Rahul Bhattacharya - Consultant Psychiatrist and International Medical Graduate Lead supporting induction and training to support your career development in ELFT. 

Dr Kate Aldersey works alongside William, the Specialty and Specialist (SAS) Tutor and Local Negotiating Committee (LNC) representatives to support SAS doctors across the Trust, with an emphasis on wellbeing. 
 

Dr William Phung is the SAS Tutor providing leadership and guidance to Medical Education teams supporting the training and development needs of SAS Doctors in meeting the SAS Charter. His role is a link between the local representatives, Medical Education /Human Resources Teams and senior management, and also to contact for advice and support.

Dr Bessie Venables - Wellbeing Lead for doctors, email: evenables@nhs.net

Ash Wright - International Recruitment Operational Lead, provides guidance, pastoral support, and ensures a smooth transition into living in the UK.

Medical Education International Medical Graduate Induction and Resources page

Development support 

• International Medical Graduate doctors are expected to critically assess their own learning needs and ensure their PDP reflects both their clinical practice and the relevant generic capabilities to lead and develop services. 
• Job plans should be agreed within the first couple months of working and reviewed yearly with line manager prior to appraisal. ELFT IMG's are offered an appraisal at 6 and 12 months, then yearly thereafter in line with other SAS doctors. 
• We expect line managers to provide a degree of career development thinking. At this moment in time, we do not have a system in place around educational supervision, but Specialty and Specialist (SAS) doctors are encouraged to contact the SAS tutor and medical education around any support required and will be signposted. 

Portfolios access 

• In terms of portfolio, SAS doctors will have access to the SARD portfolio for yearly appraisals and revalidation. 
• SAS doctors can also access the RCPsych's eportfolio system which is free to use - although not tailored for the portfolio pathway (new CESR), it has mappable competencies and may be a more intuitive place to log activities. 
• The SARD portfolio must be used for appraisals and revalidations. Portfolio Pathway New change to the CESR pathway (support still available for those in process of completing CESR). ELFT in process of formalising a process within job plans - however, as it stands, if you are interested in this, please discuss with SAS tutor and medical education. 
• AC approval/ES/CS · Approved clinician training is accessed via a portfolio pathway - there is a pilot programme in supporting SAS doctors with applying to become approved clinicians (last cycle started December 2023). 
• ELFT also encourage SAS doctors who meet the criteria to be supported to train to be Clinical and Educational supervisors. There are both in house courses and external courses which can help facilitate training. Please contact medical education and SAS tutor for more information and to register. 

SAS doctors as appraisers 

• SAS doctors are able to train to become appraisers and join the team of appraisers at ELFT. 
• Please contact Colin Lovett (Medical Revalidation Manager; email colin.lovett@nhs.net ) and Medical Education to attend appraiser training.

ELFT Advanced International Fellowship Scheme in psychiatry provides an exciting opportunity for International Medical Graduate (IMG) Psychiatrists to develop and share their valuable skills, knowledge, experience, and best practices, with benefits to both the fellow and ELFT. 

The Trust will act as sponsor to enable participants to apply for a visa to register with the General Medical Council (GMC). This 2-year scheme provides the opportunity to gain experience in several sub-specialities, gain exposure to the NHS regulatory framework, and work in a multidisciplinary team.  

The GMC expects candidates to demonstrate they meet or exceed the standards required for practice under full registration in the UK and be capable of working at the level of a UK graduate with a minimum of three years post-qualification experience. They should have achieved higher postgraduate qualifications overseas and wish to pursue further specialist training in the UK, and for whom taking the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test may not be appropriate.  

Whilst working in ELFT IMG will advance their specialist skills and interests, qualifications and career, through a structured programme of clinical training in a range of psychiatric areas. 

After 6 months they may progress further with increased responsibilities based on their competencies and performance reviews, and each fellow has an educational supervisor/mentor who oversees progress and ensures that IMG attains their personalised educational and training objectives. The appointed fellows will have protected time for training and professional development incorporated into their job schedule, see sample below. They will also be supported to contribute and develop as an educator and researcher.  

Participation in the scheme could lead to postgraduate qualifications, including Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych). Doctors may wish to work towards specialist registration with the GMC, through either the Portfolio Pathway or applying for a specialty training programme, both of which are available in ELFT.