Procedure for amending the consultant clinical academic contract documentation (England)
13 August 2008
Background
1. Documentation comprising an Honorary Consultant Contract (England), Consultant Clinical Academic Substantive Contract Suggested Clauses (England) and Guidance Notes for the Employment of Consultant Clinical Academics (England) was developed by the BMA, BDA, AUT, Department of Health and UCEA acting on behalf of Higher Education employers in response to the introduction of the Terms and Conditions of Service – Consultants (England) 2003.
2. Since November 2004, NHS Employers has managed NHS employer negotiations on the Terms and Conditions of Service – Consultants (England) 2003 with the Central Consultants and Specialists Committee of the BMA, on which the BDA is represented, through the Joint Negotiating Committee (Seniors).
3. It is recognised by all the parties named in paragraphs 1 and 2 that the documentation will on occasion require amendment, as a result principally of changes to the Terms and Conditions of Service – Consultants (England) 2003. A number of versions of the documents have already been produced.
4. This document, drafted by UCEA, in response to a suggestion by the BMA, is intended as an aide-memoire in respect of the procedure to be followed for amending the consultant clinical academic contract documentation.
Procedure
5. Any of the above parties may recommend amendments to the consultant clinical academic contract documentation although, as indicated above, the vast majority of amendments will arise from changes to the Terms and Conditions of Service – Consultants (England) 2003.
6. In the case of amendments arising from changes to the terms and Conditions of Service – Consultants (England) 2003 that have been agreed through the Joint Negotiating Committee (Seniors), NHS Employers will notify UCEA of changes to the Terms and Conditions of Service – Consultants (England) 2003, by way of the relevant pay circular or other documentation.
7. UCEA will consider the impact of the changes to the Terms and Conditions of Service – Consultants (England) 2003 on the consultant clinical academic contact documentation and will inform NHS Employers of the amendments to that documentation which it considers necessary.
8. Once the agreement of NHS Employers has been obtained, UCEA will seek the approval of the BMA, BDA and UCU to the changes proposed by supplying tracked change and clean versions of the document or documents to be amended (i.e. Honorary Consultant Contract (England), and/or Consultant Clinical Academic Substantive Contract Suggested Clauses (England), and/or Guidance Notes for the Employment of Consultant Clinical Academics (England)) together with a record of amendments. NHS Employers should be copied into the correspondence.
9. The BMA, BDA and UCU will be given a minimum of ten working days in which to respond. In deciding on the length of time in which to respond, consideration will be given to the number and complexity of the changes proposed and to whether key staff are on annual or other leave.
10. When the approval of the BMA, BDA and UCU has been obtained, either through discussion or by default, UCEA will notify NHS Employers.
11. NHS Employers will ensure that the revised documents are placed on its website and that NHS employers are alerted to them through the Workforce Bulletin or similar communication. The BMA, BDA and UCU will be notified that the revised documents have been uploaded at the same time.
12. UCEA will at the same time notify its subscribers of the changes effected and in so doing will supply copies of the revised document or documents together with a record of amendments.
Distribution
13. A copy of this procedure has been made available to each of the parties identified above.
Procedure agreed 16 June 2008.