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Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs) on Parental Leave
The birth or adoption of a child is one of the most important events in the lives of many postgraduate doctors and dentists in training. NHS England Yorkshire and the Humber therefore wish to support postgraduate doctors and dentists in training during this time.
The management of the processes around your rights and entitlement to maternity, paternity and adoption leave rests with your employer and not with NHS England. However, SuppoRTT offer a range of resources that can support you with your return to training following a period of parental leave.
KIT and SPLIT Days
Please note that the following information is provided for guidance, you should refer to the processes for your Lead Employer when applying for KIT and SPLIT days.
Keeping in touch (KIT) days are designated for those on maternity and adoption leave. Shared parental leave in touch (SPLIT) days are designated for those who are on shared parental leave.
For information relating to the difference between KIT and SPLIT days and how they can be used, please see our KIT and SPLIT day guidance.
Less Than Full Time Training
When you return from a period of parental leave, you may need to request a change to contracted working hours so that you can balance your caring responsibilities. You can request to reduce your full-time equivalency through the Less Than Full Time Training application process and procedure. We strongly recommend that you read the guidance in full and discuss any application with your educational supervisor / training programme director as part of your Initial Return meeting, which is part of the SuppoRTT process.
Essential Skills for Medic Mums
As part of the SuppoRTT programme, we have procured a training course designed to introduce Mums to tools that can help prevent overwhelm and burnout, find balance in the transition to motherhood and enhance your confidence. Further information about this course and dates of when it is next running can be found on our courses and events page.
The course facilitiators are also in the process of developing an iteration of this course with specific tools to support new fathers, which we hope to offer in the future.
Additional Resources
As part of your preparations for returning to work, you may find the following resources helpful:
- BMA: Returning to Work and Your Rights as a Working Parent
- BMA: Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave
- GOV.UK: Guidance in Maternity, Paternity and Shared Parental Leave
- HSE: Pregnant Workers and Expectant Mothers - Your Health and Safety
You may also find the online Parental Leave module created by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh useful, which has content relevant to postgraduate doctors and dentists in training from all specialties.
Your trust may also have specific policies that are applicable to you, for example, a local breastfeeding policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The below FAQs specifically refer to questions you may have about parental leave. Additional SuppoRTT FAQs can be found on our generic FAQs page.
What should I discuss in my Initial Return meeting when I am on maternity leave?
A discussion will be personal to you, your reason for leave and the learning needs that you have as well as your own personal preferences. Your SuppoRTT Champion may be available to advise and advocate for you. The SuppoRTT peer mentors are also available if you wish to talk things through. If you are returning from parental leave this could include the following:
- KIT or SPLIT days
- Are there any courses on the SuppoRTT course catalogue that you want to do? Are there any specialty specific courses or workshops?
- You are entitled to 3 supernumerary days in addition to induction – how could you use these to best address your learning needs?
- Do you need and will your Trust facilitate a period off on the call rota/nights – to facilitate Breastfeeding?
What should I do if I’m worried about going back to work after maternity leave?
It is normal and completely understandable to feel this way. Being on parental leave can feel isolating if you don’t have other doctors or health professionals to talk to about your experiences. SuppoRTT offer Peer Mentoring and Coffee & Catch Up sessions where Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs) can share their experiences on a 1:1 or small group setting. You can see details of the peer mentoring scheme here, or access our coffee and catch up sessions here.
What if I’m not sure if I’m ready to return to training and want to extend my Maternity leave beyond a year?
You should talk to your employer and TPD as soon as possible if you are planning to extend your parental leave. As parental leave is a statutory employment issue, your employer will provide advice on your options. Your TPD will also be able to clarify how additional time out of training may change your overall training timeline.
What should I do if I’m thinking about going LTFT?
If you are thinking about training LTFT then you need to speak to your TPD to discuss this. This discussion should take place as early as possible as it can take up to four months for the LTFT application to be reviewed. Please do not wait until your Initial Return Meeting. This is often discussed at our Coffee and Catch-Up Sessions where Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs) have discussed what percentage they have chosen and discuss the pros and cons in terms of extended training time, finances and work-life balance.