LTFT Training 2 nd March 2011

1. LTFT Training 2nd March 2011 Dr Helen GoodyearAssociate Postgraduate Dean for flexible training and careers

2. Working LTFT • Part time or “less than full-time” training • At least 50% i.e. 5 sessions or more per week • Male or female doctors • Unable to train full time • Well founded individual reasons

3. Category 1 Category 2 • Disability or ill health • Responsibility for children • Caring for disabled/ill partner, relative or dependent • Unique opportunities for personal/professional development • Service to the wider NHS • Other reasons (but not research)

4. Which grades • ALL Training posts • Foundation training – F1 and F2 • Specialty training in hospital, GP, Public Health • StR/FTSTA/CMT

5. Quality of LTFT 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.

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

7. Disadvantages • Drop in salary, complexities of pay • May be first LTFT trainee for department/practice • Can still be difficult to balance home responsibilities and work

8. Enquiries • Postgraduate Dean’s office for the region • Fill in application form or arrange interview with Associate Dean responsible for LTFT training • www.westmidlandsdeanery.nhs.uklook at LTFT training section • www.bma.org

9. Administrative tasks once appointed to a LTFT training post • Training programme • Hours and days of work of work • Must include weekly protected teaching sessions • Educational supervisor • Administrative details - start date, pay, occupational health etc

10. Deanery funding of LTFT training • Slotshare • Part time in a fulltime slot • Three trainees in 2 posts • (Supernumerary)

11. LTFT training funding -slotsharing • Many deaneries ask LTFT 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.

12. Hours of work • All LTFT trainees should work a minimum of 50% of a full-time post including prorata on call. • 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 48 hours – 50% is 24 hours Fulltimers work 40hours – 50% is 20 hours

13. Duration of training • Foundation training is prorata – if you are working 60% of fulltime then to achieve a year’s training you need to do 20months • Currently specialty training is prorata but likely to become more competency based

14. Pay scales • See www.bma.org for pay scales • Paid on flexible band if work < 40 hours per week (applies to all trainees working 50-70%) • New Pay Deal for flexible trainees started in June 2005

15. LTFT training • Limited resources • Aim to fund all category 1 applicants • As soon as you want to train LTFT then let the relevant deanery know