November Bulletin
Movember – Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month
National Self-Care Week – 11-17 November
Remembrance Sunday 10 November
Other national campaigns this month
Action for happiness calendar – ‘New Ways November’
Introduction
Welcome to the November bulletin!
As the clocks go back, my thoughts turn towards how the NHS will cope with winter pressures, although in my clinical practice every year there seems to be even less of a seasonal difference in how busy we are. The next few months will be stressful, so make sure that you talk to your colleagues and supervisors to get the support that you need. Be aware that even the most experienced of doctors will have times when they’re stressed, so don’t worry about talking to your colleagues about how you’re feeling!
End of placement
For the vast majority of you, November means the last month of this placement. It’s a good time to have a think about what you’ve learnt in this post (in our September webinar, we talked about using your portfolio to aid your learning, and how reflective writing helps you develop as a doctor). It’s also important to complete a Team Assessment of Behaviour (TAB) and to ask your supervisor to arrange Placement Supervision Group (PSG) feedback.
TAB vs PSG
No not a Champions League match (terrible football joke there. Ed.), but rather two different forms of feedback on how you are as a doctor. I am often asked about the difference between TAB and PSG, and why they both need to be done.
Firstly, foundation doctors choose who completes their TAB, whereas the named clinical supervisor chooses who completes PSG.
Secondly, the questions asked in TAB & PSG cover different, but very important, aspects of being a doctor:
- TAB is very much about the behaviour of the Foundation Doctor, how they communicate and get on with other members of the multidisciplinary team. As I reflect on nearly 20 years of the Foundation Programme, these behaviours are usually where Foundation doctors are going wrong if they’re struggling
- PSG feedback covers the whole Foundation Programme curriculum, so that clinical skills in different settings are covered as well as other important facets of being a good Foundation doctor
Whilst there may be overlap in some of the questions, and also in those who complete the forms, both TAB and PSG have been shown to be valid in helping foundation doctors both to identify their strengths and to identify areas for development, so that any support required can be arranged.
Feedback
You will receive feedback about both TAB and PSG. In all aspects of society, it is clear that good quality feedback is fundamental to changing behaviour and improving performance.
It is really important that the feedback you get is constructive, clear and has a plan for how to develop your skills and behaviour at the end of it. Our experience is that most of this feedback will be positive and complimentary – Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the most successful managers in football history, said ‘The two most important words [..] are well done’. This equally applies to medicine.
However, if your supervisor gives feedback that suggests some sort of improvement is required, then please take this as something to help you improve and get better as a doctor rather as a personal criticism. I know how difficult it can be to hear that there are aspects of practice that you need to improve, as I got feedback like that when I was training. Reflecting back on this, it helped me to be a better doctor and to provide better patient care, so please try to take any such feedback in that spirit.
Take care of yourselves and each other.
(Declaration of Interests: Dr Masding does not support Manchester United, but has a lot of admiration for the achievements of Sir Alex Ferguson)
As always, there is information on all this on the website. You can also email questions to educationandsupport@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk
Best wishes
Mike Masding, Co-chair to the UKFPO
Reflection
Reflect on your own mental health this month and get support if needed. For more information and resources, check NHS employers – mental health in the workplace webpage
Spotlight on educational resources
Careers support for foundation doctors
Have a look at our February 2024 webinar on careers and, if you’re interested, at the recruitment timelines for specialty applications (round 1 is currently open). We signpost to lots of other useful resources on our Careers webpage.
Assessments during the Foundation Programme
With approximately one month until the end of the first placement of the training year (for most FDs), it’s a good time to think about the assessments you need to complete or prepare for before you rotate into your next placement.
Opportunities and events
National Foundation Doctors Presentation Day (NFDPD) 2025
Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract for the presentation day! We will be getting back to everyone by Monday 11 November, midday. Registration will also open on this day, so keep a look out for more details.
We are delighted to be able to announce the venue for the 2025 NFDPD!
Where: Sheffield United Football Club, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, S2 4SU
When: Friday 17 January 2025, all day (approximately 08:30 to 16:30)
Please visit our NFDPD pages for more information on the event and email foundation.nfdpd@nhs.net with any queries.
TakeAIM fellows – Careers Fair
We are the takeAIM fellows – a trainee led, Health Education England initiative to promote recruitment to Acute Internal medicine (AIM) and to increase awareness of it among medical students and doctors early on in their careers. We are affiliated with the Society of Acute Medicine (SAM).
For any budding acute medicine doctors, or those who are intrigued what acute medicine has to offer, please head over to our website on https://www.takeaim.org.uk or email us at takeaim@acutemedicine.org.uk
Webinars
Recordings
The following recording is now available on our webinars webpage:
‘Everyday ethical decision-making for foundation doctors’, held on 18 October 2024
Elearning for healthcare update
Review the October 2024 elfh update