SuppoRTT and Flexible Working Champion
Closing date: 02 August 2026

Job summary
The post holder will act as the local SuppoRTT champion to support returning to training for all NHSE Resident Doctors/Dentists, Locally Employed Doctors (LED) and Staff and Associate Specialist Doctors/Dentists (SAS) within Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. They will also work with Medical Staffing and the Health Rota team to facilitate safe manageable return to work rotas.

The post holder will work with NHSE South-West to facilitate quality management of supported return to training, with the aim of providing a high quality, equitable and caring approach for doctors returning to training.

The post holder will work as a local Flexible Working champion to advocate for, improve support for and advise Doctors/Dentists, LED/SAS Workforce in Postgraduate training who work, or wish to work and train either less than full time (LTFT) or under other flexible arrangements, alongside the existing supervisory and pastoral structures that provide support to individual trainees.

Main duties of the job
SuppoRTT
Identify the relevant cohort of future/current RTT Resident Doctors/Dentists, LED/SAS within the organization, planning a break from work/clinical practice for more than 3 months. It can also include any Doctor/Dentists who has recently returned to training having been away from their relevant area of clinical practice for >=3 months. Liaise with the available local structures and support elements including the Resident Doctor/Dentists, LED, SAS Educational Supervisor, College/Specialty Tutor and training team.Contribute and participate in all Trust 10-Point Plan Discussions, supporting our Medical Workforce. The post holder will maintain a database describing their SuppoRTT Cohort with PGME administrative support alongside the SuppoRTT administrative staff.

Flexible working
In accordance with NHS Employer guidance and local trust policies and procedures:
The post holder will advocate and signpost Resident Doctors/Dentists, LED, SAS and provide an independent voice for LTFT and flexible training Resident Doctors/Dentists, LED, SAS for those who are, or wish to, work and train more flexibly. The post holder will work to improve Trust Culture and cultivate a supportive culture regarding work-life balance and flexible working arrangement and help ensure the Trust consistently applies National Terms/Conditions and Contract Rules regarding flexible training.

About us
Introduction to Department and Division
The department of Post-Graduate Medical Education is committed to supporting the education and development of Doctors/Dentists in Training, Staff Grade and Associate Specialists (SAS) as well as Consultants within their remit of supporting Resident Doctors throughout their career.

We strive to ensure all Medical Staff in Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have a high-quality induction to the Trust and department, experience good educational and clinical supervision which facilitates their learning in a safe environment.

We support and organise a wide range of clinical and educational skill development courses from Training the Trainers and Professional and Generic Skills to Simulation Training, Medical Grand Rounds and much more besides.

The departmental culture is open, friendly and supportive of all Doctors/Dentists and we are happy to address any queries regarding education and training. The PGME Team includes a role of PGME Workforce lead with responsibility to support Resident Doctors and Educational and Clinical Supervisors. The post holder will work closely with PGME Colleagues including the Workforce lead.

Job responsibilities
SuppoRTT Champion

• To provide an over-arching strategy within your organisation in order to facilitate high quality, safe and supported return to training (SRTT) for those Resident Doctors/Dentists, LED and SAS Doctors/Dentists, away from their relevant area of clinical practice for 3 months or more. This to be linked to NHSE-SW strategy for SuppoRTT.
• Liaise with NHSE SuppoRTT administration for queries, identification of future placements, quality management and evaluation of the service.
• To communicate to Resident Doctors/Dentists, LED and SAS Doctors/Dentists, the Supported Return to Work (SRTT) framework, encouraging pre- and post-interviews, Keep In Touch (KIT) days and an agreed, bespoke plan on their return to work.
• To liaise with the Resident Doctors/Dentists, LED and SAS Educational and named Clinical Supervisors and the employer i.e. Rota Co-Ordinator in order to facilitate good SRTT practice, as per Academy of Medical Royal College (AoMRC) guidance.
• To facilitate good communication between the Resident/LED/SAS Doctor, educational supervisor and Clinical Services, in order to facilitate SRTT. Each situation will vary but may include - liaison with a rota coordinator, clinical manager, Human Resources and, in some cases, Occupational Health. There may be a requirement for a bespoke induction, including a period of observed practice, simulation training, phased return, or doubling up/mentorship for initial out-of-hours duties. In particular, careful consideration should be given concerning colleague confidence and waning competencies. The impact of a return to work will depend both on the reason for time away and duration of the break from training. This should be taken into account when developing the bespoke SRTT plan.
• Although predominantly a leadership role, the post holder will be willing to take a hands-on approach to facilitate SRTT when needed, such as meeting up with a trainee, referral to Occupational Health or obtaining assistance from NHSE SW Professional Support.
• To work with NHSE, in order to support Quality Management, including evaluation of SRTT, with the intention of facilitating quality and equity of provision for all RTT trainees within GHNHSFT.
• To manage a local, NHSE-designed database of RTT trainees, LED and SAS shared with the NHSE SRTT hub.

Flexible Working Champion

• First point of contact: Act as a confidential Sounding-Board to advise Resident Doctors/Dentists, SAS and LED Colleagues who are considering or currently working LTFT or other flexible working and/or training arrangements.
• Problem resolution - Assist with individual disputes or anxieties regarding work schedules, localised rota planning, pay, and on-call allocations
• Education and Reporting Assist educational supervisors and rota coordinators/ Health Roster team by providing information or training regarding localised flexible working policy issues.
• Advise and / or signpost the Resident Doctors/Dentists, LED and SAS Medical Colleagues to ensure the delivery of Medical Education and Training for Flexible Training, meets the standards of Regulatory Bodies.

Key Result Areas
SuppoRTT

• Maintain and develop an SRTT framework and /network with efficient transfer of information when Resident Doctors/Dentists, LED and SAS move organisation on return to training.
• Maintain an active, inclusive database capturing all relevant trainees and demonstrating a facilitated local SuppoRRT process.
• Produce annual report for your organisation and NHSE-SW.
• Review of quality indicators including GMC and NHSE SW surveys and quality panels.

Flexible Working

• Monitoring and reporting assist in regular reviews of the availability, quality and structural support of flexible training opportunities within the Trust
• Stakeholder collaboration Work closely with the Director of Medical Education (DME), Guardian of Safe Working, PGME Workforce Lead and the Residents Doctors Forum to ensure a consistent approach to training flexibly is adopted across the Trust.
• Strategic oversight - Maintain a comprehensive overview of all LTFT or flexible working Resident Doctors/Dentists/LED and SAS Medical Colleagues within the trust, across all specialties and grades.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• GMC Full Registration
• Consultant or SAS doctor with a minimum of 5PA Clinical Contract within the organisation

Desirable

• PGMC Qualification
• 3 years' experience as a Consultant or SAS Doctor

Knowledge & Skills
Essential

• Wide experience in Medical Education e.g. Training and Educational supervision of Resident Doctors/Dentists, Medical Students and further Healthcare Professionals
• Thorough understanding of National Medical Training Structures, Trust Pastoral Framework & Junior Doctors' Contracts

Desirable

• Additional PGME experience such as a Leadership role within Medical Education

Aptitude and Abilities- Management
Essential

• Evidence of Educational &/or Service Development and Management of Change
• Ability to manage risk
• Ability to cope with change
• An understanding of management structure in Medical Education (Undergraduate, NHSE, AoMRC, GMC)
• Evidence of Good Organisational and Leadership Skills
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills to effectively challenge rigid Rota Practices

Desirable

• Able to manage and lead change internally and within multi-agency setting

Disposition / Attitude/ Motivation
Essential

• Proven ability to build, lead and maintain effective teams.
• Positive attitude to a multidisciplinary approach
• Excellent oral, aural and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to deal with difficult situations
• Evidence of Supporting Resident Doctors/Dentists/LED/SAS/Supervisors

Other Factors
Essential

• Evidence of Personal Development

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.