Guidance

Outcome of the National Clinical Impact Awards 2022

Information for applicants in England about the outcome of the National Clinical Impact Awards 2022.

Applies to England

Applicants in Wales should refer back to their email from ACCIA for further information.

Notification

You can now view the outcome of your application in the ‘My awards’ section of the ACCIA portal. This will show:

  • whether your application was successful or unsuccessful
  • if successful, the level of your award

By late February, you’ll be able to:

  • download your tailored outcome letter from the portal
  • view your scores for each domain

The Advisory Committee on Clinical Impact Awards (ACCIA) will notify you by email when the letters are available to view.

ACCIA will inform your employer of the outcome of your application once you have been notified that your letter is available to view.

You should read the information below that is applicable to your personal circumstances. If you have any questions, email accia@dhsc.gov.uk.

Outcomes

Successful and you do not currently hold an NCEA

If your application was successful and you do not currently hold a National Clinical Excellence Award (NCEA), your award will be backdated to 1 April 2022 and will be valid for 5 years from that date, subject to your continued eligibility.

Further information on eligibility and what to do if your circumstances change can be found in the applicants’ guide to the 2023 awards round.

National Clinical Impact Awards (NCIAs) are non-pensionable and non-consolidated.

ACCIA will notify your employer of the outcome of your application. However, you may wish to inform your employer of the outcome either informally, or after you have written confirmation in your letter.

Successful and you currently hold an NCEA (not academic GPs)

The following information does not apply to academic GPs.

If your application was successful and you currently hold an NCEA, your existing award will end on 31 March 2023 and your NCIA will start on 1 April 2023. You’ll enter the transitional arrangements on 1 April 2023 and these will apply for the full duration of your first NCIA only.

Your NCIA will be valid for up to 5 years from 1 April 2023, subject to your continued eligibility. Further information on eligibility and what to do if your circumstances change can be found in the applicants’ guide to the 2023 awards round.

When your NCIA begins, you’ll be paid the full value of your NCIA and, where applicable, a top-up protection payment up to the equivalent value of your previous NCEA. This will differ on an individual basis and is dependent on several factors, including:

  • the level at which you have been successful for an NCIA
  • the level and value of your previous NCEA
  • whether you work full-time or part-time

You’ll receive pension protection up to the value of your previous NCEA, which is also dependent on individual circumstances. The tables below provide an indication of the level of pay protection you’re likely to receive.

Further details on all the above will be confirmed in your outcome letter.

ACCIA will notify your employer of the outcome of your application. However, you may wish to inform your employer of the outcome either informally, or after you have written confirmation in your letter.

Current NCEA : bronze

NCIA Pensionable pay protection level
N1 Bronze
N2 Bronze
N3 Bronze (plus non-pensionable top-up to £40,000)

Current NCEA: silver

NCIA Pensionable pay protection level
N1 Silver
N2 Silver
N3 Silver

Current NCEA: gold

NCIA Pensionable pay protection level
N1 Silver
N2 Gold
N3 Gold

Current NCEA: platinum

NCIA Pensionable pay protection level
N1 Silver
N2 Gold
N3 Platinum

Successful academic GP and you currently hold an NCEA

The following information only applies to academic GPs.

If your application was successful and you currently hold an NCEA, your existing award will end on 31 March 2023 and your NCIA will start on 1 April 2023.

Your NCIA will be:

  • non-pensionable and non-consolidated
  • valid for up to 5 years from 1 April 2023, subject to your continued eligibility

Further information on eligibility and what to do if your circumstances change can be found in the applicants’ guide to the 2023 awards round.

ACCIA will notify your employer of the outcome of your application. However, you may wish to inform your employer of the outcome either informally, or after you have written confirmation in your letter.

Unsuccessful and you do not currently hold an NCEA

If your application was unsuccessful, we appreciate this news may be disappointing and would like to reassure you that the process in 2022 was extremely competitive. We hope this will not dissuade you from applying in the future.

The 2023 awards round will open in March. Further information will be published on the ACCIA website.

Unsuccessful and you currently hold an NCEA

If your application was unsuccessful and you currently hold an NCEA, your current award will continue to be paid until its original expiry date, subject to continued eligibility. Further information on eligibility and what to do if your circumstances change can be found in the applicants’ guide to the 2023 awards round.

If your award is due to expire in 2023, any future application you make will be under the new scheme rules and transition arrangements will not apply.

As an existing award holder, if you’re not an academic GP, you’ll be eligible for reversion to a legacy, pensionable Local Clinical Excellence Award, in line with the arrangements set out in schedule 30 of the consultant contract – providing that your award is due to expire in 2023. If this applies to you it will be outlined in your outcome letter.

Schedule 30 does not apply to academic GPs.

ACCIA will inform your employer of the outcome of your application where required, to ensure necessary changes can be made.

We appreciate this news may be disappointing and would like to reassure you that the process in 2022 was extremely competitive. We hope this will not dissuade you from applying in the future.

Appeals process

Further information on the appeals process and grounds for appeal can be found in the applicants’ guide to the 2023 awards round.

To submit an appeal request, you must log in to the ACCIA portal and follow the steps set out in the guidance.

The closing date for appeals is 11.59pm on 10 March 2023.

Published 10 February 2023