The indicative time which should be spent in the GP training programme is 36 months (1095 days) WTE and the GMC approved GP training curriculum is designed to be delivered over this period. The expectation is that Doctors in Training should aim to complete this time in training, in order to complete the requirements.
GP training is a competency based training programme but to support planning some exceptional time out of training can be applied to absence. This allows for a maximum of 7 weeks or 49 days away from training, which is proportionately high given the short nature of the GP training programme, but is not considered to impact on Doctors in Training progression or patient safety.
Our process for Doctors who are making satisfactory progress or completing training (Outcome 1 or Outcome 6) is outlined below but please also see the flowchart attached to this email:
If total TOOT for an ST phase of training is less than 14 days.
TOOT will be recorded on the ARCP outcome form and no update to CCT date.
If total TOOT for an ST phase of training is >14 days with no single TOOT period >30 days
If total TOOT is between 15 – 49 days for the ST phase of training, no update to CCT date.
If TOOT for an ST phase of training for a single period is >30 days:
Any prolonged absence/TOOT >30days has to be added as a post onto 14fish.
The Training Programmes will therefore automatically add this TOOT extension in the corresponding ST phase of training taking into account 14/21 days discretionary absence policy (e.g. if DiT takes 45 days sick leave in a continuous period in ST1, a 31 days extension should be added to ST1. This will change the end date for ST2 and ST3 as well, as each ST phase of training should be approximately 12 months).
At ARCP panel, if further TOOT <30 days continuously has been recorded on 14fish and the Form R for that ST phase of training, this additional TOOT extension will be added to the end of ST3.
At the next/final ARCP panel the total TOOT across the whole Training Programme will be reviewed and adjusted if required/possible.
If a Doctor in Training is awarded an Outcome 3 at ARCP panel, then it is expected that TOOT will added to the current ST phase of training once DAP has been applied (14 days in ST1 and ST2 and 21 days in ST3). Short periods of exceptional time out of training might be included within an extension, but equally the panel can decide to add the extra TOOT in addition to the Outcome 3 extension time if this is felt to be required. Any additional TOOT required following an Outcome 2, where additional training time is not required, will be added onto the end of ST3 and the CCT date extended accordingly.
To allow ARCP panels to review Time out of Training clearly, Doctors in Training must accurately document their Time out of Training as lozenges on their 14fish E-portfolio, and this must exactly match the days out of training added to a Form R prior to ARCP panel. The Form R only gives total days out of training since your last ARCP and not the specific dates, so we do require both to be correct. ARCP panel and the GPSA (RCGP specialist applications team) will need to cross check your Form R with the dates added to your e-portfolio to make sure your training time is correct. Please be aware that if there are any discrepancies, then you will be chased prior to ARCP and if this is still not correct ARCP panel may be required to issue an Outcome 5 and request that the Form R be ratified.
It is vital that any absence/Time out of Training is still reported to the LET and your current clinical post, be that in hospital or in General Practice. Please be aware that not informing your employer, or your clinical placement, or purposefully not adding Time out of Training on your Form R or 14fish E-portfolio is a probity/revalidation issue and will be taken very seriously.
Guidance can be found in relation to Time out of Training on the RCGP website at: https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/qualifying-as-a-gp/cct-guidance/training-guidance
TOOT Flowchart