NHS England Thames Valley is committed to supporting trainee doctors in undertaking study leave activities to achieve their speciality curriculum and support professional development.
Please Read The Following Before Applying For Study Leave
All the information you need to understand the application process can be found on our website, including the guidance, FAQs, School specific essential/desirable lists, and the application form:
(1) Study Leave webpage: https://thamesvalley.hee.nhs.uk/resources-information/trainee-information/study-leave-for-doctors/
(2) Discuss any study leave courses/activities with your Educational Supervisor in advance of your application.
(3) All applications for study leave must be made in advance. This should follow the local process for applying for educational approval and time off for study leave activities in your employing Trust.
(4) Retrospective applications will not be accepted under any circumstances.
(5) Applications should be submitted at least six weeks prior to an event.
(6) All claims should be submitted for payment within 3 months of event attendance. Any claims received after this deadline will not be paid.
(7) All requests for international events require NHSE approval first.
(8) Claims made without having first applied for time/funding will not be accepted.
(9) If the course/activity is on the NHSE approved list for your School/Programme AND the total associated costs (including event fees, travel, and accommodation) are £700 or less, then NHSE Thames Valley does not need to be involved in the approval decision.
(10) If the course/activity is NOT on the NHSE approved list for your School/Programme AND the total associated costs (including event fees, travel, and accommodation) are over £700 – it is advised that you wait until you have completed the full approval process (from your Training Programme Director and NHSE Thames Valley) before booking the study leave activity.
(11) If you pay for a course/activity before the approval process is complete, and the request is declined, you will not be reimbursed for any costs incurred.
What The Study Leave Budget Covers
– Courses/education activities to support trainees to achieve the curriculum requirements/outcomes.
– UK based classroom/workshop preparation course for PG exams.
– Discretionary courses that add value to trainees, support the wider system and meet the curriculum requirements (with NHSE pre-approval).
What The Study Leave Budget Does Not Cover
– Royal College membership and e-portfolio fees.
– Postgraduate exam fees
– Any statutory or mandatory training required to fulfil your clinical role (this should be provided by your NHS Trust)
Study Leave Courses/Activities In Thames Valley
Trainees in the Thames Valley may apply for study leave activity of any cost for courses that are mandated by the curriculum or those that are not, referred to as ‘aspirational’. The eligibility criteria and process must be adhered to in order for applications to be approved.
Depending on the type and cost of your request, the application process may vary, please see guidance and each Specialty School has created a list of essential courses required for curriculum completion:
Anaesthetics
Medicine
Accent Leave Manager is LIVE (from 18 April 2024)
Accent Leave Manager (ALM) is now live.
ALL Study Leave applications should be submitted on Accent Leave Manager only.
An Overview of the Benefits:
Accent Leave Manager is a study leave application manager – it will process applications, rejections and approvals with the following benefits –
1) No lost applications.
2) Full audit trail.
3) Significant timesaving through automation of the process.
4) Reduced backlog of tasks.
5) More equitable experience across Trusts.
Accent Leave Manager (ALM) supports a paperless, streamlined experience for doctors in training anywhere across England.
For doctors in training in Thames Valley, with a shared electronic system, Schools, Programme Teams and Trusts will:
– have detailed insights into how study leave is being used,
– can monitor approval times if needed and the popularity of specific course,
– this will benefit both the doctors in training and the Trusts.
Please read the following guidance before applying –
Applications can only be submitted prospectively via Accent Leave Manager:
>> Please ensure you upload evidence that your ES/CS/TPD supports your study leave.
>> For applications outside of the UK, please select ‘INTERNATIONAL’ for your leave type.
>> If you would like to cancel a study leave application due to take place in the future, you can do this on Accent Leave Manager.
No Retrospective Applications Are Allowed:
>> Claimants are unable to add retrospective requests for leave requests/expenses to Accent Leave Manager.
>> If you have any extenuating circumstances, please contact your Trust Study Leave team as soon as possible.
Reclaiming Expenses:
>> Please ensure you include ALL estimated expenses on your study leave application on Accent Leave Manager.
>> Expense claims can only be made against study leave that was prospectively submitted using Accent Leave Manager, and the study leave application has been approved; this applies even when the activity takes place on a non-working day.
>> For reclaiming your actual expenses, please do this via your Trust Expenses process. Expenses should be reclaimed within 8 weeks of the leave being completed.
Support for Using Accent Leave Manager:
>> For any study leave process questions – email england.studyleave.tv@nhs.net
>> For any questions about using Accent Leave Manager or the system – email imsupport.south@hee.nhs.uk
Study Leave Guidance
The study leave policy includes guidance on study leave and study budget arrangements. It also includes travel and subsistence guidance and some frequently asked questions. Please review all guidance and FAQ’s before booking onto an event or course.
(1) Study Leave and Study Budget Arrangements
(3) Out of Programme (OOP) – Talk to your Training Programme Director (TPD) and Educational Supervisor (ES) as early as possible.
If you have any questions please either direct them to your local Study Leave Officer, or to england.studyleave.tv@nhs.net
Appeals
If you would like to appeal your Study Leave application decision, then you may appeal to the Postgraduate Dean.
To submit an appeal, please complete the attached form setting out reasons for your appeal and include any relevant evidence.
If you have any further questions, email england.studyleave.tv@nhs.net