To access the service a referral form will need to be completed by a suitable educator within your local education team. The form should be discussed together, and your educator will complete the online Referral Form. The PSWS are best able to help you and your educators when we understand how the issues you are facing impact on your training and what support has already been offered or provided. The educator is usually your Educational Supervisor, but you can also approach and discuss any issues impacting your training with your Clinical Supervisor, Training Programme Director, Head of School or Director of Medical Education.

Please note that the PSWS no longer offers a self referral pathway. If for any reason you feel that you can’t discuss your needs or issues with anyone within your education team, then please contact the PSWS at england.PSWInfo.TV@nhs.net for a confidential conversation with a member of the team. You can also contact PSWS if you have any questions about the support offered.

Educator Referral For Resident Doctor

“I am an educator leading the support for a Resident Doctor in need of support within NHSETV”

Educators are encouraged to refer trainees if they feel that the trainee would benefit from additional support and the educator would like to be involved in the process. It is suggested that the referral is made by the educator with the most relevant experience of the matters arising and who is taking the lead in coordinating the trainee’s support.  It is also recommended that the whole educational team is informed that the trainee is working with PSWS.

The service remains a confidential space for trainees referred by educators. However, there will be an early three way meeting, in which the educator can add further context to the referral and be involved in the goal setting process with the coach and trainee. There will also be further contacts, with content consented by the trainee, to allow the educator to add further comment if they wish.

If a trainee has failed an exam twice for Specialty Training or once for General Practice, it is strongly recommended that educators discuss PSWS exam support with their trainee. See more about what we offer on our Exam Support page and on our Neurodiversity page.

Please complete this referral form. The referral form will be responded to within 5 working days.

Please note, the trainee must consent to the referral and it cannot be mandated by ARCP.  

What happens next

Each referral will be asked to meet with one of our Case Managers to work on a collaborative understanding of the reason for accessing the PSWS. The case manager will then agree next steps with the trainee which can include signposting to services within and/or outside of PSWS. If the referral is for exam support, the trainee will be offered screening for dyslexia as part of the initial consultation.

Following this, an agreed summary of the meeting will be shared with the trainee (and Educator where relevant) and stored confidentially on the PSWS database according to IG and GDPR guidelines.

For all referrals: mental health concerns

Many healthcare practitioners will suffer from mental ill health at some point in their career. Coaching requires that the coachee is ready to make decisions and follow through on their plans towards the goals set. This is often not the case for those currently suffering from stress, depression or anxiety and so mental health support should be sought first. Colleagues are encouraged to consult their own GP in the first instance or to seek alternative help from sources such as Practitioner Health.

Supported Return to Training

Coaching is often useful for those looking to return to work after a period of ill health, or prolonged time away from training for other reasons e.g. maternity leave, OOPs. Trainees can find information about the SuppoRTT programme here, and, via completion of the pre-return form, can request access to the SuppoRTT coaching sessions.