Please note that the course booking and format have now changed. You can find more information and booking request forms.
Wessex prides itself on its suite of courses for Wessex GPs and the Ministry of Defence, to support the GMC primary care pathway for supervision.
Wessex is divided into four geographical areas:
- Mid-Wessex
- Dorset
- Southampton
- Portsmouth and Isle of Wight
Courses have been tailor-made to provide prospective and existing Wessex GP clinical and educational supervisors with the initial skills they require to develop, supervise and train GPs in postgraduate training throughout their clinical training and induction into surgeries.
The courses blend the theory and practice of medical education and feedback, are learner-focused, and are delivered in a small group format.
The following section outlines the process to become an educational supervisor/trainer. If you have a question that isn’t answered on this page, please email the team: england.gp.wx@nhs.net.
Looking to become an educational supervisor/trainer?
Taking on a GP educator role is a rewarding step in your career. As well as supporting the next generation of GPs and healthcare professionals, you’ll benefit from:
- opportunities to develop your own skills as an educator
- excellent peer support through local trainers’ groups
- variety in your working week through teaching and training
- staying current with clinical developments by working alongside resident doctors
- the option to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education (please note this is no longer a mandatory requirement in Wessex)
In Wessex, it is recommended that educational supervisors receive an additional one week of educational study leave.
What are the eligibility criteria to become a GP educational supervisor?
To become a GP educational supervisor in Wessex, you must be a qualified GP who:
- is at least two years post Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) if based in an existing training practice, or three years if joining a non-training practice when the first doctor in training arrives
- has been working at your current practice for at least six months
- works a minimum of three sessions per week (the tutorial session can be included in this)
Please note that qualified GPs working two sessions or less can still be an educational supervisor but cannot be the sole educational supervisor for a resident doctor.
How to get started as a GP educator?
- The first step is to contact your GP patch associate dean to express your intention to become an educational supervisor. They will arrange a meeting with you to discuss the process.
- Submit the relevant form for the course you wish to attend.
- The patch office will then arrange for an approval visit to the GP practice of the prospective educational supervisor and they will be required to complete the TA1 application form. The application is then considered by the primary care school board.
- Once the new supervisor has been approved, their first resident doctor can be allocated to the practice.
How do I book onto GP educator course?
Please contact our central administration team: england.gp.wx@nhs.net to book a place on any of our courses.
Will there be an interview and what will the format be?
After completing the educational supervisor (ES) course, the Wessex office will arrange an approval meeting. This is usually an in-person or virtual discussion with a small panel, typically comprising the patch associate dean, a lay representative, a local educational supervisor, and their resident doctor(s).
The report from the visit is considered by the primary care school board, which meets in June and December each year. You will receive formal written confirmation of the outcome.
What happens after I am approved?
The GP training programme team will notify the GMC of your new role, and this will be added to your registration. Your work as a GP educational supervisor will also be assessed as part of your NHS annual appraisal.
You’ll have the opportunity to attend local trainers’ group meetings and a range of educational courses to support your ongoing development.
What is expected of me as an educational supervisor?
Educational supervisors should have protected non-trainee-facing time for each doctor in training. This allows time to review portfolios and prepare for tutorials and is in addition to protected tutorial and debrief time with the doctor in training.