The first cohort joined in June 2016 and 6 out of the 7 candidates were employed into vacancies starting at the August 2016 changeover. The IMG’s were then given a shortened period of induction once in a trust post of only 1 month. This formal bespoke clinical attachment programme is designed to provide an extensive introduction to the NHS providing IMG’s with UK experience for their CV’s .
The candidates apply for the scheme via NHS jobs and are selected by a shortlisting process undertaken by the core team from LEADit . Once selected the group of successful candidates are given an honorary post within ED and AMU and a fixed start date arranged.
The programme consists of a 5 day intensive induction of classroom tutorials with the main theme being quality and safety in the NHS. The lectures are given by staff that have come through the international recruitment route so they could give valuable advice and speak from the heart about learning a new system, living in a different country with a new culture and developing a career in the UK. Other topics include UK culture, well being, mentoring, available educational resources, revalidation, appraisals, what is fitness to practice, career advice on training and non training routes, finance in the NHS, compassionate care and CV/interview skills.
A 5 week full time clinical placement is then undertaken where duties are primarily department based and under the supervision of a Consultant. The candidates observe ward care and on call duties as carried out by foundation level doctors or registrars that the candidates are aligned to shadow during their 5 weeks. A clinical supervisor is allocated and expectations are that 3 feedback reports would be obtained over this period along with a formal set of competencies completed.
Over the 5 week clinical placement attendance at IMG teaching and departmental teaching is encouraged .On successful completion of these competencies a 12 month trust grade post is granted to the candidate at the end of their placement.
During the placement an orange ‘ clinical attachment' badge is worn in order to ensure support and guidance is provided to them. The difference to many clinical attachments is that this is a formal structured programme with intensive classroom tuition of 1 week and formal competency sign off by the Consultant team at the end of a placement.
The benefits of this approach is the shortened salaried induction, reducing the costs to the trust of supernumery time. The 6 week induction is competency driven with no guarantees of a post until sign off. For the IMG it provides a good foundation of UK experience with advice and support from other IMG’s, it provides interview skills and advice for future career plans, clinical supervision and education as well as a possibility of their first UK post as well as support adapting to a new country and culture.