Less Than Full Time Training

 

Trainees can choose to work less than full time for a variety of reasons:

  • Disability or ill health

  • Caring responsibilities (e.g. for children, or for an ill/disabled partner, relative or other dependant)

  • Welfare and wellbeing - reasons not directly related to disability or ill health where a reduced working pattern would have a beneficial effect on health and wellbeing (e.g. reducing potential burnout)

  • Unique opportunities - for personal/professional development

  • Religious commitment - that involves training for a particular role and requires a specific time commitment resulting in the need to work less than full time

  • Non-medical development - e.g. management, law or fine arts course that requires a specific time commitment resulting in the need to work less that full time

  • Flexibility for training and career development that might enable development of a broad career portfolio

There are pros and cons to training flexibly and we are keen to support this to ensure that the training experience is equivalent to that of a full-time trainee. All posts should be suitable for LTFT trainees who can either occupy a slot share or a full-time post on reduced sessions. Trainees can work between 50-80%. In general trainees working at 80% are expected to work in a full-time post on reduced sessions.

If you are thinking of training flexibly you should discuss this with your Educational Supervisor and your Training Programme Director.

When you start in post you need to ensure that you negotiate an appropriate work schedule and that you are not taking on a full-time case load in reduced sessions.

You need to consider how to access training and teaching. The rules about rotas, leave and pay are quite complex so make sure you understand what you are entitled to and use the Champion of Flexible Training in your Trust.

https://london.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training/trainee-resources/less-full-time-training

Each Trust has a Champion of Flexible Training to support trainees through the LTFT process