Interaction between LCEAs and NCIAs
Future LCEA award rounds form part of the consultant offer being put to vote by trade unions in an effort to resolve the current industrial action dispute. If members vote in favor of the offer, the contractual entitlement to new LCEAs will cease from 1 April 2024. The 2023/24 award round should continue to progress as agreed and planned locally to ensure that the required minimum investment funds are spent on eligible consultants. Employers may decide to pause development work on 2024/25 award round designs whilst the vote takes place. We expect the outcome of the vote to be announced by the 25 January 2024.
About the National Clinical Impact Awards scheme
The National Clinical Impact Awards are awarded by the Advisory Committee on Clinical Impact Awards (ACCIA). The awards recognise the national impact of work undertaken over and above contractual or other paid activities in the NHS (in England and Wales).
They specifically recognise the dissemination and implementation of that work and its impact on the wider NHS and on public health. There is no requirement to hold any local award to be eligible to apply for a national award.
There are 3 levels of national awards in England:
- national level 1 (N1)
- national level 2 (N2)
- national level 3 (N3)
N3 is the highest award.
Scenarios and flowcharts
The following flowcharts demonstrate the interaction and protections between local and national awards. We have provided scenarios of what protection would be provided when an applicant is successful or unsuccessful when applying for national awards.
Does the consultant currently hold an NCIA or LCEA?
Yes
The consultant can apply for an NCIA and/or LCEA but cannot hold both. If successful for both would need to choose which to accept.
No
If the consultant is eligible, they can apply for an NCIA following the ACCIA online form or an LCEA following the local application process.
The below flowchart demonstrates the interaction between the funding flow of the local and national awards.