Less Than Full Time (LTFT) training
An applicant’s less than full-time (LTFT) status cannot be guaranteed if they transfer to a new foundation school and employer.
A foundation doctor who is currently working LTFT will still be considered for a transfer to a full-time vacancy should one arise. The foundation doctor will be expected to follow local procedures and fulfil the requirements necessary to work LTFT in the receiving foundation school. This will require submitting a new application for LTFT.
Visas and sponsorship
Applicants who require a Skilled Worker visa and need to transfer to a different nation to the one they are currently allocated to, will need to contact the visa sponsorship team for that nation to discuss the timeframes and process involved for sponsorship. The timeframes for the visa application process must also be considered.
Doctors who already hold a Skilled Worker visa for one nation and are therefore sponsored by that national sponsorship team, cannot use that visa in another nation
For example, if you are currently sponsored by NHS England you cannot use this sponsorship and visa for a training programme in Scotland. You would require a new CoS (certificate of sponsorship) and a new visa.
If you apply for an IFST and your application is successful (and you have been allocated a programme in the new foundation school) you would need to notify your current sponsorship team for England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland and let them know about your change in location.
Doctors who already hold a Skilled Worker visa for one nation can use the same CoS and visa to remain working in that nation but must notify the sponsorship team if they successfully transfer to a new Foundation School and new employing organisation. The details of the sponsorship will need to be updated with the new employment and training details.
Contact details for the sponsorship teams in each of the four nations can be found on this webpage
Fitness to Practice (FTP) Disclosure
An applicant’s current/allocated foundation school is required to inform a receiving foundation school of any applicant who has a positive fitness to practice declaration. This is to ensure the foundation school is aware of the circumstances and can provide additional support or adjustments for the doctor during their training programme.
Applicants who have not yet started the foundation programme should declare any fitness to practice issues to their allocated foundation school, by sending an email directly to the Foundation School Director and/or Foundation School Manager. This information should also be provided on your STEP form. Information about the STEP process can be found on this webpage.
Current Foundation doctors in training (F1 or F2) should declare any fitness to practice issues to their allocated foundation school, by sending an email directly to the Foundation School Director and/or Foundation School Manager. This information should also be provided in your Form R on your ePortfolio.
Foundation schools may decide to reject an application for an inbound IFST due to a positive fitness to practice declaration. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. The sharing of information between foundation schools will be done so in accordance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) rules. Information regarding fitness to practice issues will be hared with relevant parties at the receiving foundation school on a need-to-know basis only.