ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING THE GP RETURNER SCHEME?  

  

For further information please contact Mrs Caroline Diver on caroline.diver@nimdta.gov.uk

  

  

Aim of the Scheme

The aim of the Returner Scheme is to attract back qualified GPs who may not currently be working in General Practice. These may be:

• Qualified GPs not working at all
• Qualified GPs who are working, but not within General Practice

Inevitably, the needs of each Returner will be different. Many will feel unsure about how competent they are to practice. It is agreed that any General Practitioner who has not been working in General Practice for the previous two years should undertake a period of Returner training.

Suitability of a Potential Returner

The discussion between the would-be Returner and the Deanery is a two-way process. It gives the Returner the opportunity to talk about his/her intentions and enables the deanery to find out more about the individual and the support they may need to come back into employment. Factors needing to be identified and discussed with would-be Returners include:

• What they had done before they left and the length of the break since being in practice
• Their expectations of return
• Their level of confidence and current knowledge
• Where and when they would like to work

Returner Training

The majority of doctors who are returning to work in General Practice will require a period of Returner training, which may last for up to 6 months. In some cases the break may have been short and the requirement for individual support may be easy to identify and provide, but in most cases the return process will need to be managed carefully and prepared in advance. The aim of returner training is to provide training of sufficient duration and content to prepare the doctor for a confident return to General Practice. The provision of this training will be subject to an educational needs assessment, which will help to establish the likely training requirement. This will occur informally during the discussion with the Deanery. Once approved for the scheme an initial learning needs assessment will be undertaken with a GP Trainer and hence the deanery will ensure that where training is provided it meets the needs of the individual doctor. In determining the type and duration of Returner training, the following issues will be taken into account:

• The Returner’s career intentions
• Length of period worked in General Practice
• Length of period away from General Practice
• Other work experience

While Returner training often focuses on the doctor’s clinical needs, it should also cover, where appropriate, other forms of learning such as IT or management training. For example, if a Returner intends to take up a post as a GP principal, but has only ever worked in General Practice as an assistant, he/she may benefit from staff management training. Or a GP who has not worked in General Practice for more than 5 years may require IT training to familiarise himself/herself with current computer applications.

On-call

Participation in out-of-hours duties is optional although it is advisable for the Returner to consider participating in at least one session per month with the Trainer, especially if the Returner is planning to take up a position that will include this work.

GP Tutors and CPD Programmes

Returners are encouraged to also make contact with their local GP tutor to find out about the educational programmes on offer for qualified GPs. Returners may attend the GP Retainer Programme

Finding a training placement

Potential GP Returners are referred directly to a specific GP Trainer. Where possible these doctors should be placed in practices that do not have a current ST3. However, if this is not possible a practice can have a standard ST3 and a GP Returner, providing they have the appropriate accommodation and educational capacity i.e. 2 Trainers.

Performers’ List

Under Review @ 14th April 2005 There is presently a problem in Northern Ireland with conditional registration on the Performer’s List.

Criteria

Criteria for doctors requesting refresher training via the Returner Scheme in the Northern Ireland Deanery
1. The doctor must be eligible to work in General Practice and evidence should be submitted to the Deanery.
2. They should normally have worked as a General Practitioner in the UK or British Armed Services for at least one year (including a GP Registrar).
3. They would not normally be offered Returner training if they had been working in a substantive NHS GP post during the previous 24 months. (There may be circumstances when Returner training is appropriate following shorter periods.)
4. The Returner should normally work at least half-time during the period of Returner training, including clinical and educational activities. Exceptions can be made in individual cases at the discretion of the DPGPE.
5. They must agree to refresh their skills in dealing with GP emergencies.
6. They should not work as GP locums during their period of refresher training.
7. Returners may work in another field of medicine or in a non-medical career at the discretion of the DPGPE while undergoing refresher training.
8. They should indicate their intention to work in a GP post for at least two years (or the equivalent part-time) following their Returner training. This may not necessarily all be completed immediately following Returner training e.g. maternity leave.
9. Approval to join the Returner Scheme is subject to finding a suitable placement.
10. Approval is also subject to:

• Acceptance on to the Performers list of the Board
• Screening by the Disclosure Services of the Criminal Records Bureau

Guidance for the Assessment of Doctors on the GP Returner Scheme

Each doctor will have very different refresher training requirements and assessments will need to be tailored to the individual. Some doctors will feel very vulnerable and the timing of assessments needs to be carefully planned. The Returner and Trainer should keep documentation of all assessments.
1. A Self-assessment package can be used to inform the Deanery representative on the type and length of refresher training required. If deemed helpful a PEP-2000 could be used during this initial assessment phase.
2. Initial Educational needs assessment by the Trainer.
3. Formative Assessment. Other assessment methods, tailored to the individual Trainer and Returner, should be used at regular intervals throughout the period of refresher training. Trainers may wish to use the same tools as they use for their GP Registrars.

Assessment of Consultation Skills

Once the Returner has reached the mid point of their training attachment they are advised to prepare a videotape of consultations in accordance with the regulations issued by the National Summative Assessment Board. The video tape will be submitted to the Deanery Office for assessment by two independent assessors who will not know the Returners identity.

Applied Knowlege Test (AKT)

Returners should submit for the AKT exam (the Deanery does not receive feedback regarding the AKT exam and it would not therefore be possible to give information over and above the overall score attained.) Dates of the AKT are available from the Royal College of General Practitioners website.

Employment and Salary

During the period of Returner training, the Returner will be employed by the practice where he/she is undertaking the training at the salary level of an ST3. The contract of employment will normally be a modified version of the BMA GP Registrar Model Contract of Employment. The Returner’s salary is calculated and reimbursed to the practice by the Deanery. The Deanery may make arrangements to be reimbursed by a Health Board. The Trainer will receive a grant for the training provided. The grant is paid by the Deanery and will be pro-rata according to the period of training but is paid at the same level regardless of whether the doctor is employed on a full or part time basis.