There are a number of circumstances when a trainee may seek to spend some time out of programme (OOP). All such requests need to be agreed by the Postgraduate Dean in advance so trainees are advised to discuss their proposals with their Training Programme Director as early as possible.
Time out of programme will not normally be agreed until a trainee has been in a training programme for at least one year, which follows guidance from the Gold Guide. Occasions where OOP is granted to core trainees are likely to be exceptional given the length and the nature of their training.
The purpose of taking time out of programme is to support the trainee in:
undertaking clinical training that is not a part of the Oxford School of Anaesthesia training programme (OOPT).
gaining professional skills that would enhance a trainee’s future practice. This could include enhancing skills in medical leadership, academia, medical education or patient safety, or enhancing clinical skills related to but not part of the curriculum. Such experience may benefit the doctor (e.g. working in a different health environment/country) or may help support the health needs of other countries (e.g. with Médecins Sans Frontières, Voluntary Service Overseas, global health partnerships) (OOPE). In some circumstances experience gained in an OOPE can count towards CCT.
undertaking a period of research leading to a DPhil (OOPR).
taking a planned career break (OOPC).
taking a training pause, which can be used at the trainee’s discretion. Time spent training in an OOPP can potentially be counted towards overall training time. More information is available on the RCOA website (OOPP).
Trainees should give as much notice as possible, and this would normally be six months so that the needs of patients are appropriately addressed. Trainees will also need to ensure that they keep in touch with the School and their trainers, and renew their commitment and registration to the training programme with the Postgraduate Dean on an annual basis (ie some ARCP paperwork is required). This process also requests permission for the trainee to retain their training number and provides information about the trainee’s likely date of return to the programme as well as the estimated date for completion of training and revalidation documentation.
Trainees must maintain their licence to practise while on OOP as well as their connection with NHS England Thames Valley for the purposes of revalidation.
Thames Valley guidance for OOP can be found here.
What this means in terms of practicalities:
Plan ahead for an OOP and request / discuss with trainers early.
Paperwork (link here) must be completed in good time as it needs to be countersigned by ES, TPD, Head of School and Associate Dean.
ARCP will happen at the expected time.
A Form R is required along with a Whole Scope of Practice form if relevant, for all AIT. The Form R should declare all days on OOP as being out of training (ie 365 if a whole year OOP between ARCPs). The only exception is on an OOPT when all time is counted as training time. This allows the revalidation process to continue.
Academics ie those on OOPR are expected to submit an academic report.
Those on OOPT are expected to submit all the usual evidence for ARCP, and ideally would maintain an ES in Thames Valley to assist with ARCP preparation.