Period of Grace (POG)

Dentists in Specialty Training should refer to Period of Grace guidance on the Dental Specialty Training page:

Go to Period of Grace information for Dental Specialty Training

NHS England – North West's Period of Grace Guidance Notes

A Period of Grace (POG) enables resident doctors who have completed training and not yet obtained a consultant post to continue in employment (at speciality registrar level) for a limited period of time.

The extension to employment contract is for a time limited period up to a maximum of 6 calendar months from their CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) date, as set out in the 2016 Junior Doctor Contract. There is no pro-rata modification for Less Than Full Time (LTFT) resident doctors.

The resident doctor is no longer considered to be in training, but is in post for the purposes of service.

Access to POG is not automatic and must be requested with a minimum of six months notice by submitting an 'POG intent form'.

Academic Clinical Lecturers (ACLs) added 19 August 2026

If you are an ACL and require a Period of Grace, but you are not returning to clinical training, you must liaise with your IAT Lead at least 6 months prior to your CCT date.

For ACLs not returning to clinical training, the POG process differs dependant on how your ACL is funded:

• For NIHR funded ACLs, NIHR will continue to fund the POG if:

1. the Period of Grace does not go over the 4 years of ACL training,
2. the Period of Grace does not exceed 6 months,
3. The Deputy Dean for Academia and IAT Lead approves it.

• For locally/trust funded ACLs, this needs to be negotiated with the relevant Trust and University.

Requesting a Period of Grace

If you are 6 months from CCT but you think you have not received a link to the intent form, please email england.pog.nw@nhs.net - please include your training specialty and your GMC number in the email.

For other enquiries about your POG, please contact your specialty school.

Resignation

If you opted-OUT of a period of grace

There is nothing further you need to do. Your employment contract end date will be the same day as your CCT date and your employment will end on this date. You do not need to formally resign.

You must remain in employment up to and including your CCT date.

If you opted-IN to a period of grace

If you request a Period of Grace, your employment contract end date will be extended by the Lead Employer to be 6 calendar months after your CCT date.

If you subsequently want to leave before your new contract end date, you will need to submit a formal resignation to the Lead Employer with a minimum of 3 months’ notice of your last day, in line with the required notice period in your employment contract.

To submit a formal resignation, please email the Lead Employer via lead.employer@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk with:

• the exact date you want to be your last day of employment
• your training specialty in the subject line
• your full name and GMC or Public Health Number in the body of the email
• Please also contact your Programme Support Team to inform them that your contract will end at CCT. It is essential you keep them informed at the earliest opportunity as it can impact recruitment numbers and could have pay implications if you fail to rescind your Period of Grace.

It is possible to give less than 3 months notice, with agreement of the host organisation affected and your TPD, by completing the Lead Employer’s Early Resignation Form.

Page last updated: 19 August 2026