RETURNING TO GENERAL PRACTICE?
| FLEXIBLE CAREERS SCHEME | RETAINER SCHEME | FCS RETURNER SCHEME | |
| Suitable for | GPs transferring from retainer scheme.
Qualified GPs working as locums or "resting" Flexible trainees looking for flexible GP post GPs nearing retirement and wanting to work flexibly |
Doctors who have well founded personal reasons for wanting to work in a lesser capacity in general practice for a set period of time | Doctors who have had a substantial break (more than 12 months) from general practice or been working in another branch of medicine post VTS qualification |
| Qualification | VTS certificate or equivalent experience | VTS certificate or equivalent experience | VTS certificate or equivalent experience |
| Management of Scheme | NHS Professionals and Director of Postgraduate GP Education | Director of Postgraduate GP Education | NHS Professionals Returners Hotline: 0845 60 60 345 |
| Employer | PCTs, PMS practices, GMS practices. Use IWL principles, model contract being created. 3 year fixed term contract expected | The practice (GMS or PMS) BMA Model contract available |
The practice (PMS/GMS) – but funded through vocational training scheme monies |
| Payment to doctor | Negotiated with employer using Improving
Working Lives principles £1050 annually to doctor for professional expenses |
Negotiated with employer. BMA recommended rates last published in 1999. £310 towards professional experiences | Salary protection rules – re-enter at level when last working in NHS |
| Quantity of work | Up to 49% of full time. Minimum 2 sessions per week, maximum 5 sessions. 260 sessions per year. Flexible. No OOH required. Limited amount of other NHS work at DPGPEs discretion. Locum work is allowed provided it is able to be superannuated. | Minimum 1, maximum 4 sessions per week. Can be flexible for school holidays etc. Limited outside work (max 2 sessions) | Full or part-time |
| Education | 8 sessions funded education in addition to 260 worked sessions per annum. Accces to HPE monies if qualify. Named educational supervisor, PDP required. Appraisal and revalidation apply | 28 hours education annually. Paid leave from practice to undertake education. Educational supervisor in practice. PDP required. 3 hours in-practice education. Appraisal and revalidation apply. | Up to 6 weeks study leave. Clinical placements, IT training, shadowing tailored to individual needs. Placement in training practice where possible. Mentoring from trainer. Appraisal and revalidation apply |
| Length of time on scheme | 3 years maximum Work with educational supervisor on exit strategy |
5 years but can be extended to 8 and maximum of 10 years at discretion of DPGPE | 6 month full time, 12 month part-time |
| Exit Strategy | Expected that employer will commit to longer term employment at end of 3 years (cannot rejoin retainer scheme) | Change to FCS or to a partnership | Return to general practice – FCS, retainer or principal post |
| NHS Pension | Yes | Yes | Yes |