New Starter FAQs
Your dedicated page for all new starter queries...
If you have any queries as you start you training programme, please check out our FAQs below where you will find many of the answers you are looking for.
Should you have any questions which are not answered in the dropdown menu below, please get in touch with the Helpdesk Team:
Call: 0151 478 7777
(Monday-Friday / 9am-5pm)
*Please include your specialty, region and GMC number in the title of your email along with a brief description of your query.
New Starter FAQs
Induction resources
- Where can I find the Induction Presentation and Welcome Booklet?
The Induction Presentation 2026 and Welcome Booklet 2026 are both available to download:
Annual leave
- How do I book annual leave?
Please familiarise yourself with your placement's annual leave procedure, and ensure that leave is booked in accordance with their process.
For further information, including annual leave calculators, see the relevant page for your programme:
• Resident doctors:
https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/annual-leave-calculator-resident-doctor• Dental Foundation Trainees:
https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/annual-leave-calculator-dental-foundation• Dental Core:
https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/annual-leave-calculator-dental-core• Public Health:
https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/annual-leave-calculator-public-health - How much annual leave will I accrue during a four-month post?
For colleagues-in-training on 2016 T&Cs, the basic full-time entitlement is 27 days a year, rising to 32 days once you have over 5 years' service - plus general public holidays.
For a four-month post this is calculated pro rata against your contractual hours and length of placement, so the exact figure will depend on your contract type and years of reckonable service.
Use the annual leave calculator to work out your entitlement for the period: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/annual-leave-calculator-resident-doctor
- Does Bank work count towards my reckonable or continuous service?
No - Bank work is not accepted for reckonable or continuous service.
The exception is Public Health placements, where non-NHS work can count towards reckonable service if you can provide evidence it relates to Public Health; only NHS work can count towards continuous service.
Electronic Staff Record (ESR)
- What do I do if I haven't received my ESR access yet?
Email the ESR Helpdesk at ESR.Helpdesk@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk
In your email please confirm your:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- First four characters of your NI number
For more information see: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/colleague-in-training-self-service-on-esr
- What training do I need to upload to ESR?
Your host organisation is responsible for giving you protected time in the first four weeks of your placement to complete all statutory and mandatory training in line with the Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF).
Once you've completed a module, provide the evidence to your host organisation - they're responsible for updating your completed competencies on ESR. Your training compliance matrix and e-learning content are viewed by logging in to ESR; see the ESR e-Learning User Guide for full details.
For more information see: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/colleague-in-training-self-service-on-esr
- Is there a separate ESR system if I'm rotating through a GP placement rather than a hospital?
No - you only need one account, whether you're working in GP or secondary care.
For more information see: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/colleague-in-training-self-service-on-esr
- I've moved from placements - do I need a new ESR account?
This depends on whether both placements sit under the same Lead Employer - ESR access is tied to your employing organisation.
Contact ESR Helpdesk directly at ESR.Helpdesk@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk, and ask whether your existing account carries over or whether a new one is required, rather than assuming either way.
Exception reporting
- What is Patchwork Health?
Patchwork Health is the exception reporting system used for GP, community, hospice, and other non-hospital placements. All new exception reports for these placements must be submitted via the Patchwork Health exception reporting system.
Hospital Placements
If you are working in a hospital-based placement:
- You must submit exception reports using your host Trust’s exception reporting system.
- Access is provided by your host organisation’s Medical Staffing or HR Team.
For more information see: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/exception-reporting
Guardians of Safe Working
- What is a Guardian of Safe Working (GOSW)?
A Guardian of Safe Working ensures compliance with safe working hours under the 2016 resident doctor contract, protecting both patients and colleagues-in-training by making sure working hours stay safe. The Guardian receives exception reports and escalates any discrepancies to enable a decision and appropriate action.
For more information see: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/guardians-of-safe-working
- Who is my Guardian of Safe Working?
If you're based within a hospital Trust during your placement, you'll fall under that Trust's own Guardian, and you'll be informed of this at your local induction.
If you're within General Practice, Public Health, or a Palliative Care Hospice, you'll fall under the Lead Employer Guardian, Dr Peter Arthur.
For more information see: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/guardians-of-safe-working
Payslip, payroll and pensions
- Where can I find information about my payslip and payroll queries?
See our payslip and payroll FAQs page: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/payroll-faqs
- Where can I find pay dates and submission deadlines?
See our pay dates and deadlines page: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/pay-dates-and-deadlines
- Where can I find information on tax and HMRC?
See our tax and HMRC page: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/tax--hmrc
- Where can I find information about my pension?
See our pensions page: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/your-rewards
Study leave
- Who do I contact for study leave for paid courses?
All study leave is managed via NHS England, so you'll need to liaise directly with them.
Work schedules
- Where can I find an overview of work schedules?
See our work schedules page: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/work-schedules
NHS England queries
There are some things Lead Employer cannot assist with, and you will need to contact NHS England directly.
- What do I need to contact NHS England about?
- Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP)
- Educational supervisor details
- E-portfolio - Fourteen Fish
- Exam fees
- Form R
- General practice recharge payments for hosting resident doctors in training
- Indemnity assurance
- Less than full-time (LTFT) application/approval
- National Training Number (NTN)
- Out of programme application/approval
- Placement issues
- Placements
- Revalidation (GMC/GDC)
- Study leave
- Training queries
- Where can I find NHS England contact details for my region?
North West
Specialty training
Health Education North West - Specialty training
Call 0151 479 2700GP training
Health Education North West - GP training
Call 0161 268 9979
Email england.gptraining.nw@nhs.net (GP only)Public Health
Health Education North West - Public Health
Email england.publichealthnw@nhs.net
East Midlands
Health Education East Midlands
Call 0116 312 0671
Email esd.em@hee.nhs.uk
West Midlands
Health Education West Midlands
Call 0121 695 2494 / 0121 213 1966
Email england.pccprogrammes.midlands@nhs.net (for GP, Public Health or Dental training programmes only)
Secondary Care training programmes - england.secondarycareprogrammes.midlands@nhs.net
East of England
Health Education East of England
Email primarycare.eoe@hee.nhs.uk
Health Education East of England Public Health
Email england.phschool.eoe@nhs.net
Thames Valley and London
Health Education London and the South East Support Portal
Health Education Thames Valley
Call 0186 593 2000
Email england.enquiries.tv@nhs.net
Additional contacts
A full list of external contacts who may be best able to assist with your query are available on our website: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/useful-external-contacts-and-links
Downloadable resources
Our Welcome Booklet and Induction Presentation PDF downloads provide a wide range of useful information on the services we provide as your employer and detail the support and guidance to which you're entitled as an employee of both Lead Employer and the NHS.
Click on the images to download.