About SuppoRTT
NHSE is committed to developing a high quality learning environment for all doctors in training, regardless of their personal circumstances.
As part of the ACAS Junior Doctors’ Agreement, NHSE agreed to develop evidence-based, innovative approaches for supporting postgraduate medical trainees who return to training after time out of programme. The national Supported Return to Training (SuppoRTT) project was born.
In response to a call for ideas that received responses from doctors in training and their representative bodies, educators, medical royal colleges, employers, and other clinical professions, NHSE outlined 10 commitments to support trainees with their return to training. These include:
- capturing data on returners so we can continue to provide individualised support for returning trainees where and when it is required;
- ring-fencing funding for doctors to access activities and resources in support of their return;
- coordinating and centralising a defined process for exit, time out and re-entry to the training programme;
- commissioning training and resources for Educational Supervisors to help them better support trainee returners;
- delivering biannual Keeping in Touch conferences;
- collaborating internally and with the wider system to identify and address interdependencies and raise the profile of returners’ voices;
- conducting further investigation to develop a “menu” of bespoke return to training approaches for trainees.
NHSE will continue to work with trainees, their membership organisations, and other organisations with responsibility for education, training, and the regulation of postgraduate medical trainees to deliver our Return to Training strategy, and to identify and resolve further areas for improvement.
The South West SuppoRTT Hub
Our team consists of two teams based at the Peninsula and the Severn NHSE offices, who act as the “hubs” and play a role in the ongoing establishment and development of the project at a regional and national level. The “spokes” of the team will be the primary point of contact for trainees due to undertake or return from prolonged leave. As well as the support of your educational supervisor, each of the 21 employing trusts in the region have a SuppoRTT Champion, whose role is to facilitate a high quality, safe and supported return to training for you. Further information on the Champions can be found on our SuppoRTT Champions - who can help page.
Team Members:
Adam Malin (Associate Dean for SuppoRTT)
Christopher Stewart (Team Leader)
George Sylvester (Clinical Fellow)
Please feel free to contact us on our hub email address england.supportt.sw@nhs.net
Local Education Providers
- SuppoRTT Champions
- Educational Supervisors
- PGMEC administrators