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This supervisors' portal provides quick answers to common questions and scenarios faced by LTFT trainees and their clinical supervisors, plus links to key contacts, training and peer support for supervisors.​  You may also be interested in our companion resource LTFT: For Trainees.

As supervisors it is crucial to keep open and honest channels of communication with the trainee.

Please send comments and suggestions to [email protected]. ​© You may adapt any parts of this page to develop local LTFT resources; please credit The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust.  
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  • If working at a LTFT %, then a trainee works that % of ALL types of shifts e.g. 60% of days, long days, nights and weekend days.
  • So-called “Zero Days” are not attached to a particular shift but are added to make rotas compliant. These may not line up directly to a full time trainees zero days. This will need to be calculated on an individual basis.
  • A day/long day/twilight shift should not be rostered onto a non-working day in a fixed shift pattern. Those on a fixed shift pattern can start OR finish a shift on a non-working day, but not both, without mutual agreement.
  • If a trainee is rostered to a non-working day, it is NOT their responsibility to “swap”.
  • If a trainee is rostered to work a “long day” but this shift finishes by 9pm, this shift doesn’t attract extra pay, therefore is treated like “normal working day,” therefore can be booked as leave without needing to swap. ​  Read the full guidance via our LTFT page for trainees.
  • SuppoRTT is a national HEE incentive to assist trainees who have had a period of time away from work to safely transition back into clinical practice: https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/supporting-doctors-returning-training-after-time-out
Dr Jon Clark [email protected]
​​Consultant in anaesthetics and Intensive Care, Director of Medical Education and Flexible Training Champion (FTC). The FTC role is to offer support to doctors in their working practice and any other commitments they have.

​Dr Clare Smith [email protected] Ext: 7816 
 Consultant in Anaesthetics, TRFT SuppoRTT Champion (Supported Return to Training).

Debbie Harrison  [email protected]
Medical Education Manager. As well as being our Education Manager, Debbie has experience working at Health Education Yorkshire and Humber and has working knowledge of many of their processes and procedures.

Chelsea Goodwin [email protected]
Medical Workforce Advisor and Medical Workforce Flexible Training Champion. Chelsea understands the challenges and regulations surrounding working LTFT with regards to hours, rotas, leave and pay.

Gerry Lynch
Consultant in anaesthetics and Guardian of Safe Working (GOSW). The GOSW role acts to monitor and action the exception reporting system and to meet with doctors when problems with working within hours arise.
Who can help?  
  • Dr Clare Smith: Flexible Training/SuppoRTT Champion
  • HEE Y&H LTFT Enquiries: [email protected]  
  • Training Programme Director for your specialty 
  • Mandy Brailsford: Associate Postgraduate Dean for LTFT

Online resources for supervisors: 
Networks: 
  • Emerging national 'Flexible Training Champions Network
  • Proposed: ​social media peer support for supervisors/Flexible Training Champions/SuppoRTT Champions.
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Worked examples based on common queries raised by LTFT trainees: 
  • ​As Clinical Supervisor, it is important to meet as early as possible to have an open and honest discussion with the trainee regarding fixed day working and/or job sharing
  • This needs to take in to account departmental activity and the learning needs of the trainee
  • It is worth exploring a trainee’s current or proposed working pattern (being mindful that this may be caring responsibilities, for health reasons)
  • The aim is for a mutually acceptable compromise within an acceptable time frame to make alternative arrangements if necessary
  • If this isn’t possible, it should be raised with Flexible Training Champion and/or TPD with as much notice as possible before the start of the placement.
  • ​Any admin and/or audit time given to full time trainees should be given pro-rata to those LTFT
  • Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) remains an annual event BUT requirements for the ARCP are pro rata, eg. Trainee working at 60% LTFT would be expected to have acquired 60% of work based placed assessments
  • Of note: the grace period at the end of training is NOT pro rata.
  • If unsure, queries about bank holidays, leave and pay should be directly to HR/Medical workforce in the first instance who have working knowledge of local and national policy.
  • As a rough guide, trainees should be doing approximately their percentage of each type of shift. E.g. If working 60%, should expect to work approximately 60% of normal working days, 60% of long days, 60% of night shifts, etc. 
  • In cases of uncertainty, support is available locally via Flexible Training Champions and/or trade union (eg. BMA) LTFT representatives.
  • Annual Leave + Bank Holidays (8) x % worked = total leave entitlement: 
    ​    Eg. If worked in NHS > 5 years and working 60%:  (32 + 8) x 0.6 = 24 days leave per year:
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    *       If NHS Service <5 years annual leave = 27 days, if >5 years = 32 days
    *   If your normal working day falls on a bank holiday but you are not working it, you take a day off your total allowance
    *  If a bank holiday falls on a zero hours day/long day/night/on call/non-working day, you do not deduct a day from your total allowance. ​
  • Application for maternity/paternity/shared parental and adoption leave is the same for LTFT trainees
  • If paternity is leave taken (planned or unplanned), it is  NOT the trainees responsibility  have to “swap” or cover these shifts themselves.
  • The trainees should submit the request prospectively for study leave via the usual channels
  • This is normally to the Clinical or Educational Supervisor for approval
  • If the study leave is granted, and the training takes place on a day that the trainee would not normally be in work, the trainee must be compensated with time off in lieu (TOIL) or payment. This is contractual.
From our LTFT Trainees resource: 
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Health Education England e-learning for Educational Supervisors of LTFT trainees
'Highly recommended for completion by all Educational Supervisors, Training Programme Directors, Heads of School and any person who has/may have supervisory responsibility for a LTFT trainee'. 

​Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare (HEE e-LfH) has developed a 20-25 minute e-learning session for Educational Supervisors of LTFT trainee doctors.  The session aims to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively supervise a LTFT trainee and raise awareness of the supervisors' responsibilities.

It covers: Your duties as a supervisor of a LTFT trainee under the Equality Act 2010; The implications of LTFT training in relation to Certificates of Completion Training (CCT) dates, Annual Reviews of  Competence Progression (ARCPs) and training extensions; What LTFT training is and reasons why trainees may wish to apply; the benefits of LTFT training; How LTFT training is arranged and the different types of post arrangements available. 

Access at: http://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Component/Details/473676 (If you already have an account with e-LfH you can log in at this stage to access the content. Otherwise please register for an account using your work email address). 

Further information and support at: https://heeoe.hee.nhs.uk/faculty/less-full-time-training-ltft/ltft-e-learning-supervisors.