'Acting-Up’ into a consultant post can only be undertaken by trainees in the final year of their training programmes and completed before the award of their CCT. The maximum period of ‘Acting Up’ is three months (pro rata for LTFT trainees) and normally only one period of ‘Acting-Up’ will be given approval.*
The term “Acting Up” should be applied and not locum. Trainees undertaking ‘Acting Up’ roles must have a named educational supervisor for the duration of the ‘Acting Up’ period. The ‘Acting Up’ post must be within the United Kingdom.
Trainees benefit from Acting Up in Consultant posts. The post should be a vacant funded consultant post which offers the trainee genuine consultant level experience while still retaining supervision.
Trainees must have the support of their Programme Director (TPD), the unit where their training post is based at the time of the acting up, and the unit in which they would be acting up, including identifying a named supervisor. Trainees will retain their NTN whilst undertaking the ‘Acting Up’ post.
Information required for Acting Up requests – please include
Timelines for Acting Up requests
To ensure that arrangements can be put in place to support your Acting Up placement and to support the trainees in the programme, the Lead Dean/ Directors and Directors of Medical Education have agreed that:
If the Acting Up post is within the same Health Board, the Acting Up request must be received by the Lead Dean/Director at least 2 weeks before the start date.
If the Acting Up post is within a different Health Board, the Acting Up request must be received by the Lead Dean/Director at least 4 weeks before the start date.
*COVID agree derogations may result in amendments to the timeframes
Clarification of difference between acting-as and acting-up
|
Acting-as |
Acting-up |
Fully immersive and doing everything a consultant would do– and stepping into a vacant consultant post |
no |
yes |
Has named clinical supervisor |
yes |
yes |
Needs OOPT approval |
no |
yes |
Expected duties if has demonstrated the requisite competence |
Can be ‘entrusted’ to take on individual components of a consultant role eg leading a clinic or leading a ward round or leading a post-receiving ward round, etc. Over a period, a variety of activities might be undertaken, but not assuming all of the roles of a consultant all of the time on a continuing basis. |
100% of the roles and responsibilities of a consultant, all of the time (essentially what would be done as a locum other than that there must be a named clinical supervisor for the trainee in this role) |
Which rota is trainee on |
Trainee rota |
Consultant rota |
This page was last updated on: 14.05.2024 at 14.26