ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A RETAINEE?  

THIS SCHEME IS CURRENTLY FULL

For further information please contact Mrs Caroline Diver on caroline.diver@nimdta.gov.uk or 028 90 400001  
or click the following links to download the application pack

Retainee Application Form

DHSS Circular

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A RETAINER PRACTICE?  

For further information please click on Application Forms on the navigation bar to the left of this screen

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INTRODUCTION

The Retainer Scheme aims to give doctors the opportunity to work during a stage when they are not able to make a full-time commitment to General Practice. Retainees can keep up to date with medicine and develop their careers within a supportive clinical and educational environment until they are able to return to mainstream General Practice as a GP performer in either a partnership, salaried or sessional post.

A doctor must have significant domestic responsibilities to be eligible to join the scheme. There are 45 places and membership usually expires after 5 years. Each doctor can work for a maximum of 4 sessions per week in General Practice plus 2 other sessions. A session should be no more than 4 hours 10 minutes. The additional 2 sessions could be in such areas as family planning or social security, but the Director of Postgraduate General Practice Education must approve them. Members of the Retainer Scheme are not permitted to do locum work, but they can work in out of hours centres.

Each Retainee has a named Educational Supervisor to act as mentor in the practice. There should also be a named Clinical Supervisor available for help and advice during clinical sessions. Retainers are required to complete 28 hours of educational sessions per year, 3 of which should be based at the practice itself. As part of their Continuing Professional Development, a number of evening seminars are also organised by NIMDTA throughout the year.

• Members must attend an informal interview with the Director on an annual basis to renew their membership and discuss educational progress.
• All GP Retainers must undergo annual GP appraisal.
• GP Retainees are employees of the practice in which they work.

SALARY AND ENTITLEMENTS

Each retainee receives £300 per year from NIMDTA, which contributes to GMC registration (£180 p.a.) and the medical indemnity. The salary paid to the retainee is negotiable with the practice (BMA recommends between £107.50 and £118.50 per session).  The practice can claim £59.18 back from the CSA. The practice claims this retrospectively, stating whether the session relates to sick, maternity or normal session. Retainees are entitled to both maternity leave and sick pay. They are also entitled to 4 weeks annual leave per year.

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS OF THE RETAINER SCHEME

• Entitlement to NHS Superannuation
• Continuity to work for up to five years (up to 4 sessions per week)
• Two other sessions per week, not in General Practice – hence contributing to professional development
• Entitlement to sick / maternity pay
• Retainer Practices

Practices wishing to employ a Retainee are required to meet minimum criteria. An application form and practice questionnaire must be completed by the practice. Training Practices are automatically eligible to become Retainer Practices. The Director will visit non-training practices. Doctors who have received the Director’s approval to join the scheme are given a list of retainer scheme practices. It is their responsibility to contact a practice and arrange their sessions, then inform NIMDTA of the details.