1. Common questions and queries
LTFT Trainees
Common questions and queries

2. 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.

3. LTFT trainee support HEWM website LTFT section and FAQs
Full-Time-Training-Guide
VTS website – LTFT advice section
LTFT Google Group
Lead Trainee Liz McEvoy
Lead TPD Lucy Blunt –
Mat Leave April 16 – October
Temporary contact Alice Bird
Mentor TPD

4. 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?”

5. 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??

6. 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 ed to trainee, myself, Bianca and Katharine
Trainee receives standard 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. A plea from me….
Before ing 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.