As you will no doubt be aware, under the terms of Section Twenty Four of the Public Only Consultant Contract (‘POCC 2023’) there is an option to engage in External Work, which is defined as “clinical or non-clinical or gainful occupation (including self-employment) outside the scope of this contract.”

The POCC 2023 also provides that the Employer will devise “a system, code or procedure” for handling requests to engage in External Work from individual Consultants to their Clinical Director (or other named line manager).  

The application form to undertake External Work can now be found at this link.

This is an important feature of the new consultant contract and we urge you to avail of our Member Advisory Service before submitting an application so we can assist you with any queries in terms of the application, decision and potential appeals process.

For an individual meeting at a time that best suits you please contact consultants@imo.ie  

 

The following points should be borne in mind when considering filling out this application form:

 

• A current and proposed work plan must accompany this application form.

 

• If you wish to apply prior to taking up appointment as a Consultant, your application can be submitted but will only be decided upon when a work plan is also submitted. 

 

• The carrying out of External Work must not lessen the responsibilities to the Consultant’s main public service employer.

 

• In undertaking External Work, the Consultant undertakes to ensure that such External Work will not adversely impact on the health and safety of patients, service users, other employees of the public health service, and the Consultant themselves. In this regard, the application form cites Section Thirty Three of the Organisation of Working Time Act (1997), which requires that in respect of one of more employment, the cumulative working hours not exceed a maximum of forty eight per week over an agreed reference period. 

 

Once a form is submitted, it can be approved, not approved, or approved with restrictions applying. Should an application not be approved, or approved with restrictions applying, the reason, or reasons, must be set out in writing.

Any decision once given can be subject to review should a change in circumstances warrant such a review. After the conduct of a review, the Consultant, if still dissatisfied with the outcome, can appeal to an independent appeals committee established for just such a purpose. However, it is worth noting that once an appeal has been made to the independent appeals committee, this precludes taking a grievance under the contract.