Faculty of Clinical Radiology: Medical Training Initiative

The Medical Training Initiative (MTI) is a scheme aimed at allowing a doctor from a lower or middle income country to take up a temporary training post in the UK to benefit their practice when they return to their home country. The RCR is reopening the scheme today following our decision earlier this year to temporarily suspend our offer of sponsorship for these posts in the Faculty of Clinical Radiology.

Pausing the scheme has allowed us to review what we offer and to strengthen our processes and procedures to ensure that the posts offered are fully aligned with the intention and spirit of MTI. We are aware that some doctors have imminent placements in the pipeline, and we want to ensure they are not disadvantaged by an extended pause. We didn't take the decision to suspend our offer of sponsorship lightly, but thank you for your patience during this time.

The MTI is a valuable and worthwhile scheme that is mutually beneficial to employers and doctors. However, it should not be used for the purpose of settling in the UK, nor to address workforce issues at a service level. The scheme covers sponsorship for full GMC medical registration and for a Tier 5 visa. It must not be used for GMC registration alone.

As part of our commitment to ensuring the suitability of each post, employers must provide the following information as part of each application:

• Confirmation from local Head of School/Training Programme Director that there is training capacity available to support the MTI trainee.
• A job description that reflects that the role is a supernumerary training post.
• A weekly timetable with limited on-call commitment.  Where an on-call provision is included in the timetable there should be no expected inclusion in the out-of-hours on-call rota until the MTI doctor has been in post and assessed by the clinical supervisor as competent to be included. Any additional on call responsibilities must be remunerated independently of any funding associated with the salary for the post.
• Confirmation of a suitable induction and orientation period.
• Confirmation that a named clinical and educational supervisor will be assigned to the trainee and they will receive appropriate supervision during their post.

Feedback will be provided during the application process in cases where an application is rejected for not meeting the requirements above.

Both the UK employer and MTI trainee will be regularly contacted throughout the placement to confirm that all is progressing as expected. The RCR e-portfolio should be used to document the trainee's progress. Where issues with training delivery and progress monitoring persist there is a possibility that further applications for MTI doctors from the employer would not be accepted.

Further guidance about the application process and guidance for UK employers can be found here. Please do review the example job descriptions and sample timetables to ensure clarity and alignment with MTI requirements.

UK employers interested in taking on MTI trainees in future are encouraged to attend our webinar on Monday 29th April at 5pm. This session will cover our rules of engagement in more detail and feature a case study from a service provider which we hope will offer valuable insights and practical examples for employers. Please register here.

As we reopen our MTI for new applications we are looking forward to resuming our commitment to fostering growth and development to trainees from Low and Middle Income Countries. We look forward to this renewed phase and the benefits it brings to the wider global workforce.

Dr Priya Suresh

Medical Director, Education & Training,

Faculty of Clinical Radiology