HEKSS Study Leave for GP trainees – Summary

HEKSS Study Leave guidance includes information for all specialties, including GP. The full guidance is available here:

General principles

  • Not an entitlement, but an allowance
  • 30 days study leave per year
  • Study leave should be taken spread across ST1/2 (10 days per 4 months)
  • Study leave is usually calculated in days / half days (see above)
  • GP Specialty Training Half Day Release (‘VTS’) in ST3 uses 15 days
  • Should be planned in advance with Educational Supervisor & Programme Director
  • All study leave should be relevant to General Practice and developing competences required for CCT in GP and PDs review any doubt re suitability of proposed leave
  • Must be requested well in advance, in line with Trust policy (usually 6 weeks).
  • All requests should reflect PDP entries on e-portfolio
  • Examination leave (for sitting of each examination) is additional to 30 days
  • Private study leave prior to AKT can be taken – duration to be negotiated between ES and trainee, but no specific limit
  • Up to 3 days private study prior to CSA
  • No additional study leave during extensions – study time is included in the weekly plan
  • In the event of exam failure, no additional study leave is provided – when it’s gone, it’s gone
  • GP practice days and KSS wide study days are compulsory
  • ST1/2 learning sets - to facilitate attendance consider booking study leave
  • Remainder of study leave allowance discretionary, including private study for exams

GP Practice days for GP trainees in hospital posts

  • Minimum one day per 4 month post
  • Visit to ES practice to increase understanding of GP
  • Need to arrange as early as possible – minimum 6 weeks in advance
  • Application form must be submitted to Trust
  • GP faculty will facilitate in cases of difficulty
  • Day requires planning to maximise educational value:
  • Identifying learning objectives and mapping these to the GP Curriculum;
  • Identifying activities to meet these objectives;
  • Agreeing a timetable for the day.
  • Use GP curriculum to identify learning objectives
  • Suggested activities:
  • Sitting in with GP and other members of the primary care team. This may be part of the initial orientation and induction into GP.
  • Seeing patients in primary care. Supervised or joint surgeries
  • Attending long term condition clinics, e.g. CHD, Respiratory, Diabetes, Hypertension
  • Attending outreach specialty clinics, e.g. GPwSI run clinics, antenatal, musculoskeletal triage
  • Attending community service clinics, e.g. GUM, family planning, addiction services, mental health
  • Attending CCG meetings
  • Visiting nursing homes or community care facilities
  • Visiting a locations closely linked to primary care, e.g. pharmacy, undertakers, crematorium
  • Attending Practice management or clinical meetings
  • COT assessments may be carried out if appropriate.
  • Review of educational evidence and achievement of workplace based

assessments with the ES

  • Planning further targeted educational activities and updating PDP
  • Completion of Educational Supervisor review
  • Taking part in GPStR – GP educational supervisor educational meetings
  • Reflection should be included in e-portfolio

HEKSS GP Study days (Regional Study)

  • Various days provided by HEKSS centrally
  • Some are targeted, particularly after exam failure
  • Need to come from study leave allowance
  • Topics include:
  • Induction to GP Specialty Training
  • MRCGP assessments
  • CSA / communication skills workshop
  • AKT study days
  • English language courses
  • OOH / Telephone triage skills workshop

GP learning sets

  • Half day release (VTS) 30 weeks per year in 3 terms in ST3
  • Local arrangements in ST1/2
  • If whole day or half day in ST1/2 would come from study leave allowance
  • Planned to address specific learning outcomes for GP curriculum

Discretionary leave linked to agreed PDP – i.e. the rest of your study leave

  • For remainder of 30 day allowance beyond above arrangements
  • Requires support of Educational Supervisor, GP Programme Director and Clinical Tutor (Trust study leave budget holder)
  • Not normally available for specialist skills that do not form part of core GP curriculum

Funding

  • For GPST1/2 trainees : Allowance claimed via Acute Trust
  • All GPST3 trainees : Allowance claimed via HEKSS GP School
  • Regional study days, GP learning sets and Half-day release (VTS) all provided free of charge
  • GP Practice days £100 per day fee claimed by ES from the GP ST1/2 trainee study leave allowance in line with local arrangements
  • Total budget is £860 per annum for 2014/5

HEKSS Study Leave guidance - Summary19 Dec 2014 final