Less Than Full Time Training

You must first discuss any plans for LTFT with your Training Programme Director (TPD) for your current training programme. For Foundation Doctors, you must discuss your request with your Foundation School Manager (FSM) (for both F1s and F2s) before beginning your application. Once you have discussed your request to train LTFT with your TPD, you should complete the LTFT application form, which is available here.

If you don’t know who your TPD or FSM is, please submit an enquiry to england.kssfoundationenquiries.se@nhs.net so we can make them aware. 

Child Care 

For caring for children, you should provide the actual/expected birth date of your youngest child. Please note, you do not need to re-apply after each period of maternity leave unless your first child is over 18 years old. Once you have been deemed eligible to train LTFT for reasons of child care, you can continue to do so until your youngest child is 18 years old. Caring for children is for both men and women. You do not need to provide a birth certificate.

Health/Disability 

For health reasons you will need to provide a letter from the Occupation Health (OH) department at your current Trust, with their recommendations that you should train LTFT and how long the request is for. Pending the letter from OH you may provide a Medical Certificate from your own GP. Your TPD can recommend you train LTFT but you need to provide the appropriate evidence. Without the supporting evidence your request to train LTFT will be declined. The letter of support should be dated within the last three months from the date you submit your application

Caring Responsibilities 

For caring responsibilities apart from child-care, you should provide a letter from the GP of the person for whom you are caring that states you are the primary carer, and an indication of the time commitment. Without the supporting evidence your request to train LTFT will be declined. The letter of support should be dated within the last three months from the date you submit the application. 

Unique Opportunities/Non-Medical Development/ Training and Career Development 

This should be done via the free text boxes in the application form. You can also upload job descriptions and letters of support with your application. You will need to state: 

A brief description of the other work you wish to undertake alongside training LTFT.

How this additional work will benefit your future career.

How this additional work will benefit the wider NHS.

If it is paid or unpaid employment.

How you plan to manage your time between progressing with your training and your additional work.

How long the request is for if for a set period of time.

Why the request cannot be completed as an out of programme request.

Foundation doctors can apply at any time throughout the year.

Notice period is generally 16 weeks, any less will only be considered in exceptional circumstances:

Parental care 

Doctors with a disability or ill health- 

Doctors with caring responsibilities 

Application within Windows: 

Foundation doctors that wish to apply under any of the criteria listed below must do so within the given LTFT Windows. The Windows are determined by the month in which you rotate.  

Welfare and wellbeing  

Unique opportunities   

Religious commitment  

Non-medical development   

Flexibility for training and career development  

Notice periods:

We require a minimum of 16 weeks’ notice for all LTFT applications (including Childcare, Health, Disability, Caring Responsibilities) however there is an exception to this which will be by individual circumstances. If less than 16 weeks’ notice is provided/required you must submit evidence of written agreement from your employing Trust that they can accommodate an earlier change.  

Changes to WTE:

Any requests to change a WTE (increase, decrease, return to full time) must be made during windows provided above.

To apply for Less Than Full Time Training please fill out the following form.