F2 Swaps

KSS Foundation School Swapping Process

The KSS Foundation School decided they would mirror the approach to swaps adopted by other UK Foundation Schools, which aims to offer flexibility to foundation doctors whilst ensuring a generic and broad training programme for all.

During FY1 in early 2024, doctors are given the opportunity to apply to swap part or all of their allocated F2 programme before the August start date as detailed below.

The ‘Swap Shop’ process will be managed by the KSS Foundation team.

There are two types of swaps:

  • Whole Programme Swaps (also referred to as Swap Shop)
  • Swapping of Individual Placements (also referred to as Local Swaps)

Three Way Swaps

Owing to the increasing administrative burden and complications caused in previous years swaps involving more than two Foundation doctors will not be approved.

Swapping of Individual Placements (Local Swap)

The Local Swap allows foundation doctors to apply to swap one post with another foundation doctor within the same Trust – please do not submit multiple applications as these will all be rejected. Swaps between more than two foundation doctors are not permitted. It is a doctors responsibility to find another doctor within their F2 trust for the local swap. Only one local swap application form needs to be completed.

Local swap requests must be received by the dates laid out in the key dates section below; please note that late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances and there is no opportunity to appeal.

Please note that you no registration is required for the Local Swap Shop and only one local swap application form needs to be made via the online form link below:

Process:

  1. From 07 February – 06 March 2024: The application window opens for local swaps via the online form Local Swap Application Form.
  2. 06 March 2024: Application window closes, the applications are then reviewed by the KSS Foundation team for accuracy and then sent to the Foundation School Director and Deputy Director for approval.
  3. 28th March 2024: All applicants will be notified of the outcome. (Please do not email us chasing for outcomes prior to this date).

Eligibility for Local Swaps

Foundation doctors on the specialised foundation programme may not swap their academic placement. They may only swap their clinical placements.

Whole Programme Swaps (Swap Shop)

We appreciate that sometimes doctors’ circumstances change and they may wish to change the location of their training or experience a different set of specialties. To facilitate such changes, we offer a foundation doctor-led swapping process, which allows a doctor to swap their entire F2 programme with another doctor.

Process:

  1. From 29 January – 04 February 2024: F1 doctors interested in participating in the whole programme swap are asked to complete an online form Registration Full Programme Swap Form, agreeing for their details to be shared with other Foundation doctors. The KSS Foundation team manage this data securely. Each individual doctor must register for a full programme swap, only full programme swaps with doctors that have registered will be permitted.
  2. From 07 February – 06 March 2024: The application window opens and details of all doctors who have applied for the whole programme swaps are shared via a spreadsheet. This spreadsheet will include the doctors name, email, F2 trust and rotations. It is the foundation doctor’s responsibility to find a swapping partner from the list and complete the appropriate paperwork. Only swaps with doctors on this spreadsheet will be permitted, if you don’t register you cant take part in a full programme swap.
  3. From 07 February – 06 March 2024: The application window opens for full programme swaps via the online form Full Programme Swap Form. Only one application form per whole programme swap needs to be submitted.
  4. 06 March 2024: Application window closes, the applications are then reviewed by the KSS Foundation team for accuracy and then sent to the Foundation School Director and Deputy Director for approval.
  5. 28th March 2024: All applicants will be notified of the outcome. (Please do not email us chasing for outcomes prior to this date).

Please note:

  • Swaps between more than two foundation doctors are not permitted.
  • Both foundation doctors must be registered for Swap Shop by the dates laid out in the key dates section below.
  • The swap application must be received by the dates laid out in the key dates section below. Late applications cannot be accepted and there is no opportunity to appeal.

Eligibility for Whole Programme Swaps (Swap Shop)

  • Must be a full time Foundation Doctor.
  • Must not be out of sync.
  • Must not be on the specialised foundation programme.

Ensuring Education Balance

All programmes are designed to be educationally balanced and provide exposure to a range of specialties during the two years of the programme. All 2-year programmes should include a community placement.

KSS guidance for maintaining educational balance is set out below.

Your two-year programme should contain no more than:

  • 8 months in a surgical specialty (but not repeating the same specialty)
  • 8 months in a community specialty
  • 4 months in a psychiatry placement

You cannot repeat a community specialty (e.g. GP, community paediatrics) but it may be possible to repeat one medical, surgical, or other sub-specialty, depending on availability of posts. However, this is decided on an individual case by case basis and the Foundation School Director’s decision is final.

Swap Shop Process Conditions

  1. To be fair to all, there is a strict timeline and late applications will not be considered under any circumstances.
  2. For an application to be considered, a foundation doctor must be on track to successfully complete F1 training in the opinion of their Foundation Programme Director (FPD).
  3. It is only possible to swap F2 posts or rotations as part of the formal Foundation School process. Private swaps and swaps arranged outside of the application window are not permitted. 
  4. Swaps between Foundation Schools are not possible via this swap process. A separate Inter-Foundation School Transfer (IFST) process governs moves between Foundation Schools. Details of the IFST criteria, process and the application window can be found on the UKFPO website: https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/faqs/stand-alone-faqs-ifst/.

Key Dates

  • 29th January 2024: Whole programme swap registration opens.
  • 4th February 2024: Whole programme swap registration closes.
  • 7th February 2024: Whole programme and Local Swap application window opens. Whole programme swap – registrant details shared with other applicants via secure data sharing method.
  • 6th March 2024: Swap window closes – ALL swap applications (both Local and Whole programme) must be received by 11:59pm on this date.
  • 7th March – 28th March 2024: Applications reviewed by KSS Foundation team, Foundation School Director and Deputy Director.
  • 28th March 2024: Applicants notified of outcome (please do not chase us prior to this date).
  • 28th March 2024: Trusts notified of change.

Please contact england.kssfoundationyear2.se@nhs.net if you have any further questions.

FAQs 

It is felt that it is important for an F1 doctor to settle into their training before deciding to swap the content of their programme. In addition, as we are only running one window to facilitate swapping, we are only able to offer this when you are halfway through your F1 year. 

No, the Foundation School Director’s decision is final, and you will be given a reason for their decision.

No, you can identify a lead applicant and we will notify both of you of the outcome. It is however essential that both of you have registered. 

Local swaps are for doctors who wish to swap one F2 placement with another trainee within the same FY2 Trust. You do not need to register for Swap Shop to submit a local swap, just complete a Local Swap form and submit it via the online form. 

Swap Shop is for trainees who wish to swap their whole F2 programme with another trainee. You must register for Swap Shop AND submit an application.  

If you have been allocated to an SFP (academic) programme you are not eligible to enter into Swap Shop but may apply for a Local Swap. Should you apply for a Local Swap you may only swap your clinical placements.  

No. Military placements have specific requirements set out by the Defence Deanery which means they cannot be included in the Swap process.  

All doctors wishing to take part in the Swap Shop must be registered. If one doctor is registered and the other isn’t then the swap application will be declined. 

No swap requests outside the formal swap shop window will be permitted.