RCOG SUPPORT TOOLS
Developing a clinical buddy scheme in O&G
Susanna Crowe MRCOG is responsible for establishing and running a new buddying scheme for junior doctors in North Central and East London. Here she talks about the rationale and principles of the scheme.
P
ostgraduate training has changed dramatically over the last 10 years, with the introduction of run-through training
in obstetrics and gynaecology and reduced working hours due to the implementation of the European Working Time Directive. Arguably, though, one of the biggest changes to the everyday working lives of junior doctors in our specialty is the loss of the firm structure. This had the advantage of an apprenticeship model, where an SHO worked daily with the same consultant and registrar from whom they could seek informal support and advice. It is generally felt that the erosion of this structure has made it more difficult to build relationships with senior colleagues and identify mentors. This has been recognised in a variety of specialties, and addressed through the formation of buddy schemes. We introduced one such scheme for the 2014 intake of O&G ST1s in North Central and East London, and following its success are running it again this year.
What is a buddy scheme? A buddy scheme is a peer support network for junior doctors. It is not intended to provide mentorship, which requires the acquisition and maintenance of specialised skills through training. There are various models, some more formal than others, but ultimately ours involves pairing a junior doctor with a senior trainee to provide informal support and advice. This is separate from the educational support provided by the trainee’s educational supervisor and College Tutor. The scheme also benefits the senior trainees involved by keeping them informed and up to date with curriculum changes, and helping them to develop the skills involved with the pastoral care of colleagues.
Principles of the scheme
• It is a paper-free scheme • Senior trainees act as volunteer senior buddies. However, it is an opt-out scheme for the junior doctors/buddies – who will automatically be paired with a senior buddy. The idea is that having an opt-out system normalises the concept of mentoring and support in our region
• Senior trainees should be post-MRCOG and have at least one year of training left
• The senior trainee makes contact with their junior buddy via email and arranges to meet socially in a location of their choosing
• It is up to the individuals to meet as they prefer. This may be as much as monthly, or it may be that only one meeting suffices. It is not anticipated that the pair would make contact more than once a month
• Initially the period of support should be for a year; however, this can be extended if mutually agreed
• Both the senior and junior buddy must read and agree on the following set of rules:
- The scheme is confidential. Issues discussed should not be shared outside the partnership unless specifically agreed or a safety issue arises (see below)
- The senior buddy is expected to uphold the GMC duties of a doctor should a safety issue become apparent. Concerns should be addressed to the appropriate educational supervisor. It is the duty of the senior buddy to report the issue, but they should not take responsibility for remedying the problem; however, they can help support the junior buddy
- The senior buddy is not able to offer counselling, but can put the junior in contact with counselling or other services
- The senior buddy should not be involved in workplace-based assessments or educational supervisor paperwork for the junior, as this creates a potential conflict of interest. Likewise, the junior should not complete TO1s for the senior
- The senior buddy is not a mentoring or careers advice service, and may not be entirely up to date with developments or changes in the training structure
For any queries about the scheme, please email
susanna.crowe@
gmail.com. Susanna Crowe MRCOG
Susanna Crowe is the vice chairperson and less than full-time training representative on the North Central and East London Trainees’ Committee, Susanna is a generalist with interests in patient safety and risk management, clinical leadership, quality improvement and medical education. She is currently on maternity leave, having achieved her CCT in early 2015.
26 O&G November 2015
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