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Preparing for the new doctors in training contract – what do you need to do?

Following the Department of Health's recent publication of the planned new terms and conditions for junior doctors, employers are faced with much to do and little time to do it.

As the new terms and conditions of doctors in training are phased in, employers of junior doctors will need to be prepared and ready for the new contracts to be enforced. As early as the end of this month, planning needs to begin to ensure a smooth transition to the new terms and conditions.

What needs to be done?

We have compiled a table of the key tasks and dates which we hope will be helpful in aiding you to implement the changes required.

It is important that you are aware of the phased introduction dates so that you are ready to implement the changes for each succeeding group of doctors in training.

All changes should be communicated as widely as possible to ensure transparency throughout the organisation.

End of April 2016

Plan and create junior doctor rotas, make any amends necessary to ensure compliance with the new shift rules.

End of May 2016

Work schedules for all posts agreed and signed off. Each affected junior doctor should be provided with a personalised work schedule, jointly created by the doctor and his/her educational supervisor.

Please note that rotas must be compliant with the new limits on hours – details can be found in Schedule 3 of the new terms and conditions.

31 May 2016

Pay assessed for all work schedules.

Please note the following changes relating to pay:

  • Pay protection calculations need to be done in accordance with Schedule 14 of the new terms and conditions.
  • Payroll must be set up to operate the new pay arrangements and everything must be in place to implement the pay changes.
  • Systems must be in place to operate pay progression.
  • Systems must be in place to pay the premium time arrangements.
  • Assess what on-call availability allowance each doctor in training is due.
  • Systems must be in place to ensure all other payments under the new terms and conditions are in place.

Any new systems must be understood by those operating them, training may be required.

8 June 2016

Deadline for all offers of employment to doctors for August, to include work schedules and details of pay and rotas.

July 2016

Guardians of Safe Working Hours must be appointed and in post before August. Details are set out in Schedule 6 of the new terms and conditions as to how to nominate the Guardian and what their role will be.

3 August 2016

New contract introduced for F1 doctors in training. Contracts for other doctors in training will be introduced over an 18 month period from August 2016.

How can Ward Hadaway help?

We have many years’ specialist experience working with clients across the NHS on a wide range of employment-related matters. For more details on how we can help you, please get in touch.