Job planning as a new consultant24 November 2006 Job planning as a new consultant Dr Mark Porter FRCA Consultant anaesthetist, University Hospital Deputy.

Job planning as a new consultant 24 November 2006

Job planning as a new consultant

Dr Mark Porter FRCA

Consultant anaesthetist, University Hospital

Deputy chairman, BMA consultants committee


Job planning as a new consultant

• Sources of advice• The consultant contract• Reading advertisements• Reading job descriptions• Reading contracts and job plans• When you start in a post• Reviewing your job plan

• Question time


A forty-minute seminar…

• Can’t cover everything

• Much advice in the public domain• Most of it is good advice

• You’d prepare for the final FRCA, wouldn’t you?


Sources of advice - AAGBI• The Association of

Anaesthetists published advice in June 2005

• Available for download at www.aagbi.org/

• Follow Publications Guidelines ‘Contract…’


Sources of advice - BMA• The British Medical

Association published advice in September 2004

• Available for download at www.bma.org.uk/

• Follow Consultants 2003 consultant contract Job planning

• Sample job plans are available

• Also read the ‘Consultant Handbook May 2005’


Sources of advice - CCIT

• The NHS published advice in January 2005

• Available for download at www.wise.nhs.uk/

• Follow Workforce themes Retaining and

developing staff Pay and Reward Implementing the

consultant contract Concise guide for

consultants


Documentation links

• Consultant job planning diary www.consultantscommittee.info

• Department of Health tinyurl.com/kyoml• NHS Employers tinyurl.com/g7u8r• NHS Modernisation Agency, ‘Effective job planning’

tinyurl.com/cazft• BMA guide to consultant job planning tinyurl.com/potue• Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards

tinyurl.com/kz5a3• Scottish Executive Health Department tinyurl.com/mutoh• Welsh Assembly tinyurl.com/lmsmt• DHSSPS Northern Ireland tinyurl.com/ny3yu


What is a contract?

• A contract of employment governs the relationship between the employee and the employer

• Agreed and binding rules for work and pay


Your contract of employment

• A consultant contract comprises:– The governing laws– A written contract – the statement of

particulars– Supporting Terms and Conditions of Service

as amended from time to time• JNC(S): CCSC and NHS Employers• NHS Staff Council

– A job plan and schedule of (weekly) commitments

– And a reality check: what you do and what you are given in return


New consultant contracts

• Introduced over a period from October 2003

• Separate territorial contracts• New consultants offered new contracts• Most other consultants in most hospitals

also now on new contracts– Usually with APAs

• This makes comparison much easier than during the transition period


Reading advertisements• Total one week: 13 posts, 9 adverts

– 3 in BMJ, 2 in Hospital Doctor, 4 in both

Number of PAs 3

Number of SPAs 1

Number of lists or commitments 0

On call frequency 4

On call banding 0

Local variants e.g. APA, SPA location

0

National salary and TCS 3

n=9


Reading job descriptions

• An actual proposed job plan (not the same thing)

• Number of programmed activities• Number of lists and commitments• On call recognition• Local variations e.g. APA, SPA location• Essential skills• Desirable skills


Reading contracts and job plans

• Try to obtain these when visiting or enquiring

• It is a leap of faith to sign up without them

• Key points– Time allocated to list

• preoperative + postoperative, all-day lists, 1.25 PAs per list?

– Balance of DCC to SPA (7.5:2.5)– Objectives– Location of SPA– Treatment of private practice and pay progression


Job plan – job content

• Job content – where and when– Direct clinical care

• Including predictable and unpredictable emergency work

• Including patient-related administration

– Supporting professional activities– Additional NHS responsibilities– External duties– Travel time

• Accountability for contracted time


Programmed ActivitiesDirect clinical careWork relating to prevention, Dx or Rx• Emergency work (including on-call)• Operating, ward rounds, clinics,

treatment sessions, MDM, public health, etc

• Admin. related to the above

Supporting PAsWork underpinning Clinical Care. • Training, education, teaching• CPD, Audit & Research• Job planning / Appraisal• Service Management• Local clinical governance

Typically 7.5 : 2.5 balance

(you should not accept less without careful consideration)

alsoAdditional NHS Responsibilities

Lead clinicianCollege tutoretc

External DutiesRoyal College / Spec. SocHMG / Trades Union etc


Rebalancing programmed activities

• Most consultants should “typically” average:

7.5 : 2.5Direct Clinical Care : Supporting activities

• If your balance is different, you may need to reassess your current activities

– If direct clinical care significantly exceeds 7.5 PAs this should be redressed or recognised during job planning

– If supporting activities exceed 2.5PA, for example due to heavy admin or teaching duties, then this should be accounted for in the job plan

• NOTE: for part-time consultants the ratio should normally be 2:1


Job plan: objectives and resources

• Availability supplement– rota and category

• Objectives and how they will be met– Personal objectives (appraisal)– Service objectives

• Supporting resources– Everything you need

• Additional NHS responsibilities• External duties


Job plan – other agreements

• Other comments and agreements– Category 2– Flexibility of location

• Additional programmed activities and private practice

• A dotted line


Essential advice before starting

• Make sure you get good advice

• Contact your trade union representative– askBMA 0870 60 60 828– [email protected]– BMA regional offices employ

advisors to check contracts• Check with the Local

Negotiating Committee• But you must do some of the

work yourself in order to get the best results

• Good luck and welcome to the world of work


Reviewing your job plan

• Prepare in first year (interim if necessary)• Diaries – start one, but beware the ‘newbie

effect’• Read the advice again

– AAGBI & BMA

• All work agreed to be done must be recognised in the job plan

• Collect data to make your case– Appraisal and personal development plan– SPA outputs – teaching & training, clinical

governance– Account for clinical workload


Putting your SPAs to good use

• There’s more time available than you think.• 2003 consultant contract – 5, 6 and 7 lists.• Perhaps 2 or 2.5 days free of significant

clinical commitment per week.

• Need for professional satisfaction.• Finding a unique role.

• Need to earn more money.


Clinical excellence awards

• A waiting list initiative is for Christmas, but a clinical excellence award is for life.

• One CEA from age 40 to age 80 is worth £92,625.

• Preparation starts on day 1.• Just like a tax return, only more lucrative.• ACCEA

– http://tinyurl.com/kz5a3


Any questions or points?

Job planning as a new consultant24 November 2006 Job planning as a new consultant Dr Mark Porter FRCA Consultant anaesthetist, University Hospital Deputy.

Documents

new consultant24

effective job planning

reading job descriptions

new contracts

new consultant contracts

job plan question time

actual proposed job

comny3yu slide