South Thames Foundation School

INFORMATION

Re: STFS TRUST AGREEMENT TO MONITOR FOUNDATION DOCTORS WITH TIER 4 VISA STATUS

Introduction
The UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) has agreed to undertake the role of Tier 4 sponsor on the understanding that they had the full support of the four UK health departments and that all Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs), through their postgraduate deaneries, comply with the terms of a service level agreement (SLA) in order that the UKFPO can comply with the reporting requirements complicit with being a Tier 4 sponsor.
More information can be found by downloading the document below.
As part of this service level agreement, South Thames Foundation School (STFS) is required to monitor the following foundation doctors with Tier 4 status within their trust:
By signing this form, the Hospital/Trust has agreed to:

• monitor foundation doctors with Tier 4 visa status
• remind foundation doctors with Tier 4 visa status that it is also their responsibility to engage with the monitoring process and advise the Hospital/Trust about any issues
• report to STFS (via Janet Benjamin – tier4@stfs.org.uk) any issues, within seven working days of information becoming known or the event occurring.

Activities to be reported upon
The types of activities that the employing Hospital/Trust will need to report to STFS is if:

1. a sponsored foundation doctor does not turn up for their first day at work, including the reason the doctor gives for non-attendance (for example, a missed flight)
2. a sponsored foundation doctor has more than 10 working days of unauthorised absences from work
3. a sponsored foundation doctor misses 10 ‘expected contacts’* during their Foundation Programme without the employing Hospital/Trust reasonably granted permission. The employing Hospital/Trust must tell the STFS within seven working days of the 10th missed contact
4. a sponsored foundation doctor transfers to another foundation school
5. a sponsored foundation doctor leaves the Foundation Programme, or if their contract of employment ends (including where they resign or are dismissed). The employing Hospital/Trust should inform the STFS of the name and address of any new employer or institution that the doctor has joined if known
6. a sponsored foundation doctor changes to flexible or part-time training. In this instance the UKFPO will stop sponsoring the doctor and they will need to apply for a new visa through the appropriate immigration route
7. a sponsored foundation doctor’s length of foundation training changes (eg if they need to undertake remedial training at the end of F1 or at the end of their Foundation Programme).

*Expected contacts: these include any instance where the foundation doctor is expected to attend a lesson, lecture, tutorial, seminar or scheduled meeting with tutors or advisors in relation to their Foundation Programme. If the foundation doctor misses an expected contact due to covering service delivery needs, it should not be counted as a missed contact.

Any Tier 4 queries should be directed to tier4@stfs.org.uk