Common questions and queries LTFT Trainees Common questions and queries

QA visit: Areas for improvement or enhancement Expectations of LTFT trainees. There is a lack of common understanding between trainees and trainers of the expectations and requirements for LTFT trainees.

LTFT trainee support HEWM website LTFT section and FAQs http://www.westmidlandsdeanery.nhs.uk/Support/Less-Than-Full-Time-Training/Less-Than- Full-Time-Training-Guide VTS website – LTFT advice section LTFT Google Group Lead Trainee Liz McEvoy Lead TPD Lucy Blunt – lucyroche@doctors.org.uk Mat Leave April 16 – October Temporary contact Alice Bird alice.bird@crs.nhs.uk Mentor TPD

A typical trainee email… “Hi Lucy I am ST3 80% LTFT on 6 months extension . So I am working 7.5 months. How many days annual leave will I have ? For bank holidays will I get day in lieu if they do not coincide with my contracted hours?”

Common queries Any others? Annual leave Bank holidays Study leave ARCP requirements and expectations Planning placements – LTFT working week Attending VTS Applying for LTFT training Does anyone have any other queries that are not covered in this list??

LTFT application process ST2/3 in GP: Trainee applies to HEWM for LTFT training (at least 12/52 prior to expected start date) Once LTFT training eligibility confirmed – letter emailed to trainee, myself, Bianca and Katharine Trainee receives standard email from me explaining what they need to do This essentially involves them making contact with their ES and practice manager to structure their working week and agree on working days Working week template on VTS website says access denied but the information is available below this in the LTFT section

Planning the working week General points from the Deanery LTFTs cannot dictate their working week days LTFTs cannot be treated more favourably that FTs All LTFTs should have their teaching day as a working day eg. those in general practice should all work a Thursday Working locum shifts is NOT allowed unless they are asked to cover sick leave/emergency leave by their employer

Planning the working week Example based on 60% trainee 60% trainee works 60% of the week e.g 6 sessions/3 days It takes 20 months to complete 12 months of training Every 5 weeks a 60% trainee will complete the same training commitment as a FT trainee over 3 weeks FT trainee over 3 weeks has 21 clinical sessions and 9 educational sessions So a 60% trainee over 5 weeks should have 21 clinical sessions and 9 educational sessions

Example format at 60% 21 clinical 9 educational Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Clinical 4 5 Education in practice 1 VTS Personal study Total/week 6 Overall total 30 In reality this may be difficult to rota but gives you a vague idea Without adding the additional clinical session week 5 the trainee would miss out on 10 clinical sessions per year. Alternates personal study and education in practice Highlights the issues of VTS, personal study

Personal study Within the 12 hours education per week a FT trainee should get 4 hours personal study (one session) As per previous spreadsheet a 60% trainee should therefore get on average ONE session personal study every other week.

Attending VTS LTFT trainees should have their VTS day as one of their workings days eg THURSDAY (and ideally a Tuesday if possible). ST2 GPs have their VTS on a Thursday MORNING and ST3s on a Thursday AFTERNOON Trainees should attend at least 70% of VTS teaching (this allows for annual leave) When VTS is not running then trainees are expected to organise another suitable educational activity or an additional clinical session.

Annual/Study Leave for LTFTs Confusion occurs when discussing the leave entitlements over 6/12 months instead of over their placement time. If calculating leave over their placement time then the entitlement is the same as a FT trainee but over a longer period of time. Eg 15 days study leave over 20 months rather than 12 (based on 60%) Annual leave depends on NHS payscale rather than ST level

Annual leave entitlement Based on NHS Payscale. If going straight into GP training from Foundation years: ST1 = STR00 ST2 = STR01 ST3 = STR02 STR02 get 25 days and STR03 get 30 days

12 month entitlements Study Leave (15 VTS) Annual leave Bank holidays FTE 15 additional 25 8 80% 12 20 6.4 60% 9 15 4.8

Bank holidays for LTFTs If bank holidays fall on working days then these must be included in the bank holiday calculation. If not falling on working days then they can be claimed back in lieu (if no bank holidays are worked as part of working week) If however a LTFT trainee works a Monday and Friday then they may need to make up some time for bank holidays taken over and above their entitlement.

ARCP requirements WBPA should be completed PRO RATA to the percentage working week Eg. ST3 FT trainees should complete at least 6 CBDs every 6 months. ST3 60% trainees should complete 3.6 CBDs (4) in the same time period. LTFT trainees should be reminded that these are MINIMUM requirements Should still have 6 monthly ESR.

A plea from me…. Before emailing your queries please check the HEWM or VTS website to make sure that your answer cannot be found there. Hopefully the trainers ‘Best Practice Pack’ may also be of help to you. If the issue is a training one please contact their mentor TPD rather than me unless the query is specific to LTFT training.