The new consultant contract in Scotland

In Scotland, in April 2003 the new consultant contract added impetus to job planning. Following some reported problems, the Scottish child and adolescent psychiatry section executive undertook a postal survey of consultants in Scotland in July 2004. Responses were received from 35 (57%).

All respondents had opted to transfer to the new contract, and most had ‘ definitely’ or ‘probably’ agreed job plans. Six respondents had not – two were in locum posts and for the remaining four there was some dispute. Total sessions ranged from 6 to 12 (36%). Agreed job plans all include at least two sessions for supporting professional activities; 20% of respondents had specifically agreed sessions for particular responsibilities, although arrangements varied. In some cases training responsibilities or external activities were included under ‘ direct’ activities. Among consultants with agreed job plans, 20% reported continuing difficulties (workload, time for external activities, and inflexibility about number of supporting professional activities).

We do not know whether nonrespondents were generally satisfied or did not respond for other reasons, and these results apply only to one specialty. However, this limited information supports concerns expressed elsewhere about training or external activities, including College work, becoming difficult for consultants to undertake. Within Scotland there are increasing demands for specialist services to be involved in a wide variety of teaching, training and multiagency initiatives. If these wider roles are to be successfully undertaken, there is a major challenge for consultants and employers to develop job planning arrangements, alongside appropriate resourcing, in order to support them.