Job share and part-time register

WIPSIG runs the Colleges’ job share register and we encourage all doctors who are considering working flexibly to register their details. This particularly applies to career grade doctors such as consultants, staff grades or associate specialists as training grade job shares need to be arranged by the programme directors and deaneries to ensure compliance with training requirements.

A registration form is enclosed and can be returned to:

            Dr. Elaine Arnold

            Park Royal Centre for Mental Health

            Central Way

            Off Acton Lane

            London NW10 7NS

Or email Elaine.arnold@cnwl.nhs.uk

The aim of the register is to put people in touch, in similar areas geographically and in terms of speciality so that they can either apply for posts together or share an existing full-time post.

If you are thinking of working part-time and considering a job share here are some other ways that you can arrange this:

1. Do you necessarily need a job share partner? Recent Government employment regulations have given employees with young children the right to ask for flexible/part-time working patterns. This must be given serious consideration and good reasons given for refusal. It may be possible, depending on the availability of posts in your area/speciality to negotiate a reduction in hours and cross cover arrangements with colleagues, without a formal job share arrangement. It is important, however, to get advice on the job plan (e.g. from the BMA) to ensure that you do not end up with an excessive number of fixed sessions and effectively a full time workload in reduced hour
2.  It is worth contacting people who are involved in organising flexible training posts even if you are looking for a career grade post such as consultant, associate specialist or staff grade. The Programme Director of the local SpR rotation will be aware of the career plans and intentions of their trainees and may know of someone who is ready for a consultant post and wants a job share. The Clinical Tutor for SHO training may similarly be aware of people coming to the end of SHO training who are looking for staff grade or associate specialist vacancies.  The Post Graduate Dean’s Office is another good place to approach as each Deanery will have a Sub-Dean for flexible training who arranges funding for flexible training posts and will therefore know of all existing flexible trainees. Whilst they may be unwilling to pass on details to you, you could ask them to give your details to possibly interested trainees. 
3. The Medical Women’s Federation (MWF) has good local networks and some areas produce local newsletters. It would be worth asking if your requirements and contact details could be put in their newsletter.
4. The WIPSIG newsletter is usually produced twice a year and can give some space for details of possible jobsharers. If you agree to this, put it down on the registration form together with your e-mail address and we will endeavour to circulate as many as possible with each mailing.
5. It is worth going to local and regional events organised by the College/BMA etc. and letting it be widely known that you are interested in finding a job share partner.

I would be interested in knowing how easy or difficult people have found it to organise flexible working and/or job share arrangements, and also which approach is most successful.