Support Available
Whilst the PSW service will explore many different support options, it is very important to note that we cannot offer Clinical knowledge or guidance. We are also unable to influence recruitment or ARCP decsions.
We can offer support with the following:
Further supportive and resources for both trainees and supervisors can be found here.
What is Coaching?
Coaching can be defined as unlocking a person's potential to maximise their own performance. The aim of coaching is to find holistic and personalised ways to manage challenges both in your work and home life. It is a journey where the process of learning is as important as the knowledge and skills gained.
Common areas and issues that can be improved by coaching include:
- Anxiety
- Communication
- Confidence
- Cultural
- Motivation
- Organisation
- Practical Exams
- Team Working
- Time management
Who delivers Coaching?
We use a wide range of external providers who deliver up to 8 hours of one to one coaching support. These professionals are not clinicians, however, they have vast experience of post graduate medical training. 95% of trainees who have completed our online survey agreed that the support they received helped them progress in training. The support is tailored to you, and you will get out exactly what you put in.
Please note that though all support packages are free of charge to the trainee, if a trainee requests for additional sessions it may be asked that the trainee self-funds these additional sessions.
What is Study and Exam Support?
Many Trainees are referred to the PSW as they are struggling to pass an exam. They may have also recently discovered they are dyslexic or had another neurodiversity diagnosis. Our study and exam support can help you, as a trainee, with the following challenges you may be facing:
- Efficient use of time during exams
- Efficient use of time during revision
- Revision and memory techniques for exams
- Work based solutions to processing and remembering information
Study and exam support help you reflect on how you approach problems and exams and find solutions unique to your needs.
Who delivers Study and Exam Support?
We use a wide range of external providers who deliver up to 6 hours of one to one study and exam support. These professionals are not always clinicians; however, they have vast experience of post graduate medical training. The support is tailored to you, and you will get out exactly what you put in.
Please note that though all support packages are free of charge to the trainee, if a trainee requests for additional sessions it may be asked that the trainee self-funds these additional sessions.
Perfect Day (PD) for GP trainees attempting RCA
PERFECT DAY is an intervention that is currently only available to General Practice trainees. It aims to enhance consultation skills at any stage of training but can be particularly helpful in preparing for the RCA.
To find out more about this great opportunity, please email psw.em@hee.nhs.uk for more information.
What is Counselling?
Counselling can be defined as the provision of professional assistance and guidance in resolving personal or psychological problems. Counselling is a form of talking therapy. As a trainee you may be struggling to cope with hardships in your personal life alongside the tough demands of your work life. Through counselling you can gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes helping you find your own solutions to the challenges you are facing.
These problems might include:
- Bereavement
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Difficult Relationships
- Coping with a physical or mental health condition
Who delivers Counselling?
We use a wide range of external providers who deliver one to one support for 6 hours of counselling. These professionals are not clinicians however they have vast experience of post graduate medical training. 95% of trainees who have completed our online survey agreed that the support they received helped them progress in training. The support is tailored to you and you will get out exactly what you put in.
Please note that though all support packages are free of charge to the trainee, if a trainee requests for additional sessions it may be asked that the trainee self-funds these additional sessions.
What is Occupational Health?
If as a trainee you are suffering from a disability, physical health condition or mental health condition; you may benefit from an Occupational Health assessment. The aim of an occupational health assessment is to ensure that you are supported at work and through your training in the best way possible. The PSW can offer occupational health assessments to those trainees in need of recommendations relating to adjustments their training programme. The aim is to mitigate any potential risks in your training that are likely to give rise to or exacerbate any health issues.
Who delivers Occupational Health Assessments?
Your employer may already offer occupational health assessments. If not, the PSW work with consultants in occupational medicine to complete assessments for trainees. These consultants also have a vast experience of post graduate medical training.
If you have any further queries about occupational health assessments, please email our shared inbox:psw.em@hee.nhs.uk
Please note that all GP trainees should be referred to the lead employer to access occupational health assessments. For more information, please see a link to their website below.
Lead Employer Service - Welcome to Health, Work and Wellbeing
Careers Support
In the first instance, we encourage you to speak with your educational supervisor about career related issues.
However, if you are considering a move away from Medicine or are unsure of which specialty to choose and need more advice, we have a dedicated careers team who can help. There are a number of ways of accessing careers support in the East Midlands region:
- Work with individuals
- Career workshops for small groups
- Web and VLE resources
- Foundation School and Specialty School events and workshops
Click here to find out more about what is offered
Supported Return To Training
Supported Return to Training (SuppoRTT) is a nationally driven initiative aimed to support doctors who are out of training safely return to work and their training programme. It applies to trainees who have been out of training for a period of 3 months or more: parental leave, sick leave/phased return and those trainees on OOP (out of Programme).
The Supported Return to Training Team in the East Midlands aims to support all trainees to return to training safely and confidently after a sustained period of absence for any reason. The team will provide full and impartial advice on the SuppoRTT scheme and signpost opportunities available in the region and nationally.
Click here to find out more about this opportunity
PSW guidance for trainees experiencing financial hardship
We recognise that you can unexpectedly find yourself in a situation where your finances come under pressure due to a variety of personal circumstances. It is possible that you might feel worried that your financial situation may impact on your ability to progress your training. Whatever the reason, we would recommend that you think through options with those who are close to you at an early stage. While HEE cannot provide direct financial assistance you will find it helpful to talk to your educational supervisor since there may be options to take the pressure off your training while maintaining your income and stabilising your finances. Please also feel free to contact us in the PSW for a confidential chat. You are not alone and the following provide specific help which is available for trainee doctors and dentists;
https://bmacharities.org.uk/get-help/grants-available
https://www.doctorshelp.org.uk/
https://rmbf.org/get-help/help-for-doctors/
https://www.bdabenevolentfund.org.uk/
However difficult it may be, the message is that those around you and your PSW are here to help.
Death of a doctor in training
The documents on this page have been written to provide guidance for those tragic occasions when doctors in training have died unexpectedly. Its purpose is to provide a framework to support Postgraduate Deans and their teams to respond promptly, comprehensively and appropriately in these circumstances. The documents deal with a particularly difficult set of issues and very difficult circumstances.
External Resources
Please download the PSW Useful Information and Resources list from the related documents section at the bottom of this page for more information about other organisations or groups you could contact depending on your specific situation.
