Thursday Teaching

Structure / Role of a Chair / Small Group Work / Group Facilitator/Absences/What the scheme expects

The Thursday teaching takes place at the postgraduate centre at Barnet General Hospital.

Afternoon Structure

12:30

Lunch

13:30

Teaching Session

15:00

Tea Break

15:30

Small Group Work

16:30

Finish

The teaching sessions cover a wide variety of topics, see the current timetable if you want to know more.

There are a wide variety of speakers, ranging from VTS trainees to local GPs, hospital consultants and specialists in related fields.

The Role of a Chair

Each Teaching session has an allocated chair for that session whose responsibility it is to ensure the session runs smoothly and to time.

  • Make contact with the guest speaker 2 weeks prior to the session
    • To inform them of the needs of the group
    • Encourage interactive presentation
    • Inform how many in audience and, if necessary, explain about VTS and SHO/Registrars
    • Find out AV requirements/handouts and pass details onto the administrator.
    • Ask permission to put any slides/handouts onto our VTS website for the benefit of those who have missed the session
  • On the day, put out chairs in circle and give out feedback forms (usually already in the lecture theatre but if not collect from admin) after the talk
  • Welcome the guest speaker and invite them for refreshments and food
  • Ensure that the speakers AV needs are met
  • Ensure that the session starts on time
  • Introduction of the speaker to the group
  • Ensure time-keeping of the session
  • Deal with any problems that arise through the course of the session e.g. failure of any AV equipment etc.
  • Ensure that the session draws to a close in a reasonable amount of time so that the tea session can start
  • At end, close session and thank speaker
  • Ensure that the guest speaker is invited to tea.
  • Collect the feedback forms and process them as early as possible
  • Ensure lecture theatre is put back in its original state before leaving.
  • Write a prompt letter thanking the speaker and passing on the feedback. Email a copy of this letter to all four programme directors (Mike, Gill, Allan and Anita).
  • If you are not able to do the allocated session, swap well in advance and inform Mandy and the Programme Directors of the swap.

Small Group Work

Aim

  • Focus on the doctor patient relationship and associated feelings (not a therapy session for the doctor's problems).
  • Focus on team problems ie. Relationship with firm or trainer/practice.

Format

  • A group, typically totaling ten, with one course organiser leading.
  • Stable group with changes every six months (some finish the VTS, new people join)
  • Meet regularly most weeks, 3.30 - 4.30pm
  • Members constant but acceptable if all can't make all of the sessions.

Method

  • Leaders ask "Has anyone got a case or issue"?
  • Wait quietly until have several offerings.
  • Mainly new cases, but follow ups important.
  • Usually 2 cases / issues per session.

Presenter presents a case. After presentation group usually asks some clarifying questions and focus on the doctor/patient relationship.

The Task of the Facilitator is to:

  • Aim to ensure that the group are working.
  • To ensure the topic remains the doctor patient relationship.
  • If all is going well - keep quiet.

Methods

  • Listen and watch
  • Stop work avoidance (happens when a case gets difficult) - bring them back to the case.
  • Stop them avoiding an issue by discussing another case e.g. "I had a patient just like that ". Leaders may say "I think we should stay with this case", or "This patient seems so difficult we keep talking about something else."
  • Tolerate silence especially if "thinking" is occurring.Focus work on feelings not actions or issues so avoid words like "why", or "what to do".
  • Reflect the mood, e.g. "We all seem a bit depressed" or "You seem a bit angry/upset".
  • Reflect questions - if a participant asks the presenter a question it is often good to reflect it back "What's in your mind in asking that question". (Gives the presenter a change to hear speculation of others).
  • Ask about feelings of the patient (to the group) e.g. "How do you think the patient was feeling then"?
  • Sometimes the participants get upset or tearful and may need some silence and hand held.
  • On the whole don't get into actions but actions around resolving relationship issues are acceptable i.e. don't talk about managing the illness, but okay to discuss what the doctor may say next time if the relationship is struggling.

Outcome

  • Insight, understanding and new approaches.
  • No instant solutions.
  • Doctor often feels much more positive about the relationship and may develop new strategies and approaches, and a new empathy.

Absences

Any planned absences will need to be discussed in advance with the Programme Director that leads your small group. In their absence, please approach one of the other Programme Directors.

If the PD does not feel this is an acceptable reason for taking time off from teaching and the trainee decides to take the time off regardless, this will be counted as annual leave or if negotiated with your clinical supervisor/trainer can be made up at a later date.

 What the Scheme Expects?

(1) You in relation to yourself

(2) You in relation to your GP colleagues

(3) You in relation to your hospital colleagues

(4) You in relation to the Scheme

 

(1) You in relation to yourself

  • Follow the standards set out in the GMC guidelines in ‘Good Medical Practice’.
  • Look after your health maintaining a work/life balance.
  • Maintain your eportfolio
  • Aim for excellence

 

(2) You in relation to your GP colleagues

  • Form a united team
  • Help your colleague if in difficulty
  • Don’t leave anyone sitting on their own
  • If someone needs to swap a duty try and help

 

(3) You in relation to your hospital colleagues

  • Work as a team
  • Offer to cover for a colleague when required.
  • Organise a colleague to cover for you on a Thursday so that you can attend the half-day release. Ensure that you return the favour.
  • Contact your Clinical Supervisor/assessor well in advance to arrange for CBDs, DOPs, CSR etc.

 

(4) You in relation to the Scheme

  • Respond to all your emails
  • Inform the Scheme Administrator, PD, HR and any relevant departments if your contact details change.
  • Inform the Scheme Administrator if your sick leave exceeds 7days per 6 month post.
  • Ensure that you sign the register each week and inform the Scheme Administrator if you are absent for any reason.

Away Days

  • Remember to ring-fence study leave monies-£85 for July and £250 for September
  • We recommend that you complete your study leave form well in advance and pass it to the Scheme Administrator so that it may be copied.

 

Thursday pm

  • Attend for lunch which commences at 12.30
  • Make sure you are seated in the lecture theatre of the Education Centre at 1.30pm
  • If you are ‘chair’ for the meeting, ensure you know the requirements
  • Be prepared to contribute your comments..don’t be shy
  • Be respectful to your colleagues in your ‘small group’
  • Remember the confidential nature of the ‘small group’
  • Don’t forget to bring your challenging cases.
  • Remember that the Thursday afternoon teaching session is part of your working week. Absence without good reason is not acceptable.

 

Volunteering

  • Only volunteer if you’re prepared to do the task
  • Keep to deadlines.
  • If you have a committee task ensure that you contact Scheme members for any concerns and keep everyone up to date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


B