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Inter-Deanery Transfer
Introduction
During your Specialist Registrar training, it may become necessary
to have to consider the possibility of requesting an Inter-Deanery
Transfer (IDT). This may come about because of well founded personal
reasons (eg the relocation of a partner) or for a temporary period, on
educational grounds, (eg to gain further experience or undertake a
particular training module). At all times, movement is at the
discretion of both the “home” and “receiving” Postgraduate Dean.
Section 14 of the
Guide to Specialist Registrar Training (February 1998) – the
“Orange Book” – gives details of how the Inter-Deanery Transfer
process works.
Why an Inter-Deanery Transfer may be considered
1. Well-founded personal reasons (usually permanent transfers)
These will often be related to family, such as the genuinely
unavoidable move of a spouse or committed partner to another part of
the country, or illness in a dependent family member, which could not
have been foreseen when the appointment of the current SpR post was
made. To be considered for a transfer on these grounds, applicants
will be asked to provide evidence of a change in their circumstances
subsequent to their appointment, and movement generally will not be
supported within the first year of the programme. These transfers are
“not an entitlement”, as the Orange Guide reminds us, and the decision
will be influenced not only by the strength of the personal case but
also the impact of the requested transfer on other trainees in the
receiving Deanery, especially in specialties for which competition is
intense. The final decision will rest with the “receiving” Dean, who
will be advised by the home Dean responsible for the current post, and
by key trainers.
If agreed in principle, a commitment will be made, but actual
placement in the programme and provision of a new NTN/VTN may not be
possible immediately, or even for some time. That will depend on the
availability of an appropriate slot in the training programme and the
availability of NTNs/VTNs in the receiving Deanery. Inter-deanery
transfers cannot be made from one specialty to another.
2. Educational grounds (temporary transfer unless permanent
transfer explicitly agreed)
A range of situations can arise or exist:
i) Remedial and targeted training
It may be appropriate for remedial and/or targeted training to
take place away from the host Deanery. Such training will be for a
defined period of time and with pre-determined objectives and outcomes
(and funding arrangements) agreed between the two Deans. The trainee
should retain his or her original NTN/VTN and, on the completion of
the training, should return to the host Deanery.
ii) Specialised training opportunities: secondment of
individuals
Exposure to certain highly specialised training opportunities
which may exist in just a few Deaneries may be essential for a
particular trainee’s future career. Where these opportunities are
unavailable with the current Deanery, by agreement between the two
Deans, a trainee may transfer on secondment retaining the original
NTN/VTN. On completion of the secondment the trainee would return to
the host deanery. Deans will agree specific funding arrangements in
these cases. Extension to permanent transfer should be viewed with
caution; there is a risk that ‘donor’ regions may suffer a steady loss
of new CCT holders, while ‘receiving’ regions may have difficulty in
progressing their more junior trainees.
iii) Fixed progressions and rotations between Deaneries as part
of regular planned training programmes:
In a number of specialties, the complete training programme cannot
be provided within one Deanery because of lack of suitable specialist
training opportunities. Also, there are long-standing rotations which
straddle two or more Deaneries. The rotation forms part of the whole
training package. There are two versions of this arrangement.
a. Structured Progression
In these “rotations”, often in specialties such as cardiothoracic and
paediatric surgery, the trainee may start in Deanery A and finish in
Deanery B. The original NTN/VTN is surrendered and a new NTN/VTN
provided by the new Deanery (B). A stable share of NTNs/VTNs across
Deaneries can be agreed. “As this will be permanent relocation,
removal expenses should be available”.
b. Structured Rotations
In these programmes (for example several of the pan-Thames programmes)
trainees may start in either Deanery and finish in either Deanery,
often depending on where the next vacancy happens to arise. When a
trainee moves, at some defined stage(s) in the programme, to “the
other” Deanery, he or she retains his or her original NTN/VTN. Quite
often, a movement by another trainee on the rotation will be occurring
in the opposite direction, so NTNs/VTNs move to-and-fro within the
combined programme. In such steady state arrangements the two
deaneries and their Specialty Training Committees must agree and
define formally:
> the supervision, support and RITA process of all the trainees
involved;
> the distribution of NTN/VTN allocations across the region;
> the handling of disciplinary and indemnity issues when a trainee who
has problems while working in one region holds an NTN/VTN from
another;
> whether or to what extent removal expenses are payable.
3. Other Movements and Transfers
Trainees wishing to transfer because they would prefer training in
another region, not on the specific advice of the home Deanery or
Specialty Training Committee, or trainees wishing to move into a
different specialty or CCT programme, can only transfer by applying in
open competition for a place on a training programme in another
Deanery.
4. Flexible Training
This guidance applies equally to those in or seeking flexible
training, subject to the normal working practice in the receiving
Deanery with regard to flexible training numbers, organisation and
funding.
5. Trainees other than those in substantive SpR programmes
The regulations above apply to all specialist registrars in Type I
training, but only to them.
What you must do to request an Inter-Deanery Transfer
> Having read the guidance above, and if you believe that you do
wish to apply for an IDT, complete the relevant application form,
supplying full documentation (eg past RITA forms where held), an
up-to-date CV and full explanation where requested.
> If personal reasons are your grounds, you should be able to show
a change in your personal circumstances which accounts for the
request.
> If educational reasons are your grounds, the support of your
Programme Director/STC will be expected.
> Send your completed paperwork to:
Professor Davinder Sandhu
Postgraduate Dean
Severn Deanery
Frenchay Hospital
Frenchay Park Road
Bristol BS16 1LE
> Following submission of your application to your “home”
Postgraduate Dean, your paperwork will be processed and sent to the
“receiving” Postgraduate Dean. It may take several weeks before a
decision is given and a date for transfer may not be possible for
several months. You may be invited to a “getting to know you”
interview in the “receiving” Deanery, but this will not be
competitive.
> As the whole IDT process can take up to 6 months, it is wise to
apply as soon as possible, once it is clear that an IDT would be
appropriate.
> Please note that you will not be eligible for either Relocation
Expenses nor Pay Protection in your 'new' Deanery.
If you are wishing to move within Severn Deanery
Severn Deanery covers the geographical area of Avon,
Gloucestershire and parts of Wiltshire. Training programmes are based around either the Severn
Deanery (based in Bristol). If your circumstances are such that you are looking to
transfer from one Institute to another (but obviously still in the
same Deanery) then you will need to complete an Inter-Deanery
Transfer Form. This will still be on personal or educational grounds
and follow the same process as requesting an Inter Deanery Transfer.
The only difference is to ensure you complete the
appropriate Inter-Institute Form.
BMJ Article: for information
BMJ 'Career Focus' (article 27 January 2001)
'Geographical transfers in specialist registrar training'
written by two trainees, Carrie Newlands and Fiona McKinna, who were
successful in transferring.
This page was last updated
12/05/08
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