Less Than Full Time (LTFT)/Flexible Training in General Practice

Severn Deanery is justifiably proud of its record for offering LTFT training opportunities to GP specialist trainees with child-caring or other responsibilities, or health problems.

Whilst it is important to realise that flexible training is not a “right”, the deanery will bend over backwards in order to facilitate appropriate funding and placements.

Details of LTFT/Flexible training arrangements can be found elsewhere on the deanery website at:

Flexible Training Information

Professor Selena Gray, leads on LTFT/Flexible training within the deanery and any specific questions not answered here or via the above link should be directed to her at the deanery offices in Bristol.

GP Specific Points

• You need to work co-operatively with us in adapting your programme. This isn’t one of those situations where you need “to beat the system”. The “system” will only be able to help you if we work closely together. The key people are your local Associate GP Director, and the GP Educator team that s/he leads. You should book a meeting with her/him as soon as possible.

• You should always anticipate a change in the precise number, type and location of the posts from your original rotation. This is more or less inevitable for fairly obvious practical reasons. All the training posts used in Severn are PMETB approved, and changes to fit in with LTFT won’t affect your ability to gain a CCT at the end of your period of training.

• Doctors who know that they wish to train flexibly before applying to GPST should indicate this on their application to the national selection process. You will then have to compete for a place in the normal way. None of the assessors will be aware of your preference when they are deciding whether or not to offer you a place.
  
  • Once you have been offered a place, please confirm your wish to train flexibly with our recruitment and selection manager; Hardeep Basan. She will ask you to complete an additional form (to access funding), which is also available from the link above, and arrange an appointment for you with the appropriate Associate GP Director for your new programme.

• If you wish to move to LTFT training, after working full time within the school, please let Hardeep know, fill in the necessary form (to access funding) and make contact with your local Associate GP Director.
  
  • It is hugely important that if you feel that you would like to train flexibly that you are pro-active by letting us know of your intentions as far in advance as possible.
  
  
  There is a sheet with more information on WPBA issues when LTFT:
  
  
  Sheet 14 Sick and maternity leave part timers and WPBA Oct 09