UK Shape of Training steering group: report

10. Mentoring

10.1 The SoTR identified a need to support doctors at the "transition phases" of their careers. The first appointment to the consultant grade is recognised to be particularly challenging. The concept of introducing mandatory or formalised "mentoring" was proposed by attendees at a UKSTSG workshop as a potential solution. Mentoring is already considered to be good practice and is offered to many appointees.

10.2 Although the SoTR did not recommend mentorship the UKSTSG suggested that further work should be undertaken to understand the implications of instituting a period of formal and mandatory mentorship. This has been progressed by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges who organized a consensus meeting that included key stakeholders and led to the development of principles for the introduction of formal mentoring (see annex 8). These recognise that the nature of the mentoring process may differ between disciplines.