-GP Specialist & Foundation Training FAQs
 

 ^{Last update 1 December 2011}  

CONTACTS	TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER SCHEME
PAY	MEDICAL INDEMNITY
TRAVEL EXPENSES AND DRIVING	PERFORMERS LIST
OTHER EXPENSES	ABSENCE FROM TRAINING AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
OUT OF HOURS / EXTENDED HOURS	THE WORKING WEEK
STUDY LEAVE	LESS THAN FULL TIME (FLEXIBLE) WORKING
ANNUAL LEAVE	ROTATIONS / POSTS
PROFESSIONAL & SPECIAL LEAVE	FOUNDATION TRAINING
MATERNITY LEAVE	TRAINING AND TRAINING PRACTICES
COMPASSIONATE AND DEPENDANT LEAVE	DOCTORS IN DIFFICULTY
LOCUM WORK AS A GP TRAINEE	ANNUAL REVIEW OF COMPETENCY PANELS (ARCP)
AREA DIRECTORS	OUT OF PROGRAMME
PATERNITY LEAVE	ABBREVIATIONS

 

There is a lot of advice on contract of employment, hours of work, leave, transfers and an insiders guide to GP training on the BMA website for BMA members here

2. PAY

Where can I find out about my pay and conditions?
The NHS Employers website is your official source of information used by the Deanery, and all NHS employers, enter “GP registrars” or “junior doctors” in their search box. http://www.nhsemployers.org

How do I get my training practice to pay my student loan automatically from my salary?
This is implemented via the Tax Office when they receive your P45 and new details from your employer. The training practice does not need to do anything. You need to contact the student loan company or tax office if there are problems.

My PCT has put me on the wrong GP registrar supplement or pay band. What do I do?
Check with the GP Registrar / pay & contracts section of NHS Employers website that you are on the correct supplement. This depends on the supplement in place on the date your R7 was signed off by the deanery. The date of the Deanery signing the R7 is used to fix the supplement at the published rates at the time.  You should write to your PCT with your complaint and give the evidence that they are in the wrong. You may wish to consult your BMA employment advisor. 

What is an R7?    This is the contract between you, the GP training practice and the Deanery. It allows the Deanery to move funds to the GP training practice, via the PCT, to pay you.  Please complete each August for all GP posts in the following 12. 

Can I keep cremation fees when in a GP post?  Your written employment contract states that all fees received by you by virtue of your position in the practice shall be paid to the partners or as they may direct.

 

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3. TRAVEL EXPENSES AND DRIVING

 How do I claim for travel?    If you are in a GP training practice, you can claim for travel for using a car for practice business including home visits. The journey to and from work (up to 10 miles in each direction) can also be claimed but only if you use the car for a home visit that day, otherwise you cannot claim for home visits. Travel can also be claimed for the CSA and AKT tests at a public transport rate. All claims for travel will be from your PCT. The training practice should be able to sign post you to the correct person at the PCT.

Are my travel expenses taxable? Yes, but only any amount over 45p a mile (2011). So if you are reimbursed 54p a mile you will be taxed by paying National Insurance on 54p minus 45p ie  9p per mile. Your employer is required to complete form P11D for the Inland Revenue, and your tax code will be adjusted for the following year for any National Insurance owed. Please see the Inland Revenue website for more details. Please ensure you keep record of any mileage claims for 6 years for tax purposes.

Can I claim for travel to take the Diploma in Child Health (DCH) examination?     No, you can only claim for the CSA and AKT examinations.

Can I claim mileage allowance for attending educational meetings?
Yes. GPStRs can claim travel to teaching sessions as part of your study leave budget.  

I am an F2 Doctor, how do I claim travel for home visits in general practice?
Please contact your employer who pays your salary i.e. the hospital trust.

Can I claim travel to the OOH sessions?
No. OOH is not part of your contracted employment with the training practice. The practice's responsibility is limited to facilitating OOH.

I live a long way from my training practice. Is there anyway I can claim for the journey from home?
GPStRs cannot claim for normal daily travel to and from work except in lieu of removal expenses in agreement with your PCT (see below) or when the car is used for business.  On days that GPStRs undertake an official practice journey such as a home visit they can claim up to 20 miles (return journey).  This is in addition to the mileage they will claim for undertaking the visit. 

Excess mileage can be claimed in lieu of removal expenses in agreement with your PCT.  This is the excess travel between home and base hospital compared to home and GP training practice.  For example, a GPStR who lives 10 miles from the Trust (base) and 12 miles from the practice can claim 2 miles excess travel.  This is paid at the public transport rate.

When should I claim travel?  After the travel has occurred, and within three months of the expenditure. Please ensure all claims are made within the respective financial year.

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4. OTHER EXPENSES

Can I claim removal expenses on taking up my GP training post and to whom do I apply?

To see if you are eligible to claim expenses then please download the removal expenses guide from here.   You are entitled for expenses associated with relocating if your employer agrees that a move from your existing home is necessary, your post is 6 months or more in duration, and that your new residence will be a reasonable travelling distance from your workplace. You should not profit at NHS expense so, for example, to be eligible to claim the costs of purchasing a new property you will need to demonstrate that you have, or are in the process of selling your old property.
 
Apply to your employer to claim removal expenses. This is your hospital trust or in GP training practices,  from the Primary Care Trust (PCT).

www.nhsemployers.org

Are the expenses associated with RCGP AiT registration and GMC registration fees are reimbursable?
No, but they are classed as “professional expenses” and are tax allowable.

Is the expense of certification at the end of training reimbursable? No, but this cost is tax allowable as a professional expense.

Can I claim for examination expenses?
Yes, you can claim when in a GP training practice post for reasonable public transport travel and subsistence expenses to attend the AKT or CSA examinations only. No other examinations are approved in this respect.  A contribution towards overnight accommodation is claimable for the CSA examination, in London, and the examination is before 12 midday.

Can I get any help with childcare?
Yes. Childcare Vouchers are an employee benefit available to all eligible working parents whose employers run the scheme. Childcare Vouchers benefit both basic and high rate tax-payers. Childcare Vouchers can be used to pay for all types of registered childcare, including holiday clubs, before and after school clubs, childminders, nannies, nurseries and play schemes.

By joining the scheme, working parents are entitled to exchange a portion of their gross salary for Childcare Vouchers. This portion of your pay is exempt from Tax and National Insurance Contributions, which means you can make savings of over £1000 per parent per year on your childcare costs. Both parents can join the scheme doubling the benefit.  Childcare Vouchers are a government work-life balance scheme, supported by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Further details: www.busybeesvouchers.com

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5. OUT OF HOURS / EXTENDED HOURS
 

How often do I need to do out of hours when in general practice?
You should do a MINIMUM of 72 hours. You should aim for one session per month in general practice.  Your practice should be able to put you in touch with your local out of hours provider to arrange this. No more than 24 hours should be undertaken in ST2, and OOH must be started in ST2,

Can I get paid for doing extra OOH sessions? No, it has been nationally agreed by all Deaneries that you can do extra sessions but these would not be paid.  

Do I get time in lieu for OOH sessions? When you choose your OOH session you will need to allow enough time to effectively manage your practice work commitments. If you wish to take a compensatory rest period which involves cancelling a clinical session this must be done in conjunction with your host practice’s manager and adhering to your host practice’s normal policies and timescales for cancelling a clinical session. Attendance at the taught programme is compulsory and absence must be agreed with your GP Programme Director. You have a duty to ensure patient safety is not put at risk due to fatigue so careful planning of your OOH sessions must be done in conjunction with your educational and clinical supervisors and your GP Programme Director

What about European Working Time Regulation (EWTR)? 

More information HERE

What is extended hours and does this count for out of hours?
Your practice may offer extended opening hours before 8.00am, after 6.30pm or Saturday mornings. This can be part of your agreed 40-hour working week, and your day would need to be adjusted accordingly e.g. if you work late. You cannot count it as “out of hours” experience.

Do I have to do extended hours or Saturday mornings?
You are preparing for a career in general practice and as such need experience in all aspects of the job including extended hours. Your working hours need to be agreed with your trainer and compliant with the 48 hour working time directive.  If your practice does not do extended hours your trainer might be willing to facilitate extended hours experience in another practice.

 

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6. STUDY LEAVE
 

How much study leave do I get?
30 days a year as specified in your employment contract. This equates to 15 days a year attending the half-day release course and 5 days per 4 month post to attend other courses.

How do I claim study leave expenses?

You should obtain a GP Speciality Training Study Leave form from your Area Programme Office (see contacts).  You need authorisation from your employer for the leave, your educational or clinical supervisor and your budget holder. Personal study leave budgets as at 1 August 2011 are:

ST1 £300

ST2 £450

ST3 £600

Do I get study leave for exams?
You are required to request study leave to take professional examinations although we would not normally count this towards your study leave allowance for the AKT and CSA. There is a duty to request from your employer the leave element.

Can I claim for examination preparaton courses?

You can claim for examamination preparation course using your study leave allowance although we consider these a poor investment of your time and money. Often it is better to see more patients and reflect on your experiences in the learning log.

Can I take private study leave?   Study leave entitlement may be used for private study leave up to a maximum of 2 weeks per annum, with no more than one week being taken at any one time.  Private study leave should generally only be used for examination preparation.

What do I do when the VTS is not running?  - see The Working Week

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7. ANNUAL LEAVE
 

How much annual leave do I get?
25 (or 30 days) a year as specified in your employment contract. In addition you get 8 statutory bank holidays a year.  Employment contracts will vary between trusts, but for General Practice posts please ensure you are provided with the latest BMA contract: "BMA - Framework for a written contract of employment for GP specialty registrars"

The annual leave of 30 days applies to StRs who are in their fourth year of specialist training and have reached point 3 of the StR payscale. (The first level is "miniumum", the second level is StR point 1, third StR point 2 and fourth StR point 3).  Therefore, 30 days applies to all trainees in ST4 or in their fourth year of StR employment (for example after maternity leave). 

Annual leave is provided in addition to 8 public holidays and when StRs are in a hospital based placement employed under the hsopital doctor's terms and conditions of service they are also entitled to 2 NHS statutory days or days in lieu (these days may also be converted to annual leave bu mutual agreement). These two additional days are not mentioned in the framework of employment for GPVTS trainees in a practice placement so employers are not obliged to provide these but may do so at their discretion in order to bring the entitlement in line with the comparable hospital doctor entitlements.

I am an ST3 trainee. Do I get extra holiday?
Not usually - see above.

We have a registrar who is working 60% time.  She works on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, can you confirm if she should have holidays for bank holidays? 

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8. PROFESSIONAL & SPECIAL LEAVE
 

How much professional leave can I have?
Professional leave for GPRs is recognised for specific activities that will enhance the GPR’s professional journey and are of value to the GP School and/or the National and/or the local GP community. 

Examples are attendance at:

• Deanery invite to participate in Training the Trainer to help GP Trainers improve their teaching skills.
• QA practice visits as part of the inspecting team.
• GP School committees.
• Local professional committees e.g. LMC, RCGP, and Midland Faculty.
• National Professional Committees e.g. GPC, RCGP Council.
• Development days for professional assessment e.g. nMRCGP CSA, GP ST Recruitment. 

Professional leave should usually be no more than five working days in a twelve-month period and should be approved by the GPR’s trainer in accordance with their employment contract agreement.

What sort of  leave do I take to attend an interview for a job?  It is good practice for an NHS employer to allow you to take special leave to attend an NHS job interview, taking into account the notice period and numbers of doctors that remain in the practice for patient safety.  You might be asked to re-negotiate the interview date if problematic for the practice, but most employers would try to make reasonable adjustments. No more than 5 days a financial year would normally be allowed for this purpose.

I am on active service with the territorial army for two weeks - what leave do I apply for? This would count as special leave at the descretion of your employer, who should facilitate such a request as unpaid leave. You would need to give adequate notice. The military service itself earns you an income from the TA. A decision will be made by the Deanery on your length of training and CCT as a result. Please ensure the leave is documneted in your eportfolio if 2 weeks or more.

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 PATERNITY LEAVE

 

How much paternity leave am I entitled?

Two weeks.

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 COMPASSIONATE AND DEPENDANT LEAVE

My father has died, how much compassionate leave can I take?
This is a decision made by your employer i.e. the training practice or hospital. Please examine your employment contract.  'Compassionate leave' is a term used to describe time off work to cope with personal circumstances. There is a statutory right called 'time off for dependants' which gives you the right to unpaid time off in some circumstances. When this right doesn't apply you will have to see what compassionate leave scheme your employer offers. The amount of time is “what is reasonable”. Household emergencies (e.g. burst water pipe) do not count, nor do relatives who are not dependant (e.g. a relative abroad) – in these circumstances you need to use up annual leave, and any other unpaid leave is up to your employer. Compassionate leave is usually UNPAID leave.

I am stuck abroad due to a plane strike what should I do?

Contact your employer immediately and make plans to return to the UK as soon as practical.  You will be required to use up annual leave, or take unpaid leave.  Please contact the deanery to clarify the effect on your training requirements.

I am off sick long term and coming to the end of my current post and should start the new post next week. What should I do?
You cannot move trust or into general practice whilst on sick leave. Your current employer is obliged to extend your contract until you are fit to return to work. You need to contact your programme director as soon as you intend to return so we can create a vacancy for you, as your intended post may no longer be available.

Can I take a day off to go to a funeral?

You have the right to unpaid time off work to deal with emergencies involving a 'dependant' – i.e anyone living in your household as a member of the family or anyone who reasonably relies on you for help in an emergency, for example an elderly neighbour living alone who falls and breaks a leg and you are the closest on hand. You should refer to your employment contract. An emergency is any unexpected or sudden problem involving someone who depends on your help or care. Examples include: illness, injury, having a baby, unexpected breakdown in care arrangements, illness at school, unexpected death, attend a funeral. You would only take the time off required to resolve the emergency and normally it would not be more than 1-2 days. You need to let your employer know as soon as possible. As a doctor and part of a clinical team you have obligations under Good Medical Practice to ensure there are arrangements in place to cover your absence by giving appropriate notice and ensuring such time off is only in unforeseen circumstances and for the minimum time off possible.  Good Medical Practice outlines your duties to ensure patient safety and duty to your colleagues

 

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 ABSENCE FROM TRAINING AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

I have been absent due to to sickness, jury service or through maternity and paternity leave; do I need to make the time up?

You must complete a full three years of training and there are no allowances for sickness absence, jury service or maternity and paternity leave. The total, aggregated allowance for sickness absence, jury service and or maternity/paternity leave must not exceed one working week in any post, up to a maximum of two working weeks in a twelve month training period, and six working weeks over the three-year training period. Any sickness and/or jury service and/or maternity/paternity leave taken in excess of this must be made up in full, but not necessarily in the specialty or post where the absence occurred.

Trainees must first seek advice and agreement from the Director of Postgraduate Education if they need to take maternity/paternity leave, have to attend jury service or are absent due to sickness. Trainees should confirm with the RCGP and their deanery that their plans to make up lost time will mean that their programme of training conforms, on completion, to regulatory requirements.

It is RCGP and PMETB guidance that training periods (posts) of less than three months in duration will not normally count towards a CCT.

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 PERFORMERS LIST
 

Do GP trainees in ST1 or ST2 need to be on the Performers List?
Yes!

Our GPR has been unable to register with the Performers List due delays with the PCT carrying out checks such as CRB etc. Are they still able to work at the practice?
Yes, if they have submitted an application for the Performers List within the last 2 months.

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 MEDICAL INDEMNITY

One of the GP trainees has turned up on his first day of work and cannot produce proof of indemnity insurance. He tells us he posted the cheque last week. Can he work?
No, he is not insured against medical indemnity. This is a professional responsibility as outlined GMC Good Medical Practice.  The Deanery should be informed because of the probity issue and an entry made on his training record.  Start of employment must be delayed. The lost training will need to be made up later.
 

I phoned my medical indemnity organisation for a quote for my GP placement. They said I can claim the cost of indemnity from the PCT.  Is that correct?

You need extra medical indemnity for the general practice posts as you are not covered by hospital indemnity.  You can claim this back from the training practice (and they claim it back from the PCT).  You will be left with a small amount to pay equal to the hospital rate for indemnity cover.  Rates vary depending upon which indemnity organisation you choose.

My jobs for this training year are two hospital jobs at the beginning and one GP placement at the end. I paid my medical indemnity subscription for the whole year. The PCT is not sure whether they can reimburse me now or when in the GP post.   Can you help?
The indemnity companies offer two types of cover to cover the GP posts in your training:

1. An annual payment for 3 years
2. Or a payment for each period of GP training e.g. 4 or 12 months

The PCT will reimburse the indemnity cover for the GP placement but only when you are employed in the training practice.  Option 1 is slightly cheaper over 3 years, but as you do not pay yourself you do not benefit, and could out of pocket if you pay it well in advance of the GP post.  The choice is yours.

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 TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER SCHEME
 

How do I transfer to another GP training scheme in another deanery?
Information on transferring to another deanery is available by clicking this weblink

How do I transfer my training to another part of the West Midlands?
You will have accepted an offer of three years training in your current area so there is no obligation to accept a transfer request.   If your circumstances have significantly changed since accepting your speciality training you can apply to transfer after completing 12 months IF there is a vacancy. Please contact the Deanery Helpdesk for more information.

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 THE WORKING WEEK
 

How many surgeries should I do?
This is up to your employer as agreed in your contract. Your contract is for 40 hours a week and this consists of 28 hours of clinical activity e.g. surgery, visits administrations, and 12 hours education e.g. 4 hours protected, 4 hours personal, 4 hours VTS.

Do I get a half-day?
Please see your employers’ contract and agreed timetable. You should be working about 40 hours a week. Time for education can be taken on or off site at the discretion of your employer.

What should trainees do when the VTS or modular study day is not running on Thursday afternoons?

The half-day release course is classed as study leave, so when it is not running the trainee should be working in the practice as part of their agreed contracted hours.  We do find many trainees don't get the clinical experience they require for General Practice in just 18 months, so we would encourage an extra clinic of about 2 hours.  An alternative is to use the time created as formal study leave and explore an aspect of general practice, e.g.  attending an outpatients, undertaking an audit, visiting another practice etc. It is also possible to use the time created as "in lieu" in order to experience Saturday morning extended hours or "red eye shift" OOH.  Many trainees form learning sets and usefully continue to work towards MRCGP.  There is no "rule" and practices will differ but remember this is working time and we have to justify what we are paying for to the public.  In summary this  is a matter for the employing training practice and the trainee within the bounds of the employment contract, probity, the needs of the NHS and the trainee.

What should trainees do when the Thursday half-day release is not running and the practice closes each Thursday afternoon? 

The GPR is required to work 4 hours on another day or spread over more than one day. Perhaps use this to experience extended hours?

Can I do locums posts?
Yes but only hospital locums and as long as it does not interfere with your ability to fulfil your work duties and commitment to learning and assessments. You should make sure your employer is fully aware of any outside work related activity. If you fail any assessments and outside working a contributory factor then the Deanery may decide not to offer extended training. Please refer to your contract of employment. You should not undertake locum work where the additional work causes your average weekly hours to exceed 56 hours before 1 August 2009, or 48 hours thereafter.

How many patients should I see a day and how long the appointments?

The length of consultations and number of patients seen per surgery should be flexible and depend on previous experience of the registrar. The number of patients seen per surgery should be gradually increased as the registrar becomes more competent. You should aim get to 10 minutes consultation times as soon as you can. Ideally, within the first six months in general practice.  

We suggest you get as much experience as you can by seeing an average of 90-100 patients per week. Start doing this as soon as you feel ‘comfortable’, but remember that putting it off for too long increases you chance of failing the CSA. 

ST2: 20-30 mins per patient for the first 2-3 weeks, 15 mins per patient by months 3-4, then 10 mins per patient with a few unbooked appointments to catch up, and 10 minutes a patient by month 5-6.

ST3: 10 mins per patient (with temporary regression to 15 mins per patient during induction to a new training practice)

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1 LESS THAN FULL TIME (FLEXIBLE) WORKING
 

I am working 60% full time. How often should I attend the VTS?
60%. Attendance should be pro rata full-time.

What are the COTs/CBD requirements for Less than Full Time Trainees?
You are required to achieve the same minimum in 12 months as full time trainees. The MSF and Patient Satisfaction Survey is reduced to a minimum of one per 12 months for less than full time trainees.

I am working 60% full time. How many hours a week should be spent on clinical activities and education?
60% x 28 hours clinical = 16.8 hours (Surgery, visits, administration, meetings)
60% x 12 hours educational = 7.2 hours (Tutorials, VTS and personal)

What are the requirements for out of hours experience for less than full time trainees?
You should be doing the equivalent of one session per month pro rata and a minimum of 72 hours experience. For a trainee working 60% this would be one session per seven weeks. You are aiming for about 12 sessions of about 4-6 hours in your ST3 year. Your educational supervisor will be more interested in evidence of competence than simply hours clocked.

How much study leave do less than full time trainees get?
Thirty days a year pro rata, so for someone working 60% this is 18 days a calendar year. Your study leave budget would also be 60% per calendar year.

I am a part time (also known as less than full time, flexible or supernumerary) trainee in General Practice, am I still required to complete one full time week in a Hospital and one full time week in a General Practice setting?

Legislative changes effective from December 2007 removed this requirement from the General Practice CCT requirements.  Therefore this is no longer a requirement for the award of a CCT for those applying after December 2007.

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17. ROTATIONS / POSTS

I am not sure my posts are correct on the e-portfolio. Who do I contact?
Contact your Area Programme Office - see contacts.

I have experience of paediatrics in my foundation post and I appear to be repeating this in my ST1 rotation. How can I change this?
Your posts have been put together to provide a balanced programme to satisfy certification. We can look at the possibility of accommodating your request if we have an alternative vacant post, your rotation remains balanced, and we have had enough notice to make the changes (at least 4 months).  Please contact the help-desk.

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18. FOUNDATION TRAINING
 

What is a Foundation Programme Year 2 Doctor (FY2)?
After graduation a doctor undergoes two years of foundation training (FY1 and FY2). During F2 they complete 3 posts of 4 months duration in hospital or general practice. They are fully registered with the GMC.

How is a FY2 doctor different to a GP Registrar?
A FY2 doctor is learning to be a doctor in general practice, and not to be a GP.  The post allows them to have experience of acute illness and emergencies, and provides a useful taster of general practice as a career option.  They will apply for specialist training during this year.

Does an FY2 doctor need to be on the Performers List?
No, unlike a GP registrar who does.

What about indemnity cover?
They are covered by the employing hospital trust’s indemnity

What about their contract of employment and salary?
This is with the hospital trust that employs them and pays them a salary. The GP training practice must complete an educational contract with the trainee and submit this to the Deanery.

Can a foundation trainee claim travel costs in their GP posts?
Travel is claimed from the employing hospital trust.

Can they take study leave?
No additional study leave can be taken over and above what is included in their programme. They have weekly education sessions at their base hospital.

What about sickness and other absence?
The employing trust needs to be notified of all absence other than annual leave.

Should an FY2 doctor do out of hours or extended hours?
They are contracted for up to 40 hours a week between the hours of 7am and 7pm. They are not paid to work outside these hours, and should not be encouraged to do so.

How do I claim the trainers grant for FY2 training?
This is paid on returning to the Deanery the Educational Contract signed by the trainer and trainee. Please use the latest version downloaded from the Deanery website.

What is the working week of a Foundation Doctor in General Practice?
40 hours a week within the hours of 7am and 7pm.  28 hours should be clinical and 12 hours educational. They should concentrate on acute disease (usually cases booked on the day) or emergencies.

Can foundation doctors do home visits?
Yes. Home visits would normally be accompanied initially and later on their own with mobile phone support.  The trainer should assess the risk of the visit in terms of trainee and patient safety. 

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19. TRAINING AND TRAINING PRACTICES
 

How do I become a GP trainer?
Please refer for the application process and training standards published on the Deanery website or contact your Area GP Associate Dean registering your interest. You will need to attend an approved GP trainer’s course.  It is helpful for the practice manager and new trainers to attend a “Nuts and Bolts” course on the practicalities of GP training.

I wish to undertake a qualification for Medical Education; Is there any funding?
We support trainers to undertake a qualification in medical education e.g. a Certificate. Please contact the Director of Postgraduate GP Education for current funding details and deadlines.

What forms need to be returned to the Deanery when we employ a GP registrar?
Please only return an R7 to the Deanery at least 4 weeks before the post commences. You will need to issue an employment contract but this does not need sending to the deanery. The educational contract between the Deanery, the GPR and the practice is now completed within the e-portfolio.

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20. DOCTORS IN DIFFICULTY
 

I am unhappy with my training practice. Or I am unhappy with my trainee. What should I do?
Please refer to your employment contract and grievance procedure. You should try and resolve matters informally by having a meeting and discussing the problem. If this does not resolve the matter it is advisable to discuss the issue with the programme director /course organiser / PCME or Area GP Associate Dean. Serious matters can be referred directly to the Director of Postgraduate GP Education for advice.

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21. LOCUM WORK AS A GP TRAINEE
 

Can I do locum work as a GPR?
Technically you can but you must be available for your employed working hours, and get enough rest to practice medicine safely. Before agreeing with any outside employment you need to check with the terms and conditions of your employment contract, and it would be wise to agree the work with your employer.  As a doctor you are only qualified to work in a hospital locum capacity. You cannot work in general practice in any other capacity other than a GP registrar, and cannot be a GP registrar locum.  As a general rule the Deanery will take a dim view of any trainee who is progressing unsatisfactorily and appears to be undertaking fail exams and regular locum work.

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22. ANNUAL REVIEW OF COMPETENCY PANELS (ARCP)

When are ARCP’s held?
The main ARCPs will be held in June as most trainees complete their ST years in August. These are hosted locally by each VTS. For trainees whose ST year does not complete in August, interim panels will be held in; August, October, December, February and April. These will be hosted on a rotational basis by each VTS.

What if I am on annual leave?
You should be aware well in advance of your ARCP date and should take steps to ensure that you have met with your Educational Supervisor and have completed the relevant competencies on e-portfolio prior to your leave.

Where do I need to go for my ARCP?
When the ARCP panel is held you are not required to attend. Only trainees who have an outcome 2,3 or 4 will be invited to meet the panel and will be notified following the initial ARCP.

What if I am a trainee on “Less than Full Time Training”?
The annual review process for trainees in flexible training will take place at the same frequency as full-time trainees i.e. once per calendar year.

If I am due to complete my training, what happens?
You should ensure that you are registered with your Area Director to be reviewed at the most appropriate ARCP in line with your completion date.  Please note that the RCGP will not normally allow the Deanery to “sign off” trainees in excess of 8 weeks prior to their CCT. Please ensure that all of the required competencies are met prior to the ARCP e.g. Out of Hours etc.

Can another senior trainee sign-off my workplace based assessments (e.g. COTs, DOPS, etc?)

 The person who signs off mandatory assessments must be suitably qualified and sufficiently senior to judge whether the trainee has demonstrated competence. For hospital posts, these assessments are sometimes done by doctors in training. If so, they should have  relevant and demonstrable experience and expertise. It would be helpful if assessors who are not on a specialist register put their qualification or level of experience on the form. This can be added to the Assessor's name or Assessor's position section of the forms.  In a court of law, the onus is on the trainee to prove that the person who assessed them was capable of making the judgement. 

You will still be reviewed by the ARCP and invited to meet your local AD. The Director of Postgraduate GP Training will ultimately make any decision regarding extensions to training.

 When should I have my ESR in line with my ARCP?
A generic e-mail will be sent to all trainees via e-portfolio with details of when the next ARCP is to be held and by which date they should have had their ESR. (Please ensure that both you and the Educational Supervisor have signed and submitted the ESR, otherwise it will not progress to the ARCP process.)

What if my Educational Supervisor is on holiday/sick?
You should arrange the date of your educational supervision with your supervisor 6-8 weeks before your supervision is due, so that holidays etc can be accommodated. If in the unfortunate circumstances that your educational supervisor is on long term sick, you should speak to your local Vocational Training Scheme Course Organiser or Area Director as soon as you are aware there is problem. Alternative arrangements can then be made.

What happens after the ARCP panel has met?
If the ARCP decision is satisfactory the ARCP3 form will be completed and signed off by the panel chair (usually the Area Director). The trainee will then receive notification via e-portfolio to sign/accept electronically.

What if I have an outcome 2, 3 or 4?
You will usually be invited to meet with your local Area Director to discuss the issues raised and agree a training plan.

What if I disagree with the ARCP decision?
A trainee has the right to request a review and in some circumstances, an appeal if one of the above outcomes is recommended by the ARCP.

Can I take the AKT and / or CSA if released from training?

The AKT and CSA components of the MRCGP should be taken and passed during the three year training programme. Further attempts will be allowed during periods of extended training authorised by a deanery. At the discretion of the RCGP and deanery, and in exceptional circumstances only, one attempt at the AKT and CSA will normally be permitted in the six month period immediately following exit from training without receiving a CCT.  Those obtaining passes after they have exited training will not be eligible for a CCT and must apply instead for a Certificate of Eligibility for GP Registration (CEGPR) under Article 11 of the Order.

 

  

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23. AREA DIRECTORS

 

Birmingham: Andrew Carson

Black Country: Tony Robinson

Staffordshire & Shropshire: Amjad Khan

Hereford & Worcestershire: Vic Schieber

Coventry and Warwickshire: Kathi Wheatley

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. OUT OF PROGRAMME

Is it possible to take a year out after ST1 to work abroad for a year in New Zealand?

General practice training is the shortest of all specialities at just three years.  We feel that if you want to work abroad then it is possible to do this before or after GP speciality training.  Although it possible to apply for Out of Programme experience we have quite strict criteria and only agree to a few applications each year. Applicants normally are required to give at least 6 months notice of OOP experience.

For further information see www.westmidlandsdeanery.nhs.uk/Home/OutofProgrammeOOP.aspx 

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. ABBREVIATIONS
 

AD	Area Director
ARCP	Annual review competency panel
BMA	British Medical Association www.bma.org.uk
CBD	Cased Based Discussion
CRB	Criminal Record Bureau
COT	Consultation Observation Tool
ES	Educational supervisor
FY2	Foundation year 2.
GMC	General Medical Council
MSF	Multi-Source Feedback
PCME	Primary Care Medical Educator (Course Organiser)
PCT	Primary Care Trust
ST1	Specialist Training (Year) One
VTS	Vocational Training Scheme

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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