Consultants, SAS and Locally Employed Doctors

Overview

As a Consultant, SAS or Locally Employed Doctor returning to work, you may experience very different stressors to Trainees due to seniority and level of expectation from you on immediate return.

This may include supervision of juniors during potentially complex procedures, which you yourself may not have performed for the entire period of your absence.

As with Trainees, any absence of leave for more than three months can lead to a significant decline in skills and knowledge and any period of more than 2 years is likely to require some form of formal re-training2.

It is therefore important that your learning needs and concerns are addressed. Integration back into work should also include a phased return to work in which you are able to focus on rebuilding confidence and skills to your previous level as quickly as possible.

The framework for all doctors returning to work should follow the same principles for Trainees returning to work.

In addition to this, should be an either formal or informal ‘buddy’ system. The buddy system would involve you being paired with a peer (who can be more or less senior to yourself) with whom you can meet for on going support after the phased return to work period has been completed.

Peer to Peer Support

The College offers informal peer to peer to members who are looking for guidance from their peers on workplace issues. This is not intended as a formal mentoring service but more a ‘connection’ service and a way for members to find other members who are willing and able to give guidance on handling mainly non-clinical issues. This may be one-off support or may lead to an ongoing dialogue. The service is treated as strictly private and confidential. Issues discussed will not be shared outside the peer to peer relationship unless there is a specific agreement between the mentor and mentee or a safety issue arises. You can make an initial enquiry using the form below.