Flexible Training Dr Helen Goodyear Associate Postgraduate Dean for flexible training

Working flexibly Part time training Must work at least 50% i.e. 5 sessions or more per week

Flexible training Male or female doctors Unable to train full time Well founded individual reasons

Eligibility Category 1 Category 2 Each case is considered on its merits

Category 1 Disability or ill health Responsibility for children Caring for disabled/ill partner, relative or dependent

Category 2 Unique opportunities for personal/professional development Service to the wider NHS Other reasons (but not research)

Which grades Training posts –F1 –F2 –SHO –GPVTS –SpR –GP Registrar –Specialty training grades (Specialty registrars)

Quality of flexible training Same mix of training and service as full time Same range and breadth of training but over a longer time period Equal access to teaching, study, audit, research etc Regular reviews of progress.

Advantages Reduced working hours Fixed weekly commitments, allowing planning for family life Studies show flexible trainees are happier and more enthusiastic than full timers Can return to full time at any time

Disadvantages Drop in salary, complexities of pay An additional trainee competing for limited training opportunities May be first flexible trainee for department/practice Can still be difficult to balance home responsibilities and work

Enquiries Postgraduate Dean’s office for the region Fill in application form or arrange interview with Associate Dean responsible for flexible training look at careers section and find guide to flexible trainingwww.wmdeanery.org

Appointment process If already in post, convert to flexible training by asking Associate Dean Otherwise, apply for post (from advert) Confirm Associate Dean has considered you eligible for flexible training - must get eligibility from each region you apply to. Be short-listed and appointed in open competition

Once appointed Educational approval –Royal college, Deanery and PMETB Funding Training programme –Hours of work –Educational supervisor Administrative details - start date, pay, occupational health etc

Educational Approval Discuss possible training programme with educational supervisor College approval – –SHO – college tutor/supervising consultant/specialty flexible training advisor –SpR – check with programme director/flexible training advisor Any new post which is set up must have PMETB approval Programme needs same quality and range of training as in full time posts Protected teaching time must be included within the working week

Deanery approval Specialist registrars retain their Training number F1/F2/SHO - staffing approval from the Postgraduate Dean ( provided the programme has educational approval and satisfies the Associate Dean)

Deanery funding of flexible training Slotshare Part time in a fulltime slot (Supernumerary)

Flexible funding -slotsharing Many deaneries ask flexible trainees to slotshare Two trainees share a fulltime slot and may work 50-70% each Has the advantage that training programme is already established Different to a jobshare where 2 trainees apply together for a post and may only work at 50% each.

Hours of work All flexible trainees must work a minimum of 50% of a full-time post. Usually a maximum of 60% in a slotshare. Working more than 70% the trainee is usually in a fulltime slot with reduced hours Actual hours worked depends on fulltimers hours –Fulltimers work 56 hours – 50% is 28 hours Fulltimers work 48hours – 50% is 24 hours

Duration of training Extended pro-rata so that training duration is equivalent to a full timer –working at 60%, need to work 10 months for 6 months WTE –If fulltime posts are for 4 months then a flexible trainee will work for 8 months eg GP VTS posts Future training will be competency based

Pay scales See for pay scaleswww.bma.org Paid on flexible band if work < 40 hours per week (applies to all trainees working %) New Pay Deal for flexible trainees started in June 2005

Flexible trainees basic salary Basic salary is determined by the actual hours of work –i.e. = standard hours + out of hours worked Divided into 4 hour bands F5 is 20 to<24 hrs of actual work/week - 0.5FBS F6 is 24 to<28hrs of actual work/week - 0.6FBS F7 is 28 to<32 hrs of actual work/week - 0.7FBS F8 is 32 to<36 hrs of actual work/week - 0.8FBS F9 is 36 to<40hrs of actual work/week - 0.9FBS

Banding supplements Payable if hours are worked outside 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday or are > 40 hours per week. Band FA – trainees working at high intensity and at the most unsocial times. Band FB – trainees working at less intensity at less unsocial times. Band FC – all other trainees with on call duties.

Banding Summary – see flowchart Band 3 Not new deal compliant –1.0 FBS Band FA (0.5)  1/3 duty hours outside 7am to 7pm Mon to Fri OR  work 1 in 6.5 weekends or greater OR  on call rota of 1in 10 (inc PC) or more frequently  On call rota of 1in 13.5 or more frequently and resident on call Band FB (0.4)  < 1/3 duty hours outside 7am to 7pm Mon to Fri  All other resident on call  Non-resident on call 1in 13.5 or more frequently and less than 4 hours work after 7pm on 50% occasions Band FC (0.2)  Non-resident on call 1 in 13.5 or less frequently

Banding supplements Supplement payable as a proportion of the calculated flexible basic pay (band F5 to F9) FA - 50% FB - 40% FC - 20%

Total salary Total salary = salary* + [ salary* x 0.5or 0.4or 0.2] *salary = F5 to F9 calculated

Example 70% of the work of a full-time trainee Total working hours add up to 33, putting the trainee’s basic pay at F8 (0.8) Banding FB (40%) Basic Pay = 0.8 x FBS Supplement = 0.4 x 0.8 x FBS Total = 1.12 x FBS Needs to be monitored twice yearly and hours of work should be 32 to 35 hours/week

Funding Depends on satisfactory progress and career progress Foundation year assessments SHO 6 monthly assessments SpR RITAs

Flexible training Limited resources Aim to fund all category 1 applicants Waiting lists of around 6 months in some deaneries to train flexibly

What you can do to help Plan well in advance - 6 months at least if possible Check the following –Educational approval has been given –Training programme has been arranged –Flexible post will be funded –Administrative details eg start date, contract, pay Start on the correct day, work well and enjoy flexible training

Summary Flexible training (5 sessions +) If you are considering this option ensure early discussion with the Associate Postgraduate Dean for flexible training