Flexible training - a new beginning
March 2005
Flexible training forum 2005
This one day annual event was held on Monday 14 March for flexible trainees and junior doctors interested in discussion issues around the theme of 'flexible training - a new beginning'.
The forum heard keynote speeches from Dr Jo Hilborne, Chair of JDC Terms and Conditions of Service Negotiating Subcommittee and Mr Nic Greenfield, Deputy Director of Workforce planning at the Department of Health. The forum was advised of the principles of the forthcoming agreement on flexible training and pay. Keynote speeches were also heard from Dr Sarah Thomas, Postgraduate Dean, South Yorkshire and South Humber Deanery and Ms Helen Gordon, Director of Human Resources, Leicester NHS Trust.
Flexible trainees and those interested in training flexibly were invited to share ideas and influence forthcoming JDC/BMA policy. The forum developed a consensus statement throughout the day which was agreed by those attending as follows:
The Flexible Training Forum believes that an information pack is needed that educates different groups including flexible trainees, fulltime trainees, consultants, trust managers etc. These information packs should be developed with flexible trainees and serve to:
– promote flexible training
– provide detailed guidance on how to access flexible training
– provide a step by step guide to working flexibly which addresses local and specialty specific issues.
The Flexible Training Forum requests that a national on-line forum should be established by BMJ careers in conjunction with the BMA. This should allow secure access for flexible trainees and facilitate a ‘matching scheme’ to enable flexible trainees to find potential slot shares within their specialty and/or region. This central well publicised discussion forum is also needed to allow flexible trainees to provide support and to share experiences, information, examples of good practice etc.
The Flexible Training Forum believes that flexible trainees should have the ability to choose to alter the proportion of full time hours they work and are appropriately recognised for training purposes.
The Flexible Training Forum believes that flexible training should be fully integrated in the training structure although funding for supernumerary posts should be available if, for whatever reason, it is not possible for a doctor to work in a slot share post.
The Flexible Training Forum requests the Department of Health to improve access to flexible training. Availability of flexible training will:
• encourage doctors to remain in the profession
• allow doctors to remain in training
• allow doctors to re-enter training.
The Flexible Training Forum believes that flexible trainees should not be subjected to more bureaucracy than their full time colleagues.
The Flexible Training Forum believes that development of flexible training programmes should allow seamless progression between training posts.
The Flexible Training Forum believes that pay for flexible trainees and full timers should be equitable and reflect the hours and the intensity of work undertaken.