Paediatric rheumatology - sub-specialty

Paediatric rheumatologists care for children and young people with a range of conditions, from mechanical pains and juvenile arthritis to complex multi-system inflammatory disorders.

Read about this clinical area and download the syllabi for both sub-specialty and for generic specialty training. We also have an educational supervisor guide.

Introduction to this sub-specialty

A paediatric rheumatologist is a doctor who cares for children and young people with a range of conditions, from mechanical pains and juvenile arthritis to complex multi-system inflammatory disorders. They rely on history-taking, examination and communication with other professionals, as the conditions they manage often do not have specific diagnostic tests.

Central to their work is liaising with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) – particularly, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychologists. They support collaborative work within clinical networks, are competent in practical skills such as joint injections and have expert understanding of the drugs used to target the inflammatory pathway.

Paediatric rheumatologists belong to a rapidly developing specialty that encourages a range of clinical and academic interests, including clinical, educational and basic science research. They are committed to contributing to collaborative research studies and clinical trials, with the aim of improving outcomes for children and young people with rheumatological conditions.

Training in this sub-specialty

In summer 2023, we launched RCPCH Progress+, our updated, two-level paediatric training programme in the UK.

Paediatricians start in core training, and then move on to specialty training - when some choose to apply to train in a paediatric sub-specialty, such as rheumatology.

The Progress+ curriculum provides a framework for paediatric training, and outlines the Learning Outcomes and Key Capabilities required at each stage before attaining the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

The RCPCH Progress+ syllabi support the curriculum with further guidance on how the Learning Outcomes can be achieved and demonstrated, with sub-specialty Learning Outcomes. You can download the Progress+ syllabi for this sub-specialty and for specialty training (generic) below. 

Trainees due to CCT by September 2024 continue to use the Progress curriculum and syllabi; you can also download the the Progress syllabi below.