Study Leave for GPSTs in HEE/SW
General aims of study leave
- Should relate to the learners’ intended career in general practice
- Should be focussed wherever possible on specific parts of the GP curriculum
- Should be based on acquiring general practice competencies
Principles of study leave
- The overwhelming majority of the study programme to enable learners to acquire a CCT is available through the activities of the Day-Release Course (DRC), the local Education Trusts and on-line resources
- The trainee will need consent to be released from their normal place of work to attend the requested Study Leave activity. Authorised by Clinical Supervisor/Rota Registrar/Rota Administrator.
The Application for Study Leave / Study Leave funding
- Study leave should be planned and claimed well before the course. This would be expected to be at least four weeks prior to the course.
- The application should be supported by the learners’ current Educational Supervisor and a member of the local Patch GP Education Team. This support will be informed by a review of the trainee’s PDP and learning needs.
Attendance at other courses
GPSTs can ask to attend other external courses. These requests need to fulfill the following criteria;
- The request is approved by the trainee’s ES, and
- The content provides material which is mapped to the GP curriculum and competencies and
- The trainee can demonstrate that the course contributes to their PDP and
- The course content is not already provided as part of the programme’s core GP teaching
GP-specialist courses/training
A specialist course/training for extended General Practice skills (beyond the core competencies required for CCT) will only be approved if
a. Agreed by their ES and
b. Their ES states that the trainee is making satisfactory progress and there are
no concerns about completion of core requirements for CCT, and
c. They can demonstrate that it is in keeping with their PDP
- they would only be granted study leave, but no course fees or travel/accommodation costs
Study leave for Specialty seminars and courses not aimed at GPs will not be approved. Examples include;
- Specialty examinations and courses (e.g. MRCP, FRCA)
- Sports Medicine
- Aviation Medicine
- Expedition Medicine (unless agreed as part of an OOPE)
If a specialist training course is deemed essential by a hospital department such as Paediatric Life Support or Advanced Life Support, then that department/or Trust would be responsible for costs incurred and attendance would usually be during the trainee’s normal working week (no SL needed)
Exam fees, travel & accommodation
There is no funding available for exam fees. Travel costs for courses can be reimbursed out of the trainee’s SL budget. Accommodation costs for the CSA can be reimbursed out of the SL budget only if the candidate has a morning sitting and their base is too distant to be able to travel up on the morning of the examination.
All GP Speciality Trainees should be familiar with the Severn Study Leave Policy.
Trainee Study Leave Allowance
Most of the study leave budget is used for providing induction sessions, regional teaching, free access to MRCGP preparation courses and free access to all Severn EPO courses. Trainees can apply to access any residual funds to cover specific course attendance as informed by their individual CPD needs agreed after discussion with their educational
How to Apply
For all except Foundation trainees, application and expenses claims must be made through the Severn Postgraduate Medical Education Online Study Leave Portal. Guidance can be accessed here.