How Does It Work?
1. Pre-absence planning meeting
Where possible, for planned leave, meet with your supervisor and use the Pre-Absence fact sheet. This will help with planning support on your return. Use the fact sheet as a checklist and upload a supplementary supervisor meeting to your portfolio. Most portfolios have a specialty-specific SuppoRTT meeting form. If this is not available, simply use the checklist and create a generic supervisor meeting summary.
2. Pre-return planning meeting
6-12 weeks before coming back, meet with your supervisor (virtually or in person) and use the Pre-Return fact sheet. This is a chance to discuss and get help organising any pre-return activities, as well as making sure your rota co-ordinator is aware of your period of enhanced supervision. Use the fact sheet as a checklist and upload a supplementary supervisor meeting to your portfolio. Most portfolios have a specialty-specific SuppoRTT meeting form. If this is not available, simply use the checklist and create a generic supervisor meeting summary.
Not sure who your supervisor is? Email your SuppoRTT champion.
3. Pre-return activities
4. Return to work - period of enhanced supervision
This period should last two weeks (or LTFT equivalent - ten working days), but can be extended on discussion with your supervisor. The default is for trainees to work their normal daytime rostered hours for these weeks, without any out-of-hours work. If you choose to work an evening, night or weekend shift during their period of enhanced supervision, your hours should not exceed your standard working hours and you should be working in a shadowing capacity only.
5. Post-return review meeting
At this meeting with your supervisor and use the Post-Return fact sheet. If there are any outstanding issues or more support is required, this can be agreed at this meeting. Use the fact sheet as a checklist and upload a supplementary supervisor meeting to your portfolio. Most portfolios have a specialty-specific SuppoRTT meeting form. If this is not available, simply use the checklist and create a generic supervisor meeting summary.
A copy of the regional Supported Return to Training Guidance document can be viewed here. The national team have produced a national infographic.
If you missed being added to the SuppoRTT Database
If you think that you're eligible for SuppoRTT and haven't completed a form, please complete our SuppoRTT Application form for the South West SuppoRTT database. This will facilitate a supported return to work, both locally and provide regional and national information and useful links. Sorry if you haven't been invited yet. Just complete the form and you'll be added henceforth.
Planning Your Return Checklist