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?

Documents

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