FAQ

How are Imperial IAT ACF and CL posts recruited?

 

Applications for both ACF and CL posts are submitted through the national Oriel recruitment system.

Recruitment to ACF posts continues to be coordinated through the NHS England academic recruitment process.

In contrast, London Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including Imperial University, now hold direct responsibility for the local administration of the application and interview process for CL posts. Recruitment remains supported by NHS England and managed through Oriel.

Whilst Imperial College London is responsible for the academic aspects of recruitment and training, NHS partner organisations / Trusts remain responsible for the clinical training and employment components of the posts.

Useful Links:

 

How do I best structure my research blocks?

As soon as they have been appointed, ACFs and CLs (medical) should make contact with the Clinical Lead/Training Programme Director and Academic Training Lead for their specialty to discuss and agree how the research block will be organised. For ACFs, research blocks are usually organised in 3 month or 3+3 month back to back concurrent periods, but this will depend on the specialty.

 

For CLs, the structure of research blocks can be variable but many are organised in 6-month or one-year blocks. Each specialty/division will have a slightly different model and approach, depending upon local circumstances, and the research time must be planned in full agreement between Clinical and Academic Leads. 

Planning for this should start as soon as the ACF/CL appointment has been confirmed.

What is study leave and how do I apply for it?

Study leave funding allows clinical academic medical trainees to enhance their clinical education and training in areas not easily acquired in the clinical setting or locally  - and is used to support the development of clinical knowledge and understanding. This funding is available to clinical academic trainees (ACFs and CLs) over and above the bursaries and funding provided specifically to support academic training, in the same way for non-academic clinical trainees. Please note: trainees in OOPRs and OOPEs are not entitled to the NHSE study leave funding. Trainees in an OOPT are entitled to full NHSE study leave funding. Any application submitted by the trainee entitled to NHSE funding requires a pre-approved NHSE course code which can be obtained from the  NHSE PGME support portal.

ACFs and CLs must be in a recognised NHSE / IAT training post to be eligible for study leave. Study leave applications are managed by the relevant NHS Trust Medical Education Centre.

 

For Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHT) based ACFs and CLs

To undertake study leave, you first need to obtain permission locally within your department following their outlined processes and then submit an MS Form. Further details about the process can be found on the ICHT / Trust Intranet (accessible after you join the trust), or by contacting the relevant ICHT Postgraduate Education Centre Team by email, see below:

Once study leave applications have been approved, trainees will be reimbursed for the study leave costs via payroll.

  • ACFs  will be reimbursed directly via the Trust payroll
  • For CLs employed by Imperial College London, obtaining study leave involves two steps. Initially, they must apply via the Trust's process. Once approved by the ICHT / Trust Medical Education Centres, CLs must follow the College process for expense reimbursement through “My Expenses”. To claim reimbursement, CLs should upload a screenshot or copy of the approval confirmation in the My Expenses system, demonstrating Trust-level approval. Activity code H34001 (Health Education England/NHSE) along with their relevant College departmental cost centre should be used when submitting the claim. Initially, study leave costs are charged to a College departmental cost centre and approved by a departmental approver. Subsequently, these costs are recharged back to NHSE by the Central Faculty of Medicine Finance Team.

For more details on study leave, please go to NHSE PGMDE support portal here.

 

Who do I contact about my Imperial College and Healthcare NHS Trust contracts?

For medical trainees undertaking the Integrated Clinical Academic Training Pathway, the following applies: ACFs will have a contract with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and an honorary contract with Imperial College London, CLs will have a contract with Imperial College London and an honorary contract with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Honorary contracts normally run concurrently with the substantive contract and are issued to allow trainees to work at the organisation where they do not have a substantive contract. For queries about contracts please contact the following:

  • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

- Human Resources Department, Medical Personnel Veronica Williams veronica.williams6@nhs.net and Jasmine Haron jasmine.haron1@nhs.net

- ICHT Honorary Contracts imperial.honorarycontracts@nhs.net 

  • Imperial College London

 - Honorary and Visiting Researcher Associations / People Function Division honoraryassociations@imperial.ac.uk 

 - For CLs: Faculty of Medicine People Partner, Christina Emmanuel  c.emmanuel@imperial.ac.uk  

Will I be on-call during my academic block?

For medical trainees undertaking the Integrated Clinical Academic Training Pathway, academic blocks will not usually include on-call commitments, so trainees will only be paid at the basic salary rate for the duration of their academic time. This may, however, vary by clinical specialty and trainees should talk to their Clinical Training Programme Director or department training lead. ACFs/CLs may wish to supplement their salaries during academic training by arranging to undertake ad hoc shifts that fit easily around their academic blocks.

This should not detract from their academic work and should be limited.

How do I make an Out of Programme request (OOP)?

For medical trainees undertaking the Integrated Clinical Academic Training Pathway, formal requests to go 'Out of Programme' must be made to NHS England and the NIHR. Details and advice on OOP are available on the PGMDE Support Portal 

  • Trainees are advised to discuss their OOP requests with their supervisors and clinical academic leads before submitting a formal application
  • Trainees need to consider and submit OOP requests to NHSE well in advance of requiring time out
  • Please note that when an OOP request is granted by NHSE, this does not mean that the NIHR will automatically grant trainees the ability to return to their academic post
  • OOP can be granted for up to four years to academic trainees
  • OOP requests are subject to the approval of the Postgraduate Dean and NIHR and will, therefore, be handled centrally by NHSE and not the Imperial CATO office.
I am a CRTF can I apply for my funding and bursary allocation if I am undertaking my PhD?

Only medical trainees undertaking the Integrated clinical academic training pathway are eligible to apply for the NIHR bursary, BRC funding and the Research training award. 

If trainees are Out of Programme, studying a PhD, and were formerly an ACF at Imperial College London, they are not permitted to make a funding application.

How do we sign up for MSc Genomics modules?

CATO encourages academic trainees to develop genomics knowledge, but this is not mandated. NHS England offers a range of free online genomics training resources. Trainees are encouraged to explore the Genomics Education Programme website to identify courses and learning opportunities that best suit their training needs.

If you are considering self-funding modules from the Imperial MSc in Genomic Medicine, you should contact the course team directly for information on module availability, fees, and enrolment.

Funding tip: ACFs may also apply to CATO's Research Training Programme Award (RTPA) bursary to support eligible training and development opportunities, subject to the scheme's terms and available funding.

• Health Education England (HEE): Genomics Education–resources & taught courses: https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/education/

• Imperial College London: Genomic Medicine. MSc/PG Cert/PG Dip:  https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/medicine/genomic-medicine/

• Imperial CATO/ bursary funding: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/study/clinical-academic-training-office/resident-doctors/support-for-doctors/funding/ 

CL CCT Extension Process for NIHR Funded and Locally-funded NIHR-recognised CL posts

What is the purpose of the CCT extension process?

NIHR CL posts can now be extended beyond the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)/Specialist Training (CCST) to support academic development and the transition to research independence.

Upon reaching CCT, NIHR-funded CLs will have completed clinical training. Extensions beyond CCT allow CLs to gain additional academic skills and competencies necessary for research independence. These extensions are not consultant posts and will not be funded by NIHR as such. Obtaining a consultant post or a post-doctoral fellowship will end the NIHR CL role. Salary during the extension will be covered by NIHR at an enhanced rate compared to pre-CCT levels.

Locally-funded NIHR-recognised posts follow the same process but do not require submission to NIHR.

Note: Extensions are not automatic and are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Extension duration

  • A CL extension is for a maximum of 24 months beyond CCT, or until the 4 year funding maximum is reached. For example, a CL who uses 3.5 years of the funding to reach CCT can request up to a 6 month extension.
  • Except in exceptional circumstances, post-CCT/CCST CLs must reduce their clinical commitments to 2 clinical sessions per week, which should be sufficient to maintain clinical skills and remain appointable as a NHS consultant. Those employed in the craft specialties may undertake up to 4 clinical sessions per week, with the extension request accompanied by an explanation for this requirement.

Eligibility

  • The option to apply for an extension post-CCT is open to CLs in specialty training provided they are within the 4 year’s funding for the award.
  • If the trainee does not reach CCT by the end of the 4 year CL post period, then no extensions will be considered by the NIHR.
  • Applications for extension must be made to NIHR at least 9 months prior to CCT.
  • A trainee that wishes to apply for an extension must have more than 12 months remaining of their training at the time of appointment to the NIHR CL post.
  • Trainees with less than 12 months to CCT will be considered ineligible.
  • GP CLs are ineligible for a post-CCT extension, as they have already gained CCT and are fully qualified.

What documents are required for the CCT extension application?

  1. CL Personal Statement
    • A 1–2-page plan detailing:
      • NTN, CL Post Dates, and CCT Date: Clearly mention your NTN (National Training Number), the date you commenced your CL post, and your expected CCT date.
      • Academic/Research Plans: Outline your plans for the next 1–2 years, emphasising academic goals.
      • Achievements: Highlight achievements during your CL post.
      • Time Allocation: Explicitly state that your CL time has been split 50% clinically and 50% academically. Indicate that the post-CCT extension will involve 80%+ research and 20% clinical work, detailing clinical responsibilities (e.g., one clinic per week, on-call rota).
      • Fellowship Applications: Mention the fellowships or clinician scientist awards you plan to apply for and approximate timelines.
  2. Academic Supervisor Statement
    • Request a brief supportive letter from your academic supervisor or Head of Department addressed to NIHR and the Imperial IAT Lead/CATO Director.
    • The letter should:
      • Endorse your progress and plans.
      • Explain how the extension will further your academic career.
      • Confirm that the extension positions you well for future fellowships or senior academic roles.
  3. Clinical TPD and HoS Support
    • Request a formal letter or email from your Clinical Training Programme Director (TPD) and Head of School to CATO Directors. The email should:
      • Confirm your CCT date.
      • State that there are no concerns about your training and that you are on track for CCT.

Document Submission 

Send all the required documents to the CATO Directors, email: cato@imperial.ac.uk. A covering letter expressing full support from Imperial College and CATO, confirm ongoing financial bursary support, obtain approval from the NHSE Academic Team and Associate Academic Dean, and then forward the documentation to NIHR and NHSE.

 Who can I contact for further information or clarification?

For queries, contact Dr Karen Joash (CATO Director) and Dr Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya (Deputy CATO Director) at cato@imperial.ac.uk or reach out to your Clinical TPD or Academic Supervisor for guidance.

Further information NIHR Website: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/extension-process-clinical-lectureship-posts

What are my maternity, paternity, or parental leave entitlements as IAT ACFs and CLs?

ACFs

As an ACF, your maternity, paternity, adoption, and parental leave entitlements are governed by the terms and conditions of your NHS employment contract. You have the right to return to your NIHR ACF post following approved leave, in accordance with NHS employment policies.

If you are planning a period of leave, you should discuss this as early as possible with your Academic Supervisor, Training Programme Director, employing Trust, and the CATO team. This will help ensure appropriate planning of your academic training and any impact on programme timelines.

Further guidance: NHS England provides detailed information on parental leave, out-of-programme arrangements, and training progression through the PGMDE Support Portal. Trainees are encouraged to review the relevant guidance and seek advice from their training programme where required.

CLs

For CLs, maternity/paternity leave is governed by the terms and conditions of service associated with your employment contract. You have the right to return to the NIHR CL post on the same terms and conditions after ordinary or supplemental maternity/paternity leave. You should be aware, however, that as your substantive employer will now be a University your previous service in the NHS will not normally count towards your entitlement to maternity/paternity leave and pay.

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ICHT - CLs and Maternity Leave

If you are currently an IAT CL on an Imperial College London substantive contract with an honorary contract at ICHT (‘License to attend’) and will soon be going on maternity leave – how does this impact your NHS terms and conditions?

This should not make a difference to your maternity pay entitlements as Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust considers ICL employment as continuous service for maternity leave. Also, maternity pay payments should be calculated based on total salary (including any banding payments you may currently be receiving).

For ICHT IAT Trainees

Since everyone’s circumstances will be slightly different, specific questions about parental/family leave should be directed to the

Please check the following useful information:

What is Academic Flexible Pay Premium (AFPP)?

What is Academic Flexible Pay Premium (AFPP)?

  • AFPP pays a ~£5000 (£10,000 from 2027) annual supplement to any doctor acquiring a PhD beyond foundation years, from time of completing PhD until they reach CCT, while in formal training (NTN) posts.
  • This is paid by the employer (NHS Trust or University)
  • As stated, only if you are in a training post, and only until CCT, and only if PhD acquired after foundation years.
  • People who undertook an MB-PhD are not eligible
  • Note: the BMA medical academic staff committee is always very helpful in this regard (if you are a BMA member, get in touch: https://www.bma.org.uk/)

Some caveats:

  • Only payable if on new junior doctors contract
  • The point of the APP is to replace the automatic pay increments that the old contract gave and get rid of the disincentive to take time OOP for research.
  • Lecturers (or others) still on the old junior doctors contract will have received those increments and therefore will NOT be eligible for the AFPP. (They will undoubtedly be better off to stay where they are). 
Current ACF about to commence my academic research block – who will pay my salary?

ACFs remain employed by NHS Trusts throughout the ACF programme. Trainees remain employees of NHS Trust whilst working in an academic block but also receive honorary contracts with relevant academic institution. The most recent Trust that they are at will fund their salary, i.e. ACFs salaries are funded though ongoing contracts with the Trust they left before their academic block. Trust employers will receive funding for the ACF salary through the quarterly Learning and Development Agreement (LDA) process.

Q: Who funds the NIHR (Integrated Academic Training) IAT ACF posts?

A: NIHR funded ACF posts are 100% funded (not including on-calls or banding) for 3 years. The rotating trust for clinical training is the employing body and an honorary contract is set up with the medical school.  Details of all ACF appointments, recruited on our behalf by HEE, are sent to the relevant trust HR Teams via the HEE trust portal once they have been finalised. 

All ACF trainees in post will have their salaries funded at 100% for the duration of the academic award - whether working in the clinical or academic component of their academic programme. 

Trust employers will receive funding through the quarterly Learning and Development Agreement (LDA) process. If you have any queries about the funding process, please contact  england.nihr.finance@nhs.net 

 

Do I need to complete clinical competencies and workplace-based assessments during my academic time?

 

No. During your protected academic time, you are not normally expected to complete workplace-based assessments related to clinical competencies.

However, you must continue to demonstrate satisfactory clinical progression during the clinical component of your training. Clinical assessments should therefore be completed proportionately to the amount of clinical time undertaken within the training year. For example, if an ACF undertakes a 9-month academic block (75% of the year), they would generally be expected to complete approximately 25% of the usual annual workplace-based assessment requirements.

As ACF, your training remains an integrated programme comprising 75% clinical training and 25% academic training.

You will also participate in an Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP), which considers both your clinical and academic progress. The ARCP outcome reflects performance across both elements of training and is typically reviewed jointly by clinical and academic representatives.

Further information:

 

Why do I need to register with Researchfish and how important are publications during my ACF?

 

Researchfish is the reporting system used by the NIHR to capture the outputs, outcomes and impact arising from NIHR-funded awards. As NIHR award holder, you are required to maintain a Researchfish profile and report activities such as publications, presentations, grants and other research achievements.

Publications are an important indicator of academic progress, but they are not the sole measure of success during an ACF. The primary aim of an ACF is to develop academic skills and prepare a competitive PhD or doctoral fellowship application. Research outputs, presentations, collaborations, grant applications and evidence of research development are all valuable achievements.

We encourage ACFs to focus on building a strong academic portfolio rather than solely on publication numbers. Developing research skills, generating preliminary data, establishing collaborations, presenting at conferences and preparing competitive fellowship applications are all important outcomes of the ACF programme.

How does the ARCP process work for ACFs and CLs?

 

All ACFs and CLs are required to undergo an annual Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP). The ARCP assesses whether you are progressing satisfactorily in your training and confirms that you are meeting the requirements for safe clinical practice and progression through your programme.

For academic trainees, the ARCP is a joint clinical and academic review. The panel must consider evidence of both your clinical and academic progress, and should include at least one academic representative.

Before the ARCP, you will normally undergo an annual academic review with your academic supervisor. This should take place at least one month before the ARCP and is used to assess progress against your academic objectives and training plan. An academic progress report is then submitted as part of the ARCP evidence.

Evidence considered at the ARCP may include:

  • Clinical supervisor reports and workplace-based assessments.
  • Academic supervisor reports.
  • Progress against your academic objectives or development plan.
  • Publications, presentations, grants, teaching, research activities and other academic achievements.
  • Reflection on progress and any factors affecting training.

A single ARCP outcome is issued, taking account of both clinical and academic progression. Trainees are expected to demonstrate satisfactory progress in both elements of their programme.

 

PGMDE Support Portal: ARCP Useful Links

= Annual Review of Competency Progression  https://lasepgmdesupport.hee.nhs.uk/support/solutions/articles/7000049629-annual-review-of-competency-progression 

= ARCP Outcome                                                                         https://lasepgmdesupport.hee.nhs.uk/support/solutions/articles/7000019047-what-does-each-arcp-outcome-mean-

 

 

What should I do when my ACF comes to an end?

 

The primary purpose of an Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) is to provide protected academic time to develop research skills and prepare a competitive application for a PhD or doctoral research fellowship. NIHR describes success in an ACF as developing the academic foundations needed to progress to the next stage of a clinical academic career.

As your ACF approaches its end, you should:

  • Discuss your future academic and clinical plans with your academic and clinical supervisors.
  • Explore doctoral fellowship opportunities and application deadlines.
  • Ensure your research outputs, presentations, publications, teaching activities and grant applications are documented and up to date.
  • Complete any required academic reviews, ARCP requirements and outcome reporting.
  • Liaise with your Training Programme Director and local postgraduate team regarding next steps in your clinical training if you are not immediately undertaking a PhD.

Useful resources:

Towards the end of your ACF, you should have a clear plan for your next career stage. Whilst many trainees progress directly to a PhD fellowship, others return to full-time clinical training before pursuing further academic opportunities. We strongly encourage ACFs to discuss fellowship readiness, funding opportunities and long-term career aspirations with their supervisors well in advance of their ACF end date.

Keeping in touch with Imperial CATO

Following completion of your ACF, you will also be invited to provide feedback on your training experience. Your feedback helps Imperial College London, NHS England and our NHS partners continually improve the ACF programme for future trainees.

 

 

How should I prepare for a PhD application during my ACF?

 

An Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) is designed to help you develop the skills, experience and academic portfolio needed to secure a PhD or doctoral fellowship.

During your ACF, you should:

  • Identify potential supervisors and research projects early.
  • Develop a clear research question and gather preliminary data where possible.
  • Build your academic portfolio through presentations, publications, teaching and research activities.
  • Discuss fellowship opportunities and timelines with your academic supervisor.
  • Use your annual academic review and ARCP to monitor progress towards fellowship readiness.

Start planning early. A strong PhD application relies not only on publications, but also on a well-developed project, supportive supervisory team, evidence of academic commitment, and a clear plan for your future clinical academic career.

Useful Imperial Links:

 

 

 

I am currently an ACF, what if I decide that a clinical academic career is not for me?

 

That is entirely acceptable. While the aim of an Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) is to support doctors who are considering a clinical academic career, completing an ACF does not commit you to pursuing academic medicine long-term. The skills gained through an ACF, including research methodology, critical appraisal, teaching, leadership and project management, are valuable in both academic and purely clinical careers.

If you decide that a clinical academic career is not the right path for you, you should discuss your plans with your academic supervisor and Training Programme Director. In most cases, you will simply continue your specialty training through the standard clinical training pathway.

 

We encourage trainees who are uncertain about their future academic plans to speak with their academic supervisor and one of the Imperial CATO Directors at an early stage. They can provide impartial advice on the range of options available, whether that involves pursuing a PhD, remaining engaged with research in a limited capacity, or transitioning fully into a clinical career pathway. Many trainees find that their ACF helps them make an informed career decision, and choosing not to pursue academia is a perfectly valid outcome of the programme.

 

 

Useful links

Contact us

The CATO Team and Radiographers Incubator work on a Hybrid model, combining days in the office with days working from home – the best way to reach us is by email.

cato@imperial.ac.uk
radresearch@imperial.ac.uk

+44 (0)20 3313 7397

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