Essential documents
Forms and guidance on how to claim for Study Leave
Study Leave requirements
In order to apply for study leave, you should ensure you follow the requirements for submission. Click here to view the one page outline of the requirements
Process flow chart
In order to apply for study leave, you need to apply in the correct manner. Click here to see the flow chart.
Application form
Click here to download the application form to complete and submit for Study Leave
Subsistence allowance
Click here to view the current subsistence allowance payments payable for study leave. This covers mileage, accommodation and subsistence.
Deanery Study Leave Policy
Deanery Study policy with specific guidance for GP Registrars
Click here to download the policy document.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Click here to go the FAQ page. This gives answers to many of the questions that are asked with regard to study leave as to whether study leave will be given or not.
Study leave
Background
The delivery of educational learning and study leave is derived from two sources:
- Contractual arrangements with the employer
- Deanery funding through the programme
The delivery of educational activity is not a right, it is a privilege that has to be balanced against work load commitments, service delivery, patients safety and on call demands. There is guidance laid out in the Gold Standard Framework document outlining what is expected by the Deanery with regard to the amount of educational activity that should take place.
The timing and method of delivery is left to the individual programme's and specialties to run.
Education within the hospital setting
Each Specialty will delivery educational teaching to enable those working in the specialty to practice safely with understanding and knowledge. This is often achieved by specific tailor made modules to the specialty, an example is the delivery of acute cardiac arrest care in the form of the Advanced Cardiac Life Support course for those needing the training. There will be times set aside during the day when training is delivered. There is an overall Educational Director within each specialty whose remit is to ensure teaching occurs.
Education within the GP practice setting
The person responsible to ensure teaching occurs is the Trainer. Overseeing this delivery is the Educational Supervisor who measures the delivery of education and, through the use of Work place based assessment, monitors in a formative manner, the progress of the the GP Registrar. In most cases, the role of Trainer and Educational Supervisor in the GP setting is one and the same.
COGPED has defined the normal working week as ten sessions of four hours. This should consist of the equivalent of:
- 7 clinical sessions [28 hours]
- 1 session [4 hours] for the locality half-day / day release course
- 1 session [4 hours] of structured education e.g. tutorials, debriefs
- 1 session [4 hours] independent learning
For GP Registrars working less than full time, the amount is pro-rata. For further details refer to the the section Less Than Fulltime Working (LTFW)
Study Leave.
1) Educational relevance
The requirement of the GP specialty Training programme through its Study Leave policy, is to deliver education to enable GP registrars to be in a position to fulfil the requirements in order to complete the Certificate of Competence in Training (CCT).
Such a definition would exclude professional development focussed on post CCT work such as GPwSI status in a specialty or completing other qualifications commenced before starting the GP training programme.
The focus of study leave should be addressing learning needs rather than the acquisition of qualifications. For example, family planning skills would be appropriate but not necessarily via the DFSRH route.
Evidence of the learning need should be documented in the PDP. The decision on educational relevance should rest with the educational supervisor or programme director, with appeals dealt with by Head of Academy.
2) Service provision
There needs to be agreement from the employer that the trainee can be released fro study leave without detriment to service provision. In hospital trusts a significant notice period may be required. Generally, in general practice placements this is less of an issue, but early requests are more likely to be granted.
Decisions regarding service provision are for the GP trainer or hospital Trust / directorate.
3) Study leave time
The Gold Framework document recommends 30 days study leave per 12 months. This is a recommendation and not a right and has to balanced against service commitments for which the GP registrar is getting paid.
A notional 20 days study leave is taken each year through the delivery of off site education based around the GP Specialty Training Programme. In reality, this notional 20 days of study leave is often exceeded according to the stage of specialty training. All things being equal, the GP Specialty Training Programme takes precedent to all other requirements and requests for study leave.
3) Study leave categories
| Category 1 - Mandatory |
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| Category 2 - Core |
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| Category 3 - Relevant pre-CCT |
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| Category 4 - Relevant for post CCT GP working
Whilst there are service advantages to a training practice in having registrars skilled in cervical cytology and minor surgery, neither of these are required to achieve CCT status and are therefore unlikely to be approved. |
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