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This is your monthly round-up of important news and updates from the team at Lead Employer.
In this month's edition you can find:
- Colleague-in-training stories
- Festive opening hours
- Annual survey - share your experiences
- Anti-racism - dismantling racism together
- Upcoming December 2025 pay date change
- ESR key considerations
- Last knowledge sessions of the year - don't miss out!
- Sickness absence reporting guidance
- NHS mental wellbeing audio guides
- Practical support for neurodivergent colleagues-in-training
 Colleague-in-training stories
Your voice matters
For this issue, we’ve caught up with a couple of colleagues-in-training who are making an impact in their host organisations and progressing through their training with great dedication. As your employer, hearing their stories helps, and we welcome others to share their experiences with us too!
Dr Francesca McDowell
We sat down with Dr McDowell, a resident doctor training in paediatric and perinatal pathology at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, to discuss:
- Her journey so far
- Meaningful work that makes a difference
- The future of pathology
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Dr Madhuja Nath
We caught up with Dr Madhuja Nath, an aspiring international colleague-in-training completing her training at Bridgnorth Medical Practice, to discuss:
- Her experiences as an IMG
- The appeal of general practice
- Looking ahead to the GP she wants to be
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Festive opening hours
Season's greetings and thank you
 As we approach the festive period, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of you for your continued commitment throughout the year.
Your dedication to your training and contribution to patient care - particularly during this busy season - doesn't go unnoticed. We appreciate the professionalism you bring to your roles every day.
Please note our festive opening hours below. If you require support or have any queries during this time, please consider the following:
- Wednesday 24th December - open
- Thursday 25th December - Christmas day - closed
- Friday 26th December - bank holiday - closed
- Monday 29th December - open
- Tuesday 30th December - open
- Wednesday 31st December - open
- Thursday 1st January - bank holiday - closed
- Friday 2nd January - open
Annual survey – share your experiences
Quick, simple and impactful — tell us what matters to you.
 Our annual colleague-in-training survey has been live for a couple of weeks now, and we’ve been running targeted promotions to make sure everyone has the chance to share their experiences.
If you haven’t had an opportunity yet, now is the perfect time to tell us what’s going well and what could be improved. Your feedback helps shape the services and support we provide.
How long does it take to complete? 5-15 minutes.
Dismantling racism together
Creating inclusive environments where everyone can thrive
We’re committed to challenging racism and supporting our colleagues-in-training every step of the way. You can learn more below:
We're also working on ways for you to safely share experiences and access support. Together, we want to contribute to creating a culture where everyone feels respected, supported and empowered.
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 Upcoming December 2025 pay date change
December pay date moved forward
As is always the case ahead of Christmas, your pay date this month will be changing. For a full list of pay dates and expenses deadlines until March 2026, please click here.
Not sure what each part of your payslip means? As well as our payroll FAQs, Our step-by-step knowledge session video walks you through the different sections, common terms and what to check each month to make sure everything looks correct.
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Electronic Staff Record (ESR) considerations
Please note the below
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Please remember to keep your preferred email contact details up-to-date in ESR to ensure you receive all updates from us during your training. For information on how to use ESR, the self-service user guide walks you through key processes such as logging on, viewing your payslip and how to update your details. |
Last knowledge sessions of the year
Don't miss out - four knowledge sessions next week
Next week, we’re running the final four knowledge sessions. These short, focused sessions cover key processes you need to know during your training. You’ll have the chance to join and learn directly from our specialist teams and ask any questions you may have.
If you haven’t attended before, now’s a great time to join us and get the most out of your colleague-in-training experience.
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Monday 8th December - 1pm - Overview of the NHS Collaborative Bank
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Tuesday 9th December - 1pm - Overview of neurodiversity support
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Wednesday 10th December - 10am - LTFT process review
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Wednesday 10th December - 11am - Understanding your payslip
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Sickness absence reporting guidance
What you need to know
The sickness absence reporting guidance provides a clear, step-by-step framework on how to report sickness, return to work and access support. We encourage all to familiarise yourself with the guidance, understand responsibilities and make use of the support available.
 Boost your mental wellbeing this winter
Managing stress and boosting mood
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The darker, colder months can take a toll on mood and energy. The NHS offers short, practical audio guides to help with stress, anxiety, sleep, low mood and confidence - easy to listen to whenever you need a boost: NHS mental wellbeing audio guides. |
Different minds, stronger teams
Practical support for neurodivergent colleagues-in-training
As services get even busier in December, it’s a reminder of something that’s true all year round - healthcare teams work best when different thinking styles are recognised and supported. Neurodiversity isn’t about coping, it’s about having the right structures in place so everyone can use their strengths effectively at work.
Whether you’re neurodivergent yourself or want to better understand and support colleagues, we’re sharing access to our specialist neurodiversity resources, designed specifically for colleagues-in-training working in clinical environments.
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Watch the recorded knowledge session
Delivered by our specialist team, this session explored practical ways make use of personal strengths and understand what support you’re entitled to during your training.
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