ACF Gastroenterology ST1-3 (Sheffield)

The University of Sheffield, in partnership with NHS England North East and Yorkshire and the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, has developed an exciting pathway of academic clinical training opportunities. 

The following post is available:

•            One post in Gastroenterology at ST1/ST3- with a research theme of Multiple Long Term Conditions

(Please note: This is a multi-specialty vacancy; an appointment may not be made in this specialty.  There will be 1 ACF post in either CGeneral Surgery. Gastroenterology, and Haematology)

IMPORTANT: A limit has been set on the number of ACF applications that can be submitted, with applicants limited to submitting a maximum of three applications to ACF vacancies. Applicants who submit more than three applications in one national round of recruitment will have the additional applications withdrawn by the recruitment offices after the application window has closed and only the first three submitted applications will be processed. This includes all regions, specialties and universities.

Applications are now invited for an Academic Clinical Fellowship in Gastroenterology at ST1-3 level. This new post has been created as part of the NHS England (NHSE)/National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) programme of Integrated Academic Training and offers candidates a comprehensive experience of clinical academic medicine working alongside internationally renowned clinicians, researchers and GP Undergraduate Medical Educators.

Please note:- Applicants looking for an ST2 post are encouraged to apply to this vacancy at ST1. If successful, your experience will be assessed upon commencing in post, enabling you to work at the appropriate level.

We are seeking highly motivated, enthusiastic individuals with the potential to excel in both their clinical and academic training and who have the ambition to be part of the next generation of academic clinicians.

This Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) programme in Gastroenterology will be run by the University of Sheffield, the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and NHS England North East and Yorkshire. 

Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs) are 3-year fixed-term national training posts.  They attract an NTN(A) and trainees undertake 75% clinical and 25% academic training over the term of the post. They are employed by the NHS Trust and have an honorary contract with the University, at whose Medical School their academic research is supported.

ACF trainees also undertake a Research Training Programme provided by the University, for which funding is provided by NIHR.  They are also eligible for a £1,000 bursary per year to support research activity (e.g to attend academic conferences).

The Clinical Academic Programme at Sheffield has a competitive ACF pump-priming award. Trainees can apply for up to £2000 for initial costs for work aimed at achieving a research fellowship.

ACF trainees would also normally complete and submit an external funding application for a research fellowship to enable them to complete a higher degree (PhD or research MD) following the completion of their ACF fixed-term post, which would be completed as Out-of-Programme-Research (OOPR).

All Academic Clinical Fellowships are run-through posts, regardless of specialty, with the exception of ‘Medical Education’ ACFs.  A trainee entering ACF at ST1 in a specialty with a Core Training period would therefore be guaranteed continued training to CCT in the eventual specialty, as long as they progress satisfactorily through both their academic and clinical training. Run-through status is withdrawn if ACFs do not complete the academic component.

The full Job Description for this post is available to download from the right of this page.

Please note: All applicants who do not already hold a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN) in the GMC specialty for which they are applying will be required to undertake the national clinical recruitment process and attend an assessment/interview for that GMC specialty as appropriate.

Please Note for application to ST3: Only trainees who hold a Deanery Reference Number in the penultimate year of Internal Medical Training (CT2) or ACCS acute medicine (CT3) are eligible to apply. Trainees who have either: completed Core Medical Training, IMT training or ACCS-AM, are in the final year of IMT or ACCS-AM, or have alternative experience outside of UK training, are not eligible to apply.Trainees currently in the penultimate year of their core programme who are successful in gaining an ST3-level ACF programme will start their first year by completing IMY3. Assuming internal medicine stage 1 is completed successfully, they will then run-through into their higher specialty at ST4-level. There is no requirement for trainees in this category to clinically benchmark as they will be carrying on with completing their IMT programme

NIHR have produced some Frequently Asked Questions for applicants. You are advised to read this document in full before submitting your application.

Further sources of information

• National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
• Yorkshire and the Humber Academic Training webpages
• University of Sheffield

Details of the recruitment process are provided below.