WARD stands for 'Well and Resilient Doctors'. It is a successful scheme, originally set up in the Severn and Peninsula Deaneries of England to support the wellbeing of junior doctors. We are really excited to announce that WARD is now coming to the Midlands!
Emergency Help
First things first, if you are in crisis or feel unsafe or at risk to yourself or others, then you should:
Attend your nearest Emergency Department/A&E as soon as possible (24 hours a day, every day)
Call Emergency Services on 999 or ask someone to do it for you and ask them for an ambulance to take you to A&E.
Urgent Sources of Help
If you need urgent support for your mental health, but there’s no immediate danger to your safety or the safety of others, see your GP for an emergency appointment.
Contact the Samaritans on 0161 236 8000 (local call charges apply) or 116 123 (free to call) for confidential, emotional support (open 24 hours a day).
NHS Practitioner Health provides a 24/7 crisis text service and you can access this by texting "NHSPH" to 85258.
For plenty more wellbeing resources, please see the 'Wellbeing Resources' section below.
So How Does WARD Work?
The Three Pillars of WARD are:
1. A confidential, near-peer listening, support and sign-posting service, by junior doctors, for junior doctors.
2. Wellbeing-related educational sessions, delivered during foundation programme teaching timetable.
3. A recognised name (so you know where to go for help!) across trusts in the Midlands
Our overall aim is to create a culture change in trusts where junior doctor wellbeing and mental health are supported and prioritised.
Peer Support & Signposting
WARD teams consist of volunteer junior doctors who are there to answer any questions you may have, e.g.
I'm struggling to cannulate!
How do I arrange rota swaps?
How do I book my study leave?
How do I get a car parking space?
I'm really struggling with work. I'm not sure being a doctor is for me!
I'm worried about my ARCP!
I'm having problems with my boss!
The WARD team may not be able to solve the problem, but they will be able to signpost you and get you on the right track.
Volunteering: If you would like to volunteer as a peer support and signposter, please contact the WARD lead at your trust (see below).
Wellbeing Educational Sessions
WARD has teaching sessions on:
Introduction to WARD
Practising Safe Reflection
Drainers & Chargers
Managing Sleep & Night Shifts
Mindfulness
Managing Yourself: How to Cope with Errors and Complaints
We are also looking for people to create teaching sessions on the following topics:
Recognising Burnout
Supporting your Peers
Sources of Help
Exam Difficulties
Stepping up to the Next Level
Equalities, Diversity & Inclusion
Careers and post-F2 decisions
Finally, we have a range of charity speakers who would like to speak about the wellbeing resources they provide for NHS staff.
Volunteers: We are always looking for volunteers to deliver teaching and develop new teaching packages that you feel would be helpful to others. If you would like to help, please contact the WARD lead at your trust (see below).
Trusts
We are in the pilot phase of WARD in the Midlands. Trusts currently involved are:
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust
Please have a look at your trust page for more information and to get involved there.
Other Trusts - setting up WARD
If your trust is not listed here but you would like to get involved, please get in touch! We'd love for WARD to grow organically across the region and are always looking for keen individuals wanting to support junior doctor wellbeing.
At present, in order to set up WARD in the Midlands, you would need:
The support of your Director for Medical Education (or equivalent)
A team of keen volunteers which could include junior doctors of different levels, your wellbeing champion, your chief registrar, specialty doctors etc
To contact your local NHS trust charity for funding (a small amount!) for merchandise. We can provide logos, poster designs and the contacts for ordering WARD merchandise.
To contact your IT department to set up an email address e.g. TrustnameWARD@nhs.net
We are more than happy to support through any and all of this, e.g. through helping to present WARD to your Director of Medical Education. We are also happy to provide training on delivering the teaching sessions and answer any other questions you may have.
Volunteers and Recruitment
Peer Support and Signposting:
Volunteers will make themselves available for supporting juniors and addressing their concerns in-person, e.g. at F1/2 teaching, after wellbeing teaching sessions, in the doctors’ mess
They will also provide support through responding to queries via email and the website
They will provide a listening ear and signpost juniors to where help can best be provided, including using the escalation pathway if appropriate
They will receive training in ‘having good conversations’, incorporating some aspects of mentoring and coaching skills
This role will enable you to develop communication, pastoral care, supervision and leadership skills which could help with future job applications and interviews.
Education and recruitment
Leading/co-ordinating the F1/F2 WARD teaching programme which will consist of approximately 6 wellbeing sessions over the year
Pre-existing WARD workshops can be used or volunteers are welcome to write their own on topics they feel would be useful
Seek feedback on any teaching sessions for the WARD regional committee
Support WARD recruitment drives for new volunteers when necessary
This role will enable you to develop skills in teaching, presenting and organisation.
Website and Publicity
Ensure the trust section on the WARD website is up-to-date
Advertise WARD within the trust, e.g. through posters, mental health days, roadshows, grand rounds.
Ensure team has enough merchandise in coordination with the regional WARD fellow
This role will enable you to develop technical skills in website management, as well as organisational and leadership roles.
Quality Improvement, Evaluation and Research
We will be looking for volunteers to gather feedback from teaching sessions and other WARD activities and to use this to improve and modify WARD in your trust and the Midlands.
This role will enable you to develop skills in QI, innovation, evaluation, research and presenting, which are crucial for your portfolio and future job applications.
Training for Volunteers
We hope to be able to offer WARD volunteers specific training in 'How to have good conversations' in the future.
In the meantime, you can sign up for training in 'Having Safe and Effective Wellbeing Conversations' here
There is also a useful e-LFH module on 'Medical Mentoring' available here:
Wellbeing Resources
Urgent Educational/Clinical Support
For urgent mental or physical health needs, please call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department (A&E) as above.
For any urgent concerns or guidance regarding your training, please contact the Professional Support and Wellbeing Unit at psu.wm@hee.nhs.uk.
Other sources of non-urgent help:
Your educational supervisor
Your clinical supervisor
Your training programme director
Your head of school
Non-urgent health resources
ADDACTION
Addaction is a major national drug and alcohol treatment charity in the United Kingdom.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Alcoholic Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
BEAT: EATING DISORDERS CHARITY
BEAT is the UK’s eating disorder charity. Founded in 1989 as the Eating Disorders Association, their mission is to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders.
BMA COUNSELLING
Free and confidential 24/7 counselling and peer support services open to all doctors and medical students (regardless of BMA membership), plus their partners and dependents, on 0330 123 1245. There is always someone you can talk to.
DOCTORS SUPPORT NETWORK
We are a confidential PEER SUPPORT network for doctors and medical students with concerns about their mental health.
DOCTORS IN DISTRESS
Doctors in Distress are dedicated to reducing stress and burnout in healthcare workers.
Through confidential facilitated groups, they provide an opportunity to give and get support.
DOC HEALTH
Doc Health helps doctors who are dealing with stress-related anxiety and depression. Issues covered include:
• Relationship difficulties at work and at home
• Burnout and work/life balance
• Bullying or harassment at work
• Communication difficulties
• Adjustment difficulties
• Examination stress
• Inquiry/clinical incident stress
• Trauma past or present
• Bereavement/loss
The service offers up to six face to face individual sessions with medically qualified Consultant Psychotherapists, flexibly applied, with expert signposting to longer term support and liaison with other health services where needed.
DocHealth is exclusively self-referral, with no report writing unless specifically requested by the doctor using the service.
It is supported by the RMBF and the British Medical Association (BMA).
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who have joined to do something about their own gambling and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.
MEDICAL COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL
The MCA is an independent charity of health professionals from all medical specialties, without links to the government or the alcohol industry. We are dedicated to improving the understanding and management of alcohol-related health harm.
MIND
Provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing mental health problems
MINDFULNESS FOR DOCTORS
Mindfulness for Doctors is a national network which facilitates residential weekends for doctors and medical students who want to explore secular mindfulness based practice both personally and professionally.
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
Narcotics Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. They are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other.
PRACTITIONER HEALTH PROGRAMME
Practitioner Health is a free, confidential NHS primary care mental health and addiction service with expertise in treating health & care professionals.
SICK DOCTORS TRUST
Provision of early intervention and treatment for doctors suffering from addiction to alcohol or other drugs
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
THE CAMERON FUND
The Fund is a charity for doctors who are, or have been, general practitioners, and for their dependents. It offers help in times of poverty, hardship, or distress. The Fund aims to meet the needs of its beneficiaries in the fullest and most practical ways possible.
MEDICS MONEY
Find a specialist Medical Accountant, Financial Adviser or Mortgage adviser specialising in doctors and medical professionals.
ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND (RMBF)
Depending on individual needs and circumstances, RMBF is able to provide grants, loans, information, advice, clothes parcels and payments to assist with domestic and financial crises or help with childcare and other costs.
ROYAL MEDICAL FOUNDATION
The Royal Medical Foundation, a medical benevolent charity assists UK medical practitioners and their dependents who find themselves in financial hardship.
THE FREE MINDFULNESS PROJECT
A list of free, mindfulness-related resources
EMPLOYMENT ADVICE
BMA ADVICE
The BMA is the professional association for all doctors in the UK as well as an independent trade union for BMA members. Members can seek advice and assistance on any non-clinical employment related issue.
MEDICAL PROTECTION SOCIETY (FOR MPS MEMBERS ONLY)
The Medical Protection society is the leading provider of comprehensive professional indemnity and expert advice to doctors, dentists and health professionals around the world.
MEDICAL DEFENCE UNION (FOR MDU MEMBERS ONLY)
For MDU members, the union provides expert help and advice on medico-legal and ethical matters including handling complaints, claims and GMC cases. It is staffed by a team of medico-legal advisors.
BEREAVEMENT AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE
CRUSE
Cruse offers face-to-face, telephone, email and website support and is the leading national charity for bereaved people. They offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies.
RELATE
Relate is the UK’s largest and most experienced relationship counselling organization helping people to work through their relationship difficulties and reach their own decisions about the best way forward.
DOMESTIC ADVICE
VICTIM SUPPORT LINE
Victim Support is the national charity which helps people affected by crime. We provide free and confidential support to help you deal with your experience, whether you report the crime.
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE
Run in partnership with Refuge and Women’s Aid, this is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues and others calling on their behalf.
MEN’S ADVICE LINE
The Helpline for male victims of domestic abuse
WOMEN’S AID
National service supporting the safety of women and children who are the victims of domestic violence.
CAREERS ADVICE
HEALTH CAREERS
Provides information about a career in health, how the health sector is structured and specific information about careers in the NHS, Medicine and Public Health
MEDICAL FORUM
The Medical Forum provides career guidance programme for those who are thinking about a change in career direction.
MEDIC FOOTPRINTS
Alternative Careers and Wellbeing for Doctors. They offer workshops and national conferences. They also run a blog on variety of well-being issues.
OTHER
CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
Citizens Advice Bureau give free, confidential, impartial and independent advice on a limitless range of subjects, including debt, benefits, housing, legal matters, employment, immigration and consumer issues.
ARTICLES
‘HOW TO HANDLE STRESS AND LOOK AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH’
A BMJ article recommended by the Practitioner Health Programme
WELLBEING APPS
STAYALIVE
The Stay Alive app is a suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis.
HEADSPACE
Headspace is a science-backed app in mindfulness and meditation, providing unique tools and resources to help reduce stress, build resilience, and aid better sleep.
Free of charge with an NHS email address.
UNMIND
Unmind is a mental health platform that empowers staff to proactively improve their mental wellbeing.
Free of charge with an NHS email address.
FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ACCESS FREE WELLBEING APPS
WEBINARS AND PODCASTS
Webinars and podcasts on managing your mental health and wellbeing during Covid-19.
Links
Midlands WARD PGVLE:
West Midlands Deanery Support for Trainees:
The Midlands Charter:
Comments