See Operational Framework paragraphs 75-82, p.26-27

Guidelines for taking time out of Foundation Programmes (TOFP)

Doctors who want to take time out of their Foundation Programme should first discuss this with their educational supervisor. Although they will be expected to complete their Foundation Programme within two years, they should not have to do so if they have good reasons for wanting to take time out.

The duration of time out of a two-year Foundation Programme will usually be 12 months. Time out during F1 or F2 placements will only be considered in exceptional (usually unplanned) circumstances.

Foundation doctors may ask to take time out of their two-year Foundation Programme, usually after F1, for a number of reasons, including:

• Wanting to work somewhere else
• Wanting to travel
• Domestic reasons (for example, childcare commitments)
• Health reasons, or
• Personal reasons (for example, pregnancy)

Foundation doctors who take time out of the Foundation Programme will still be entitled to their legal employment rights such as maternity leave and sick leave.

Section G If, after discussion, a doctor decides to go ahead with their request to take time out, they should fill in a TOFP request form and send it to the foundation school director. The request will be reviewed in line with the foundation school’s procedures. The foundation school director will need to receive such requests by the end of the sixth month of the F1 year unless there are particular reasons why this is not possible, for example health reasons.

If the school director agrees to one year out of the Foundation Programme, the foundation doctor will be able to return to their foundation school at the end of that year.

If a foundation doctor’s request for time out has been agreed, but their plans change, the foundation school will try to arrange an appropriate training opportunity for the doctor at short notice but the school cannot guarantee to do so.

Foundation doctors must tell their foundation school director six months before the start date of their F2 year that they plan to return to the programme. If they do not do this, the foundation doctor will not have an F2 training opportunity within the school on their return, which would mean they would need to apply for an F2 appointment along with everyone else.

The STFS ToFP application process is available to download below.