For the full policy please see the Regional Less than Full Time Training Policy
If you are a student who wants to start foundation training on a less than full time basis, you still need to apply for Foundation Training through the national foundation process in the same way as all other applicants. Once allocated to a Foundation School, you will need to apply to work less than full time. If you are planning to train less than full time please contact us at the very earliest opportunity to discuss your training needs.
Please note working on a LTFT basis will extend the time you are in your Foundation training programme, and due to being out of sync with full time colleagues may result in a gap in training whilst waiting for the next recruitment round to enter Specialty Training.
Once accepted into the School, Foundation Doctors can apply to work less than full time at any point during their training.
- Less than full time training opportunities depend on funding support from NHSE, trust funding and suitable posts being available in the relevant trust.
- Wherever possible, less than full time foundation doctors will rotate through the specialties allocated to them on their original full-time foundation programme, but this cannot be guaranteed and they may find their programmes change to accommodate the needs of the trust or to enable opportunities to slot-share.
- Any doctor who is allocated a supernumerary or part time in a full time slot placement, will be required to slot-share should the opportunity arise.
- If you opt to go less than full time or take time out of training whilst in an Academic or FPP or FP programme, this may result in an adjustment to your allocated programme placements. Your future placements would need to be agreed in discussion with your Academic/ Educational supervisor, employing trust and Head of Foundation School. For example, if your programme offers an academic component then you may find that the way this is organised or offered is amended.
Should you no longer wish to train less than full time, you will be able to return to full time training when an appropriate placement becomes available. Until that time, you may be required to continue working on a less than full time basis. Please refer to the Regional Policy or the notice period required for any changes.
Any changes to your working arrangements, such as an increase/decrease in hours including requests to return to full time training, must be approved via the submission of a change in hours form. The form is required to update your training record and for completion of training date adjustment.
Completion of training time
- We will work with your employing trust to identify a suitable placement(s) at the end of your allocated programme to complete your training time. Details of this placement(s)/specialty will be confirmed as soon as we can but it will be dependent on, whether there are any existing vacancies, and the capacity and funding within departments. Therefore, it is likely we will not be able to confirm your remaining training until towards the end of the training year.
General Principles for Less Than Full Time (LTFT) Foundation Doctors
- If a foundation doctor has less than one placement to complete beyond August: The trust will be asked to identify a placement, and the doctor will remain within the same trust.
- If a foundation doctor has more than one placement to complete: Vacant posts across the School will be utilised unless there is a specific reason preventing the doctor from moving trusts.
F1s – Applied for LTFT Before Start of Programme
- Foundation doctors generally apply for LTFT at either 60% or 80% of full time.
- F1 at 60%: Takes 20 months to complete, covering five posts at F1 and moving to F2 in April of the second year.
- Another full year F1 programme will be identified, typically pulled from the recruitment round to facilitate this arrangement.
- The doctor will complete eight months of the second F1 year, move to F2 in April, and finish the last F1 post as an F2.
- The final four months will likely be created on a supernumerary basis.
- F1 at 80%: Takes 15 months to complete, covering nearly four posts at F1 and moving to F2 in November of the second year.
- The doctor completes their first F2 post as an F1 until November, then continues with the F2 programme until the following August.
- Six months remain to complete F2. As this is more than one placement, vacant posts will be identified in January of their F2 year.
- If no suitable vacancies are available, the doctor may be required to move trusts or a supernumerary post can be created.
F1s – Applied for LTFT During Their Programme
- All F1s are appointed to a two-year programme. Where possible, the doctor should complete their F2 posts as an F1 until ready to progress.
- If not possible, funding can be moved to the new specialty, but no additional funding is provided.
- Trusts may be asked to create a supernumerary post for durations of four months or less, or use a vacancy for periods exceeding four months.
- For placements longer than four months, vacant posts will be identified in January of the F2 year. If none are available, doctors may need to move trusts or a supernumerary post can be created.
F2s – Applied for LTFT Before the Start of F2
- F2 at 60%: Takes 20 months to complete, requiring an additional eight months beyond the allocated programme.
- As this exceeds four months, vacant posts will be sought in January of their F2 year. If none are available, doctors may need to move trusts or a supernumerary post can be created.
- F2 at 80%: Takes 15 months to complete, requiring an additional three months beyond the allocated programme.
- As this is less than four months, the trust is likely to be asked to create a supernumerary placement.
F2s – Applied for LTFT During Their Programme
If the doctor applies for LTFT after January, there may be no known vacancies as these may be filled during F2 stand-alone recruitment and swaps. Such cases will be considered individually.
Following the general principle, if less than one placement remains past August, the trust will be asked to provide a supernumerary placement and the doctor will stay in the same trust.
If more than one placement remains, vacant posts across the School will be used unless there is a specific reason preventing the doctor from moving trusts.