The sections covering ‘Deanery’ down to ‘Full or part-time study’ are self explanatory.
Dates of Proposed Study Leave
These should be considered carefully as applications cannot normally be altered once approved. Applicants should ensure that they allow sufficient time to complete the study proposed, including time to write up reports. Applications to make changes after approval has been granted should be sent to the Department of Health's Learning and Personal Development Division explaining the reason for the change, and enclosing revised letters of support from the practice partners and the health authority. Reasons for change must exceptional e.g. a valid reason would be missing a large portion of a course due to illness.
If the study includes travelling, a schedule should be included showing
- Start and end dates at each location
- educational supervisor at each location
- location and addresses of all educational facilities visited
- any time to be taken as holiday
- any time the applicant will be working and receiving remuneration, or other financial benefit
- a prospectus (if a course is involved)
If the applicant wishes to work in various locations for research or educational purposes, these schedules should show
- Start and end dates at each location
- Supervisor and address of each facility attended
- any time to be taken as holiday
- any time the applicant will be working and/or receiving remuneration or other financial benefit
If an applicant is unable to provide this information the PSL panel will reject their application as a matter of course.
Full time/Part time Study
It is helpful if this is completed in whole and half days, not hours.
PCT’s Approval for Absence from the Practice
As it is the health authority (or PCT) that pays any allowances, applications without appropriate approval will be rejected as a matter of course. This letter should show the name, position and contact details of the person who has signed, and be validated either with an official stamp or by the declaration being submitted on headed paper. If it is not clear which person at the PCT has given approval the application will be rejected. It is important to check that the ‘Period of Proposed Study’ leave box on the front of the application form is consistent with the amount of time agreed by the health authority.
Partners’ Approval for Absence from Practice
This must be signed by each partner, not just the senior partner, and should have the name of each partner printed next to the signature. The amount of time agreed by the partners should be checked against ‘Period of Proposed Study’ box, to ensure they are the same.
Are You Making an Application for Locum Allowance?
The locum allowance will not normally meet the full costs of providing locum cover - it is a contribution towards these costs. In supporting an application, the practice and the health authority are indicating that they are satisfied that appropriate arrangements can be made to cover the applicant's absence without detriment to the service provided to patients. The allowances shown in the SFA are the maximum allowances. Applicants who wish to claim locum allowance should be advised that if they apply for part time study, this allowance would be paid on a pro-rata basis. Doctors who normally work part time or job share, and who wish to apply for full time study may do so, but will only be entitled to a pro-rata locum allowance in respect of their normal working hours.
Are You Making an Application for Education Allowance?
The education allowance is always paid in full. The extra costs associated with studying e.g. books and travel costs are considered to be the same for full and part time study. Any other monies applied for or agreed in connection with this period of study leave? Anything that has a financial benefit for the applicant should be included here, e.g.
- bursaries
- grants
- accommodation (or contributions towards the cost)
- paid work or financial help of any kind
- offers of other types of help e.g. travelling expenses or access to services or loans of staff.
The next sections ‘Have you ever applied for prolonged study previously?’, ‘If so
what was the nature of that application?’, and ‘Date previous report submitted to DPGPE are self explanatory
Expected benefit of this period of prolonged study leave
A paragraph covering each of the four headings is expected
‘Methods of dissemination of benefits to others’ is self-explanatory.
Courses
‘Title of course’; ‘Institution’ ‘Qualification to be achieved’ ‘Cost of course’ and ‘If
there are vacation periods, does the applicant intend to return to full time practice
or use this time for private study?’ are self explanatory.
A named educational supervisor and a prospectus should be included.
Research
‘Proposal’ and ‘Summary’ should contain a brief description.
Full proposal
This should include:
· schedule
· literature review
· protocol
· named educational supervisor
· letters of support from educational supervisors
Other Educational Activity
The same information is required as for ‘Research’
Signing the application
The administrator in the Deanery ensures that the necessary paperwork is in order and the application complies with the SFA, but does not approve applications. DPGPEs need to be aware that by signing the application form they are indicating that they support the application.
Any enquiries regarding applications should be made the Associate Director with responsibility for PSL, Jim Morison ( E mail jmorrison@cix.co.uk)