Pastoral Topics

Pastoral Support

Read our latest newsletter here: June 2021 Newsletter

COVID Pastoral Support

• Wellbeing Hub
• V-Space for SuppoRTT Trainees
• Pandemic Podcasts

Junior Doctors’ Balint Group Reflective Practice Pilot Project

Balint Group Sign Up Form

Giving Bad News

Psychological and Emotional support available

A new service has been  launched by Sussex Partnership Trust and is available to all ESHT staff. The service is accessible via an online wellbeing hub: http://www.sussexstaffinmind.nhs.uk/

The hub offers:

• The opportunity to undertake an online mental wellbeing self-assessment
• A confidential, follow-up full biopsychosocial assessment with an experienced and qualified clinician (which will explore the biological, social and psychological factors that influence mental wellbeing). Once people contact the service to request a confidential assessment, a member of our admin support team will be in touch with them within two working days to set this up. An appointment with a clinician will then be arranged within 10 working days
• Priority access to relevant and effective treatment services
• Agreed follow-up to check in on progress.

To follow…watch this space!

Should you wish to raise a patient safety issue or concern, perceived undermining or harassment or feel that you are struggling or experiencing difficulties in the workplace or at home, we would encourage you to talk to any of the following:

• Your Training Programme Director
• Your Training Programme Administrator
• Your Clinical Supervisor
• Your Medical Education Manager
• Your Deputy Medical Education Manager
• Your Head of School
• Pastoral Nurse Fellows

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust employs an independent ‘Speak up Guardian’ to encourage and support staff to raise concerns and ensure that the voice of the front line is heard clearly at a senior level within the organisation:

Please don’t suffer in silence. Speak to a member of your Medical Education Department for further guidance and support.

or email :  esh-tr.speakupatESHT@nhs.net

• Practitioner Health Programme – www.php.nhs.uk KSS and STFS trainees can access the NHS Practitioner Health Programme – a service for doctors, pharmacists and dentists who may be experiencing emotional, psychological and/or addiction problems
• GMC ‘Your Health Matter’s – www.tinyurl.com/gmcyourhealth GMC link to ‘Your Health Matters’ a website for doctors with health concerns
• Sick Doctors Trust – www.sick-doctors-trust.co.uk Doctors who have problems with addiction to drink or drugs can contact the Sick Doctors Trust on 0370 44 5163
• BMA Counselling Service – www.tinyurl.com/bmaservice for 24/7 telephone counselling by qualified counsellors. Free for everyone (not just BMA members)
• Hope4Medics – www.hope4medics.co.uk/homepage.php Is a charity which specifically offers support for disabled doctors
• Support4Doctors – www.support4doctors.orgGetting the work/life balance right, handling pressure, dealing with career, health and financial issues. These are some of the challenges you may be facing as a doctor. Support4Doctors offers independent information, advice and support
• Medical Royal College – Mentoring Schemes Various Royal Colleges and other organisations run mentoring schemes
• Doctors’ Support Network – www.dsn.org.uk  provides ongoing confidential advice and support to doctors with mental health problems. All calls are dealt with by doctors

Also see the full list here:

Resource Organisations

Any trainee who feels they are struggling/experiencing difficulties should contact one of the following:

• Training Programme Director
• Programme Administrator
• Educational Supervisor
• Clinical Supervisor
• Medical Education Manager
• Deputy Medical Education Manager
• Head of School

If you are a medical student you should contact one of the following:

• Sub Dean
• Undergraduate Administrator
• Medical Education Manager
• Your medical school

ESHT have occupational health departments on both sites who provide a service which is:

• Confidential
• Advisory
• Impartial and non-disciplinary

Don’t suffer in silence, please speak to a member of the Medical Education Department for further guidance and support

Search for DATIX on the Trust’s intranet for details on how to report an incident.

Safe working hours:  Click here for more information or email esh-tr.goswh@nhs.net

Contacts for Doctors with Mental Health Concerns:

Confidential 24/7 Emergency Services BMA Wellbeing Support Service on 0330 123 1245 This is the leading mental health emergency service for doctors. It is available to all doctors – you don’t have to be a BMA member

Samaritans on 116123 The Samaritans provide an ‘active listening’ service open to all

Confidential Treatment Services:

NHS Practitioner Health Programme on 0203 049 4505 Website: https://php.nhs.uk This is a confidential NHS service all doctors in London, and all trainees in KSS. Simon Stevens announced at the Wounded Healer conference in October 2018 that NHS England will extend the service to all doctors in England

NHS GP Health Service on 0300 0303 300 Website: https://gphealth.nhs.uk This is a confidential NHS service for GPs and GP trainees in England which is managed by PHP and provided by a network of psychiatrists and therapists across the country

Useful links: