TY - JOUR T1 - The First5 Concept JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 72 LP - 73 DO - 10.3399/bjgp11X549135 VL - 61 IS - 582 AU - Clare Taylor AU - James Parsons AU - Nigel Sparrow AU - Clare Gerada Y1 - 2011/01/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/61/582/72.abstract N2 - During specialty training, Associates in Training (AiTs) are well supported. They have regular contact with their trainer, peer support at the GP specialty-training programme and a job, often guaranteed for the 3 years running up to obtaining a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). All this changes the day after finishing training when the weekly specialty training programme meetings stop and the trainer is no longer in the next room. New GPs find themselves in the ever-changing landscape of modern general practice.1 New GPs have so many options open to them at this point and may be salaried, locums, or partners and work in out-of-hours or urgent care centres, undertake academia, or become a forces doctor. All these young doctors often share a common sense of ‘falling off a cliff’ at the end of training. The RCGP has established a special group for newly qualified GPs to help support and develop their clinical and professional skills during the first crucial 5 years as independent practitioners.The First5 concept came from the RCGP AiT Committee, when in 2008–9 the committee recognised a gap in support for it's Members. The First5 concept was developed to help support new GPs from completion of training to the first point of revalidation at the 5-year mark. This essay explains the origin of the concept and the five pillars which we envisage being crucial to the First5 concept.General practice is a career, which offers a great variety and diversity of possible career pathways, with many GPs choosing to pursue special interests or portfolio careers. The traditional model of working full time as a practice partner, which used to be the norm for most GPs is no longer the case.1 Politically there have been many changes over recent years and with this has come … ER -