Considerations for getting an in-service trainee
The following points should be used as a checklist for employers and commissioners prior to agreeing in-service training places.
Employers must confirm the following:
- The applicant meets the entry requirements specified on the school website.
- Continued employment of the applicant during the training, still subject to NHS terms and conditions. If the applicant was previously employed at a level higher than the Agenda for Change Band 6 required by the nationally recognised job description, the employer is responsible for considering the issues of pay protection for the duration of the training.
- Awareness of the programme requirements and management of any human resources, rota or staffing issues caused by the applicant’s attendance at university and/or their participation in any required rotations.
- That the applicant’s assessor/supervisor(s) attends an approved school training programme, that they have the capacity and time to undertake the role, and that the department has the facilities needed to deliver all the required learning outcomes. Either from their own resources or in partnership with others.
- Release of the in-service trainee from clinical service for study and training as appropriate, in order to provide equity with the training experience of the direct entry trainees.
- That internal processes for providing access to training and development opportunities are fair and equitable in accordance with local HR policies.
- That the training forms part of their overall commissioning and workforce plans, and that the applicant is an existing member of the workforce and is not employed solely to undertake the training.
- That if unsuccessful in the admissions process, the applicant will remain in their substantive post or employed according to the terms of agreement made with their employer for this eventuality. If as a trainee they fail to progress successfully and have to leave the training programme early, they will return to their substantive post or employment according to the terms of the agreement made with their employer in accepting the training place.
- The employer should establish an agreement with the applicant on these points before the applicant is put forward for the training programme.
Conditions for in-service applicants
An in-service applicant must:
- Be part of the planned workforce numbers required for training and have occupied an existing NHS salaried post within the same department as the training post, prior to training.
- Already be employed by the organisation intending to provide the training and have demonstrated their suitability in the workplace.
- Remain employed until they commence the programme when they should change to a contract that covers the duration of the STP. Should the trainee leave the programme for any reason, then any subsequent employment and contract arrangements are the responsibility of the employing organisation.
- Have not already completed the STP in another specialty.
- Have permission from their employer to undertake the required academic and work-based training requirements.
- Have been selected by the employing department’s local recruitment and selection process. The department must be satisfied that the applicant matches the core person specification and meets the entry requirements.
- Apply and be allocated through the school’s national recruitment process.
- Not go through a shortlisting process as they are not in competition for their nominated post.
- Be trained in a department accredited by the school as an STP training provider.
- Be assessed using an e-portfolio and/or any other monitoring and quality assurance processes used by the school.
- Sit the STP final assessment as set by the school.
- Complete the postgraduate academic programme.
- Follow the whole programme and must be released from service duties, as appropriate, to undertake their education and training.
Employer roles and responsibilities
Each post has a main contact within the employing organisation that is responsible for that post. This main contact is responsible for:
- Notifying us of any changes in contact details or circumstances for the post.
- Notifying us if the post is no longer required.
- Reading all guidance on the national recruitment process including potential requirements for sponsorship of international trainees.
- Familiarising themselves with the recruitment timeline.
Please contact us at england.hcsrecruitment@nhs.net if you have any questions.
Further details are available on in-service recruitment and entry requirements.