Definitions and Terminology

The new Consultant Clinical Academic contract is associated with a range of new definitions and terminology. This is a list quick reference guide to the most frequently used definitions and terminology.

Seniority

Seniority determines salary on commencement of the new contract and eligibility for subsequent pay thresholds.
Seniority is defined as the number of completed whole years as an NHS consultant and/or clinical academic in a grade that is equivalent to consultant level, PLUS the point on the salary scale when appointed (on a scale of 1 to 5), PLUS any additional years credited to reflect non-NHS consultant level experience and/or flexible training.
Seniority should be calculated as at the chosen transfer date, and not the commitment date.

Commitment date and eligibility for 2003/04 back pay

The commitment date is the date by which you provided formal expression of your intent to join the new contract to UCL. The commitment date is not the same as the date of transfer to the new contract.

Date of transfer
The date of transfer is a date chosen by you. It is the effective date of commencement of the contract and is the date you have chosen for backdating. It will also become the anniversary date for pay progression purposes.

If you select 1 April 2003 as your date of entry to the new contract, you will received the maximum amount of back pay. If you choose to defer your date of entry to the new contract in order to accrue another year of seniority, you will commence on a higher salary on transfer to the new contract but will qualify for less back pay.

Back pay

Back pay of salary increases for 2003/04 relates to the period from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.
Backdated payment of the 2003/04 salary increase will be based on 10 programmed activities.
No back pay for additional programmed activities will be paid.
We are unable to provide individuals with estimates of back pay calculations at this stage of the process. However, once paid, back pay arrears will be indicated on payslips and all enquiries in relation to back pay calculations will be dealt with by UCL Payroll. More information about this process and payroll contacts will be made available shortly.
You will receive the basic back pay arrears due to you in the same month in which your salary under the contract is implemented.
Any additional Programmed Activities, after 1st April 2004 that you agree to carry out as part of the integrated job planning process, either for UCL or for the relevant NHS Trust(s) will be paid. APAs will be reassessed at each annual job plan review. If you hold Distinction Award, Discretionary Point(s) or a Clinical Excellence Award, then any APA will be paid at your enhanced rate as appropriate.

Ready Reckoner
The Ready Reckoner is a financial tool that will enable you to calculate and judge the financial effects of the new contract. Ensure you are using the most up to date version – the 2003/2004 edition. http://www.modern.nhs.uk/consultants/Ready_Reckoner.xls

Dual qualification
Dual qualification is where two university degrees are essential for the medical aspect of a post (for example, medicine and dentistry for maxillo facial surgeons). It applies only to those posts that require the holder to possess two undergraduate degrees. Dual accreditation is not, therefore, the same as dual qualification.

The following list gives illustrative situations or qualifications that are NOT covered by the definition as set out above, and WOULD NOT increase seniority:

Dual accreditation for a consultant post
The possession of MD/PhD/MS
Subspecialty qualifications
Medical Royal College fellowship/membership
GP training for subsequent DPH’s
Intercalated undergraduate degree
Switch from one career or course to another, e.g. Science to Medicine

Private Practice
All Consultant Clinical Academics, including those who work part time, will, if they wish to remain eligible for pay progression, be expected to offer no more than 1 additional PA per week of spare professional capacity to UCL before undertaking other paid clinical work. This additional PA will be paid at the appropriate rate. A whole time consultant with a job plan containing 11 or more PAs per week would not be expected to offer any additional work on top of this. See http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/cca/job_planning_guide.php for more details.

Fee Paying Services
The general principle is that where the activities have been agreed as part of the job plan and occur within the 10 full time programmed activities, then the Consultant Clinical Academic will not be paid an additional fee. However there are circumstances where the consultant can retain the fee, for example where the work is undertaken in the consultant’s own time. See http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/cca/job_planning_guide.php for more details.