feedback will be shared with the FSRH’s General Training Committee to help us improve our programmes.
  • Click orange button ‘Submit your training record and pay fee here’ to submit your documents and pay the fee.

 Once you have submitted the required documentation and paid the fee, a member of our team will review your application. We will contact you by email within 10 working days from this submission.

FSRH Register here  Log in to 'My FSRH'

Not sure how to register on our website? Watch our video for some help.

(You'll need sound or earphones on your device) 

 

Fees/Trust Payments

Application fee: For *members the rate per LoC is £80 or for non-members the rate per LoC is £200.

Please note an introductory fee for 2021 is £200 as compared to the usual non-member fee of £400. This has been agreed to support improved implementation of post-natal contraception.

*If you are not already a FSRH member, you may wish to become an Associate member and benefit from a reduced fee for your LoC application. As an up to date Associate member your membership includes recertification costs, so there are no additional administration costs every 5 years.  

Associate members also benefit from access to our Journal, clinical guidance, webinars and conference discounts. These benefits are designed to support ongoing learning and development. To find out more about our membership benefit click here.

Associate membership is £97 if the application is made between 1 January and 30 June. The membership fee is £49 if the application is made between 1 July and 31 December.  The full subsequent annual Associate membership fee is due on 1 January 2022 and then the following years.

 

Is your trust/employer paying by invoice?

If your trust/employer is making payment by invoice, we will need the following information in order to raise a purchase order:

  • invoice address (accounts payable),
  • a purchase order number (only if your trust requires one),
  • and a finance/accounts payable email address. 

Please note, your trust can opt to pay for several individuals in a bulk payment if required. 

Please share this information with our Finance Manager, at finance@fsrh.org to raise the invoice. 

Contact Us

Contact Us

If you have questions regarding applying for the Letters of Competence, please read through our FAQs available on the Contact us page. 

Associate Membership

Completion of our Letter of Competence qualification can result in Associate Membership of FSRH and includes the following Membership benefits. Your membership subscription is payable annually and your membership runs from 1 January to 31 December each year.

  • Access to 'My FSRH' a personalised area on our website which includes resources and personal details
  • Full online access to BMJ SRH - our quarterly peer-reviewed journal
  • Free webinars 
  • Regular e-bulletins with access to previous editions
  • Discounts to FSRH conferences
  • Access to our Members' Evidence Request
  • Free five-yearly recertification of your qualification