Background The Chief Registrar (CR) scheme is a new leadership role for junior doctors in training. An independent evaluation of the first cohort underlined barriers faced by CRs, which suggested that their clinical training might have been affected.

Objectives This was the first study investigating the second cohort of CRs, and the first study exploring the impact the role has on CRs clinical training, and the differences in clinical training experienced between CRs In-programme and those Out-of-programme.

Methodology This study involved 8 semi-structured, audio-recorded, face-to-face interviews with Chief Registrars currently practicing in the second cohort within UK.

Findings The majority of CRs reported that, overall, the CR role had no effect or had a positive impact on their clinical training (75%). Whereas, all CRs identified experiencing constraints to clinical training at some point, only a small minority felt that their overall clinical training was being negatively impacted by the CR role (25%). Most CRs found enablers to clinical training and solutions towards overcoming certain challenges and barriers.

Conclusion CRs experienced constraints to clinical training, but the overall impact was a balance between barriers and facilitators to clinical training. Specific clinical context such as differences in clinical role, organisational pressures, and specialty were important factors affecting clinical training. However, many CRs agreed that clinical leadership is an imperative skill for a consultant role, and that the benefits of developing clinical leadership skills outweighed any short-term negative impact they may have experienced. There was limited evidence of systematic differences in practice between CRs In-programme, out-of-programme training, and out-of-programme experience. No clear associations between impact on clinical training and CR role were found, however, the many CRs showed preference towards doing the role out-of-programme.