Any trainee in a substantive HEE approved post can apply for less than full time training. If your eligibility is approved, this will be accommodated as soon as practically possible.  Trainees of either sex can apply for less than full time training, but must have well founded reasons why full time training is impractical. Reasons for wishing to train less than full time have been nationally agreed upon, and are divided into two categories (outlined below).

The needs of trainees in category 1 will always take priority. Applications in category 2 may be considered but permission will depend on the capacity of the specific training programme and availability of resources.

Category 1 – Those doctors in training with:

- Disability

- Ill health

- Responsibility for caring for children (men and women)

- Primary carer for ill/disabled partner, relative or other dependent

Category 2 - Those doctors in training with:

- Unique opportunities for their own personal/professional development (example training for national/international sporting events)

- Short term extraordinary responsibility (for example a national committee)

- Religious commitment – involving training for a particular religious role which requires a specific amount of time commitment

- Non-medical professional development such as management courses, law courses, fine arts courses or diploma in complementary therapies.

Other well-founded reasons may be considered but it would be dependent on the particular situation and the needs of the specialty in which the individual was training.

Category 1 applicants have priority and HEE will support all category 1 applicants on the grounds of their health, disability or caring responsibilities, subject to available funds and training capacity.  Access to Category 2 is dependent on individual circumstances and the availability of suitable training placements. Where an application is refused by HEE the applicant has a right of appeal, but, the overall training capacity of a training programme and service commitment will have to be taken into consideration.

Applicants should apply to HEE with no less than 2 months’ notice of their proposed LTFT start date. You must receive written confirmation of your Form 1: Eligibility Assessment & Training Plan (or From 2: Renewal Training Plan if you are renewing) before you begin to train LTFT. Please note that it may not be possible to accommodate your proposed LTFT training plan straight away.

You will be awarded priority for LTFT Training if you have a child up to and including the age of 16 years old, or a disabled child who is under 18 years and receives disability living allowance.

LAT Foundation doctors may apply for LTFT training, and must complete the process in the usual way however there will be no approval for additional time required. However identification of a placement may not be immediately available.

LAS doctors and locums are not associated with HEE and therefore may not apply to work LTFT through HEE's application channels. We recommend discussing your need to work LTFT with Medical Staffing/HR at your employing Trust.

Where two trainees share one slot, HEE provisionally agree to provide an uplift in funding of up to 20% of basic salary to enable both trainees to work at up to 60% of full time. This is subject to receipt of approved training plans for both trainees. Please note: If you are slot sharing in a post, you and your partner’s stage 1 training plan form must be submitted for approval at the same time.

LTFT trainees may now do additional paid work, including locums.  This will not count towards their training time and must comply with the terms of their contract.

• The trainee should not feel pressurised to do additional work
• If the trainee chooses to work additional hours, they should be paid for them
• Additional work will form part of their practice, so they must declare it on their Form R.
• The trainee has a professional duty to maintain patient safety and a healthy work/life balance
• If the trainee is noted to be doing an excessive number of shifts, their eligibility for LTFT training may be questioned.

Yes, you should inform you employer, TPD and HEE of your planned maternity leave dates as soon as possible. Please email the Programme and Information Team: edit.eoe@hee.nhs.uk and they will ensure your records are updated at HEE accordingly.

If your LTFT plan will now end sooner than the date originally agreed (due to commencement of your maternity leave), it is important that you inform HEE of this ASAP, as this will impact on funding to your employer.

If your LTFT plan needs to be extended up to the point of your maternity leave start date, you will need to inform the HEE LTFT team ASAP. If you wish to continue training less than full time upon your return from maternity leave, you will need to submit a Form 2: Renewal Training Plan 2 months in advance of your proposed return to work date.

Please note: you are not required to submit an LTFT application to cover your maternity leave period.

No. Period of Grace for full time and LTFT trainees is on a fixed term basis for 6 months only and not pro-rata.

Yes - if you are working in either of the above, you will need to provide a schedule of what you will be doing each week / in each half-day session, ensure you have confirmed that this is pro-rota with your Full Time colleagues.

This information is essential so we can check that you are getting enough experience whist working LTFT. Applications will not be approved without this information.

The form will need to be signed the trainees' Training Programme Director or Head of School and their Educational Supervisor or College Tutor.

For the GPs the form will also need to be signed by their Practice Manager.

Medical staffing will no longer need to sign the form for GP or Specialty trainees.