Confidential mentoring for Shropshire Telford & Wrekin GPs, provided by trained, local GP mentors 

As part of GP support and development, we have a team of local mentors; STW GP Mentor Team. They are available to support any STW GP, please get in touch if you would like to take up this opportunity.

The team is led by Dr Rachel Taylor (Donnington Practice) and Dr Melanie Thompson (Woodside Practice), who amongst other things, guide the service and hold regular team support sessions, meet with new mentees for an initial conversation to understand needs and help connect mentee/mentor. They are always there as a third party contact for the mentoring relationship. We appreciate that Shropshire and Telford can feel like a small community, and should you wish to take up mentoring without one of the leads being aware, please contact Eluned Eagle, Primary Care Workforce Facilitator directly and this can be facilitated.

How could mentoring help me?

Some examples where mentoring has proved particularly impactful:

  • settling in and developmental support to newly-qualified GPs
  • locums moving into salaried roles
  • mid-career GPs making career choices including deciding to take on a partnership role
  • GPs thinking of returning to the profession

Mentoring can also deliver a number of positive personal and organisational benefits including:

  • increased productivity and better time management
  • personal and professional development
  • increased job-related wellbeing, self-esteem and confidence
  • better work-life balance
  • preparation for the future and heightened career aspirations

Assurance

The mentor team undertakes CPD on an ongoing basis and you can be assured that your mentor will:

  • hold full registration and a licence to practise with the General Medical Council (GMC),
  • meet the requirements for remaining on the NHS England GP Performers List and report to NHS England any concerns that might affect your status on the National Medical Performers List,
  • not be subject to interim suspension under section 41A of the Medical Act 1983,
  • currently be working at least three clinical sessions per week,
  • be a trained mentor, part of a group and receiving supervision,
  • be matched to you – if you require an out of area mentor, this can also be arranged.

Contacts

Dr Melanie Thompson and Dr Rachel Taylor – GP Mentor Leads
Eluned Eagle – Primary Care Workforce Facilitator

If you have any queries and/or are a GP working in STW interested in being mentored, please email stw.traininghub@nhs.net for the attention of Eluned Eagle.