What
is Less than Full Time (LTFT) Training?
Less than full time training (LTFT) is when a
Postgraduate Doctor in Training (PGDiT) reduces their working hours below the
standard 100% full time (40 hours per week) to a different percentage such as
60% or 80%.
There are many reasons a PGDiT may choose to apply for
LTFT training, and consideration must also be taken to look at the impact this
will have on the training pathway and expected CCT.
The BMA LTFT information can be found here.
Contact information for teams mentioned in the below
information can be found at the bottom of this page.
How
to Apply for LTFT Training
All DiTs are welcome to apply for LTFT training.
· Already
in training, please start discussions with your Educational Supervisor (ES) and
Training Programme Director (TPD) in the first instance. Contacting your
Programme Support Officer (PSO) is also required as they will need to be made
aware of your request and can help you look at how your training pathway will change.
· Not
yet commenced training and are at the Oriel application stage for the GP
Training Programme, please include in your Oriel application that you would
like to train LTFT. This will be communicated through to the GP School and the
Lead Employer Trust (LET) before you commence your pre-employment checks.
· Currently
on a period of extended leave (e.g., parental leave, long term sickness
absence) and you are wishing to look at returning at LTFT, please make contact
with your PSO and LET People Services Officer to request this as soon as
possible.
The LET’s LTFT Training policy can be found here.
Please read this for information on eligibility, application rules, notice
periods and appeals. You must not start working LTFT until the LET have
approved your application and you have been sent official confirmation of this.
**Please note that it is your responsibility if on a visa to ensure that
the LTFT percentage you apply for is supported by the visa type you are on**
Visa
FAQ page here.
LTFT
Percentages
Please discuss the different options available with
your ES/TPD/PSO and look to find a percentage that suits your personal and
educational needs. The two most common LTFT percentages are 60% (24 hours per
week) and 80% (32 hours per week).
Non-Working
Day(s)
It is not possible to allocate a fixed non-working day
as part of the LTFT process. During the application process, you will be
expected to liaise with your host placement to negotiate rota arrangements.
During these negotiations, you may request a certain non-working day, however
your placement are not required to grant this if they cannot support due to
service or educational needs. Your LET People Services Officer and Programme
Support Officer will be able to provide further support and information should
you require it.
Working
Patterns
During the LTFT application process, you will work with
your ES to draw up a template rota that will cover the required educational and
clinical aspects of your training within your LTFT hours. This rota makes up
part of the Stage 2 form and must be completed before the form is sent to your
host placement for the rotational period.
If working in a Practice, the form will be sent to the
Practice Manager for sign off and you will receive a LTFT work schedule from
the LET once your application is approved.
If working in a Hospital post, your form will be sent
to the Trust’s HR/Rota team for them to sign off and create a work schedule.
This is the point where you would be in touch with them to discuss any
non-working days and working patterns. The GP School and the LET are not
involved in the creation of this work schedule so please only contact the Trust
directly for information on this. Once the Trust have finalised your work
schedule, they will send it to the LET for salary input, who will then send it
out to you.
Please also see the 2016
Terms and Conditions of Service for
further information on LTFT work schedules.
Pay
If you wish to see an example of basic pay for a
LTFT percentage amount, please contact LET Payroll. They
cannot forecast future rota payments or enhancements, only a basic pay amount
for the current ST rate applicable to you. This would show you the least amount
of pay that you could expect for a particular LTFT percentage.
As per the 2016
Terms and Conditions of Service a
Doctor training LTFT and on the 2016 TCs contract will be paid an annual
allowance of £1,000 for as long as they continue to train LTFT. This allowance
will be paid in monthly instalments over the year. Please read the TCs document as linked above
for further information.
Annual
Leave and Bank Holiday Working
Working LTFT will impact your annual leave allowance
and how you are affected by Bank/Public Holidays. Please see the LET policy here.
For more information, please contact the LET People Services Officer directly.
Study Leave
A
full-time doctor receives a study leave allowance of 15 days per 6-month post.
From this allowance, days must be used for attending mandatory weekly teaching.
When
working LTFT, your study leave allowance will be pro-rata to match your LTFT
percentage:
15/100 * LTFT %
e.g.,
if working 60% LTFT, 15/100*60 = 9 days
Please
contact your PSO if you require any further clarification on how this works.
See
our Study Leave page for
full information.
Maximising Educational Opportunities
whilst Working LTFT
You
may find that working LTFT restricts training opportunities for some
activities/meetings/clinics etc. that only fall on your non-working day(s). If
this is the case, please work with your ES and CS to see if you can be flexible
with your non-working day(s) on certain weeks in order to attend. It is
recognised however, that you may not be able to move non-working days due to
arrangements such as childcare. If you are worried about missing training
opportunities, please speak to your ES/TPD/PSO for further support.
Attending Mandatory Weekly Teaching
You
will still be required to attend mandatory weekly teaching sessions, the number
of teaching sessions that you must attend per rotation will depend on your LTFT
percentage, the placement you are on and the sessions you have already
attended. Please discuss this aspect of your training with your ES and PSO
during the LTFT application process.
Workplace Based Assessments
If
working LTFT, your e-Portfolio will be adjusted to account for this so please
use this as your guide in relation to workplace based assessments (WPBAs).
WPBAs will be pro-rata in relation to your LTFT percentage amount.
In depth information can be found on the Royal
College of General Practitioners website and you can also speak to your ES and
PSO regarding this.
ARCPs
Working
LTFT will usually result in your ARCP being out of sync with the full-time
cohort. This is not something to worry about and the ARCP panel members are
used to scheduling and panelling out of sync PGDiTs. If you are unsure as to
the number of competencies you will need to have by your panel date, please
speak to your ES and PSO to check well in advance of your panel.
Impact on Expected CCT Date
Going
LTFT will change your expected CCT date and lengthen the amount of time you
spend in training. To have your expected CCT date calculated, please contact
your PSO. For queries relating to CCT date change and visas, please contact england.sponsorship@nhs.net
directly.
If
your LTFT application is approved, the LET will issue you with an extension to
contract letter to ensure that your employment with them covers the duration of
your training.
Reduction
in Membership Fees
Certain membership bodies offer a reduction in fees to
LTFT Doctors, contact any that you pay for to ask if this is an option.
GMC fee discount information can be found here.
Continuation
of LTFT Training
Once approved for LTFT training, the LET will ask you
to renew/review your LTFT arrangement every time you rotate posts. You will be
asked to complete a new rota template with your ES per rotational period to
ensure that your LTFT plan is meeting your educational needs. The form with the
template rota is then sent to your upcoming placement for them to negotiate a
working rota with you.
Further information can be found in the LET LTFT
policy, or via the LET People Services Officer.
Useful Contacts
Programme Support Officers (PSOs)
Northumbria Programme: Michelle.taberham@nhs.net
North Cumbria Programme: emma.clarke86@nhs.net
Durham & Tees Valley Programme: chris.alderson2@nhs.net
The Lead Employer Trust