Welcome to the Specialty Recruitment pages of the NIMDTA website.
From 6 October 2019, all medical practitioners have been added to the Shortage Occupation List in the UK. This means that medical practitioners are exempt from the Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) when applying to foundation and specialty training programmes, with the exception of Public Health, subject to eligibility.
Recruitment Jan 21 general statement updated 8 Jan
New Recruitment FAQs
Recruitment Opportunities
The timeline for August 2021 recruitment is available here.
Candidates are advised that the 2021 timeline is significantly different to previous years due to changes in the recruitment process due to COVID
August 2021 Round 1
Specialty |
Level |
Number of vacancies |
Lead Recruiter |
Shortlisting process |
Interview Dates |
How to Apply |
Anaesthetics |
CT1 |
11 |
Please check https://anro.wm.hee.nhs.uk/ for further details |
10-11 March 2021 |
||
Anaesthetics |
ACCS |
4 |
Please check https://anro.wm.hee.nhs.uk/ for further details |
10-11 March 2021 |
||
ACCS Emergency Medicine |
ST1 |
12 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – Interview capacity of 40 |
1& 3 February 2021 |
|
Broad Based Training |
CT1 |
10 |
NIMDTA |
Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) |
N/A – Appointment based on MRSA score |
|
Clinical Radiology |
ST1 |
3 |
NIMDTA |
Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) interview capacity of 40 |
25-26 March 2021 |
|
Core Psychiatry |
CT1 |
9-12 |
Please check https://www.nwpgmd.nhs.uk/national_Psychiatry_Recruitment for further details |
N/A – appointment based on MSRA score |
||
Core Surgery |
CT1 |
20-30 |
Please check https://www.lpmde.ac.uk/laserecruitment/specialties/core-surgery for further details |
22 Feb – 5 March 2021 |
||
General Practice |
ST1 |
111 |
Please check https://gprecruitment.hee.nhs.uk/ for further details |
N/A – appointment based on MSRA score |
||
Internal Medicine |
IM1 |
56 |
Please check https://www.imtrecruitment.org.uk/ for further details |
20, 26, 27 & 29 Jan 2021 |
||
Neurosurgery |
ST1 |
0-2 |
Please check https://www.yorksandhumberdeanery.nhs.uk/ recruitment/national_recruitment/national_neurosurgery_st1__st3_recruitment for further details |
TBC |
||
Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
ST1 |
12 |
NIMDTA |
MSRA – Interview capacity of 40 |
8-9 March 2021 |
|
Ophthalmology |
ST1 |
0-2 |
Please check http://severndeanery.nhs.uk/recruitment/vacancies/ for further details |
12 March 2021 |
||
Paediatrics |
ST1 |
16 |
Please check https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/education-careers/apply-paediatrics for further details |
22-23 March 2021 |
||
Public Health |
ST1 |
1 |
FPH & |
Please check https://www.fph.org.uk/training-careers/recruitment/recruitment-information/ for further details |
2 – 4 March 2021 (tbc) |
Northern Ireland is planning to perform recruitment as outlined in the table above. If a point is reached where online interviews are no longer manageable due to the ongoing pandemic, appointability may be determined based on scores awarded at shortlisting. This will either be based on MSRA scores or Self-Assessment scores.
All Specialty training posts will be recruited to via the New Oriel2 recruitment system https://new.oriel.nhs.uk/Web/ Vacancies will be available to view on the new system from 2 November 2020 onwards. Please select the Medical Specialties Staff Group on the landing page to view specialty vacancies.
August 2021 Round 2
Round 2 – Application Window 10am Thu 26 Nov 2020 – Thu 17 Dec 2020
Specialty |
Level |
Number of vacancies |
Lead Recruiter |
Shortlisting process |
Interview Dates |
How to Apply |
Anaesthetics |
ST3 |
15 |
Please check https://anro.wm.hee.nhs.uk/ for further details |
20/04/2021 |
||
Clinical Oncology |
ST3 |
1 |
Please check https://www.lpmde.ac.uk/laserecruitment/medical-specialty/specialties/clinical-oncology for further details |
TBC |
||
Combined Infection Training leading to a Dual CCT in Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology |
ST3 |
2 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
5th March 2021 |
|
Dermatology |
ST3 |
1 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
26th February 2021 |
|
ENT |
ST3 |
2 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
TBC |
|
General Surgery |
ST3 |
0-6 |
Please check https://www.lpmde.ac.uk/laserecruitment/medical-specialty/specialties/general-surgery for further details |
|||
Haematology |
ST3 |
1 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
24th March 2021 |
|
Intensive Care Medicine |
ST3 |
3 |
Please check https://anro.wm.hee.nhs.uk/ for further details |
TBC |
||
Medical Oncology |
ST3 |
1 |
Please check https://www.st3recruitment.org.uk/specialties/medical-oncology for further details |
TBC |
||
Palliative Medicine |
ST3 |
1 |
Please check https://www.st3recruitment.org.uk/specialties/palliative-medicine for further details |
TBC |
||
Paediatric Emergency Medicine |
ST5/7 |
1 |
NIMDTA |
Shortlisting based on the person specification |
TBC |
|
Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
ST3 |
1-3 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
TBC |
|
Paediatrics |
ST3 |
4 |
Please check https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/education-careers/apply-paediatrics for further details |
TBC |
||
Paediatric Surgery |
LAT3 |
1 |
Please check https://www.yorksandhumberdeanery.nhs.uk/recruitment/national-recruitment/national-paediatric-surgery-st3-recruitment for further details |
TBC |
||
Psychiatric Specialties |
ST4 |
See below |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 30 across Psych specialties |
13th & 14th April 2021 |
|
General Adult Psychiatry |
ST4 |
3 |
NIMDTA |
See above |
See above |
|
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
ST4 |
1 |
NIMDTA |
See above |
See above |
|
Psychiatry of Old Age |
ST4 |
1 |
NIMDTA |
See above |
See above |
|
Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability |
ST4 |
1 |
NIMDTA |
See above |
See above |
|
Trauma & Orthopaedics |
ST3 |
2+ |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 30 |
15th & 16th April 2021 |
|
Vascular Surgery |
ST3 |
0-2 |
Please check https://www.lpmde.ac.uk/laserecruitment/specialties/histopathology for further details |
Northern Ireland is planning to perform recruitment as outlined in the table above. If a point is reached where online interviews are no longer manageable due to the ongoing pandemic, appointability may be determined based on scores awarded at shortlisting. This will either be based on MSRA scores or Self-Assessment scores.
All Specialty training posts will be recruited to via the New Oriel2 recruitment system https://new.oriel.nhs.uk/Web/ Vacancies will be available to view on the new system from 2 November 2020 onwards. Please select the Medical Specialties Staff Group on the landing page to view specialty vacancies.
August 2021 Round 2R
Specialty |
Level |
Number of vacancies |
Lead Recruiter |
Shortlisting process |
Interview Dates |
How to Apply |
Endocrinology |
ST3 |
2 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
24th May 2021 |
|
Gastroenterology |
ST3 |
2 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
26th May 2021 |
|
Geriatric Medicine |
ST3 |
3 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
25th May 2021 |
|
Immunology |
LAT3 |
1 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
24th May 2021 |
|
Neurology |
ST3 |
2+ |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
25th May 2021 |
|
Rehabilitation Medicine |
ST3 |
1 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
2nd June 2021 |
|
Renal Medicine (Nephrology) |
LAT3 |
1 (6 month) |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
TBC |
|
Rheumatology |
1+ |
ST3 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
TBC |
|
Stroke Medicine |
ST4+ |
1 |
NIMDTA |
Shortlisting based on the person specification (please see Stroke Med info below for further information) |
TBC |
|
Internal Medicine |
IM3 LAT |
1+ |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment only (no interview anticipated) |
N/A |
|
Urology |
LAT3 |
2 |
NIMDTA |
Self-Assessment – interview capacity of 10 |
TBC |
August 2021 Stroke Medicine
Stroke medicine programmes do not attract a new National Training Number (NTN). Applicants must hold an existing NTN in one of the parent specialties which includes: acute internal medicine, cardiology, clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, general internal medicine (single accredited programmes only), geriatric medicine, neurology and rehabilitation medicine.
Whilst it is not a mandatory requirement, it is strongly recommended that you speak to your current training programme director to discuss your plans and the effect it will have on your training. If you are successful in being offered a stroke medicine placement, you will need to complete an application form for out of programme (experience) before your post can be taken up.
Upon satisfactory completion of training in stroke medicine and the parent specialty, trainees will be eligible to have the sub-specialty included in their entry in the GMC’s Specialist Register, alongside the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in their main specialty; for more information on certification please see the JRCPTB website.
Applications can be made as part of Round 2R from 10am on Tuesday 20 April 2021 until 4pm on Tuesday 4 May 2021 via the Oriel Recruitment System.
Applicants Guide
The Applicant Handbook for posts commencing August 2021 is available below:
It is important that all applicants read this guide as it contains all the information that applicants will require regarding this Recruitment process.
SPECIFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND: Please note that Flexibility in Deployment of Trainees is applicable only to England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has separate arrangements for management of requests for Special Circumstances. Further information is available via email to Recruitmentconfidential.NIMDTA@hscni.net Facilitated Placements will not take place in Northern Ireland for August 2018 in any specialty process.
Deferral of Posts: Deferral for non-statutory reasons within the GP Process will not be facilitated in Northern Ireland.
Competition Ratios
Self-Assessment
A number of the recruiting specialties are using validated self-assessment to shortlist candidates. The method of shortlisting is detailed for all specialties in the vacancy tables above. Where self-assessment is being used candidates are asked to read and follow the guidelines below:
1. All Candidates MUST upload evidence for ALL self-assessment domains at time of application.
2. All Evidence MUST be uploaded in PDF FORMAT.
3. You MUST upload an index page before completing the self-assessment. The index should detail the evidence you have provided for each domain, to help the validators navigate through your evidence. This document MUST be named 00Index.pdf. A blank index template can be downloaded from the document library for the respective vacancy. A general template is available here.
4. Please combine evidence for each domain into ONE pdf per domain in the order listed within your index document. Each Domain should then be labelled accordingly (ie. 01Quals)
5. If it is not possible for you to combine documents into one pdf, you will be permitted a max of 5 documents per domain and they should be labelled accordingly (ie, 01a, 01b, etc. in order based on your index page)
6. Please ensure you keep to the naming convention above and DON’T use any non-alphanumeric characters (ie. &*.%$) as this will prevent the transfer of your documents into SharePoint for validation.
7. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure uploaded documents FULLY DEMONSTRATE the required evidence based on the rating they have chosen. Failure to do so may result in the score for that domain being reduced. (ie. if you have claimed that you have presented at a national or international meeting, do not expect your slides alone to be accepted as evidence; please also upload confirmation from the conference organisers that your presentation was included in the programme of events.)
8. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure uploaded documents are CORRECTLY ORIENTATED AND LEGIBLE. Failure to do so may result that domain being scored zero.
9. ONLY upload documentation directly relevant to your self-assessment. The validating panel cannot be expected to review your entire portfolio. If a candidate is deemed to have uploaded unnecessary documentation that prevents the validation panel from quickly identifying the correct evidence, their application will be rejected.
10. You can only claim on the basis of achievements completed at point of submission of your application.
11. Scores are not adjustable after submission – you cannot amend your self-assessment score after should you have made a mistake on your application form, or gained an achievement after the submission of your application.
Interview Formats
All 2021 interviews will be performed online. HEE managed recruitment will be performed via MS Teams, NIMDTA managed recruitment will be performed via Zoom. The format of interviews differs between specialties. Each interview process will be around 20 minutes per candidate with questions which may assess skills such as communication, clinical judgement, prescribing amongst others. During the interview process, candidates may encounter a lay representative who will be there to ensure the panel is conducting a fair and transparent process.
When you join the interviews you will be admitted into a waiting room until the panel is ready. Once in the interview, you will initially be asked to hold up photographic ID to the camera and then to rotate your camera around your room. The camera sweep is to allow you to show the panel that you are alone in the room, with no personal belongings. Candidates are also advised that they are not to record the interview nor use a virtual background.
For information regarding National Recruitment Processes, please refer to the lead recruiters’ website.
Offers of Appointment
All specialty training offers will be made through Oriel.
Appointments to training programmes or posts will be offered in rank order, based on selection scores.
Not all candidates deemed eligible for appointment by the interview/selection panel will be offered a post as recruitment offices will invite more applicants to interview than posts available.
Following interview and/or assessment, the recruitment office will contact applicants, if successful, with news of an offer. Unsuccessful applicants will receive a message informing them that they have not been successful on this occasion.
Applicants deemed eligible for appointment who rank below the number of vacancies available, could still receive an offer, if offers made to higher ranked candidates are rejected.
Applicants receiving training offers through Oriel will have the option to accept, decline or hold (until the hold deadline) the offer made. Applicants will be given 48 hours (excluding weekends but including bank holidays) from release of the offer to decide whether to accept, reject or hold it.
Offers which are not responded to within the 48 hour deadline will expire and will be offered to another applicant.
Single Transferable Score: Please note, where a recruitment process is using Single Transferable Score, applicants should be reminded that offers should be accepted with upgrades.
Further information is available via the Applicants Handbook
ID Check Process
Below you will find a list of documents that successful candidates will be asked to present via a Zoom after an offer has been accepted. These are part of the pre-employment check process and are in addition to any documentation required as part of the actual interview process; please check with your Lead Recruiter for any specific interview documentation.
Document | Number of Copies Required | Notes |
Proof of identity | 1 | Original Passport |
Right to Work | 1 | Evidence of visa status, including letter from the Home Office, Passport and Residence Permit. |
Proof of address | 2 | Please refer to this link (http://www.nimdta.gov.uk/professional-support/human-resources/access-ni-checks/) for what are acceptable form of Proof of Address required for Access NI Checks. |
GMC/GDC Certificate and License to Practice | 1 | GMC/GDC Certificate or valid registration certificate Candidates must bring a copy of both their original GMC certificate and their renewal letter which can be obtained from the online register. |
National Insurance Number | 1 | Accompanying evidence is not required; however please ensure you are able to confirm your National Insurance Number when asked. |
Career Information
Candidate Feedback
The following information will be made available on Oriel:
- Your score per station
- Your total score
- Maximum score available
- Your appointability and the minimum score required for appointability
- Your rank and the rank needed to obtain a post
For National Recruitment processes using the digital scoring system, all candidates will receive feedback no later than 7 days after the nationally agreed offers deadline.
Candidates may request feedback by submitting the form below:
Written feedback, other than the information identified above, is not provided. Verbal feedback is also not provided.
Requests for scoresheets / interview notes will be dealt with under the Subject Access Provisions of the Data Protection Act. For details of how to make a request, please visit our Data Protection and Freedom of Information Page.
Pre-Placement Checks
References
Access NI Checks (Criminal Records Checks)
Fitness to Practise Declarations
Please complete and return the form below to declare any Fitness to Practise issues:
Pre-Placement Health Assessment
NIMDTA co-ordinates pre-placement health assessments on behalf of the employing Trusts. Successful applicants will be unable to commence employment without having completed a satisfactory PPHA and may result in withdrawal of the offer of appointment. It is vitally important that all appointed candidates comply with requests for information either by NIMDTA or the employing Trust. Further information on how this will be carried out will be provided on the NIMDTA website.
Evidence of Advanced Life Support (ALS)
Right to work in the UK
Applicants to Public Health will still be subject to the RLMT.
Home Office Requirements
• Criminal Records Certificates
The Home Office requires those applying to come to the UK as a Tier 2 doctor or dentist in training, and their adult dependants, to produce a criminal record certificate from any country in which they have been resident for 12 months or more, consecutively or cumulatively, in the previous 10 years, aged 18 or over.
As it can take some time to obtain a criminal record certificate, applicants should begin the process of seeking certificates, if required, at the earliest opportunity. Further information is available from page 11 of the Applicants Handbook available from the Oriel Resource Bank.
• Maintenance
Public bodies cannot offer to certify maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). If applicants are successful in being appointed to a training programme in the UK, and require Tier 2 sponsorship, they will be required to provide evidence of maintenance (funds) to the Home Office when they make their visa application.
Full guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-application-for-uk-visa-as-tier-2-worker
Evidence of immigration status would be a biometric residence card, date stamped passport and/or identity card. All of these documents need to be dated as at or prior to the application closing date. You will be asked to bring your passport and proof of your immigration status to any interviews or assessments you attend
Further information will be made available via the NIMDTA Immigration page.
Information for applicants from the EU
You will be aware that the UK is in the process of leaving the European Union. This means freedom of movement will be affected after 31 December 2020. However, the HSC will continue to welcome and value staff and trainees from Europe as it does the whole world.
The UK will have left the European Union on January 31 2021 and we are currently in the transition period until 31 December 2020 during which all EU law will still apply to the UK. EU citizens and their family members will be able to move to the UK until 2021, with the same rights to work and study freely. For EU citizens who live in the UK by 31 December 2020, you are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. All EU citizens who have lived in the UK for more than five years continuously will be eligible for ‘settled status’ (equivalent to indefinite leave to remain). If you have lived in the UK for less than five years you will be eligible for ‘pre-settled status’ and can upgrade this to ‘settled status’ when you have been here for five years. More information on the settlement scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
The UK is introducing a new points based immigration system from 1 January 2021. If you intend to visit work or study in the UK from 1 January 2021 you can find out more information on what you need to do here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-immigration-system-what-you-need-to-know.
Disability Discrimination Act
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
Travel Expenses
Allocation of Placements for Doctors in Training
Deferral of Start Date
Special Circumstances
Complaints Process
•National Complaints Policy – Recruitment 2021
If an applicant has concerns or complaints about their interview process, they should raise this immediately with the Recruitment Lead before leaving the interview venue. The Recruitment Lead will then complete this form