These general guidelines apply to applicants based in Cambridge (Addenbrookes and Papworth), applicants who are based in Addenbrookes’ Paediatrics Department and applicants in our Regional Partner Hospitals

 

We aim to appoint Undergraduate Clinical Supervisors who will continue with their supervision group from the start of the course through until graduation (3 years for the standard course, 6 years for the MB/PhD programme).  However, this is an ideal and we will appoint supervisors for shorter periods of time.  Nonetheless in general we do aim to recruit doctors who anticipate being available for at least a year.

Please note that you may only apply to be a clinical supervisor in one location at one time.  It is not possible to apply to become a clinical supervisor at more than one location.  Please choose on your application the hospital at which you are based currently (or will be based from August if nearing the time of the August rotation).

If you are based in Cambridge and have a contract with Addenbrookes Hospital you will need to apply for an Honorary Contract to do bedside teaching in Papworth Hospital as it comes under a different Trust and vice-versa.  

If you are based in Cambridge but do not have a contract with either Addenbrookes Hospital or Papworth Hospital you may still apply to be a Clinical Supervisor (Undergraduate) but you will need to apply for an Honorary Contract (see below) to do teaching in one or both of those hospitals.  

 

Induction video

We would like to encourage our newly appointed supervisors to watch this video prior to attending the induction event as it contains useful information to get you started.

 

Honorary Contract

Please contact medical.staffing@addenbrookes.nhs.uk for more information and an application form.  Please note that it can take up to six weeks for your application to be processed from when you submit it to Medical Staffing.  It will require a signature from the Director of the Clinical Supervisor Programme and you can scan and e-mail it to:  clinicalsupervisors@medschl.cam.ac.uk to have it signed and e-mailed back to you for sending on to Medical Staffing.

Please also note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your Honorary Contract is in place before starting any bedside teaching.

 

Undergraduate Clinical Supervisor Responsibilities

Educational

Supervisions should focus on bedside clinical teaching with adult patients* and incorporate teaching of both communication skills and examination skills.  Teaching of clinical/diagnostic reasoning skills, documentation skills and professional attitudes/behaviours are also important components of the supervisions.

Supervisions “top up” clinical experience gained on placements and should concentrate on generic clinical assessment skills and clinical reasoning skills.  Topic-based tutorials and discussions of ethical problems are also useful.  However, a supervisor holding nothing but debates on ethics, for example, would not be fulfilling the tasks expected of him or her – the most successful give a balanced mix with the emphasis on bedside clinical skills.

Supervisors should aim to identify each student’s strengths and weaknesses (in knowledge, skills or attitudes) and, where weaknesses are identified, correct them if possible.  If any deficiency is a cause for concern, supervisors should not hesitate to consult the relevant department, Sub-dean of your regional trust, College Director of Clinical Studies, Clinical Dean, CGC Director, or the Director of the Undergraduate Clinical Supervisor Programme (clinicalsupervisors@medschl.cam.ac.uk) in confidence. 

 

Organisational

Supervisors should hold a weekly one-hour session up to a maximum of 42 during the year.  Only students based where you are based at the time should attend (attendance at any single session is therefore likely to be 3-4 students) – students on regional placements should not return to Cambridge for supervisions since they have regional undergraduate clinical supervisors allocated in their regional hospitals.

Clinical supervisions should not clash with the group’s main timetabled teaching schedule which always has priority (Consultants have previously complained of students missing organised teaching sessions to attend supervisions; this is unacceptable and could result in their not being ‘signed up’ for their placements).

Sessions should take place in the hospital (on wards, in clinics, in assessment unit etc) or if you are Cambridge-based can take place in the Clinical School building (to book a seminar room go to http://rooms.medschl.cam.ac.uk/).  Contact the administration team where you are based to book rooms in your regional hospital.

Supervisions should not be held in public places.

 

Pastoral

Since clinical supervisors have regular contact with their students over a significant period of time they have an important supportive/pastoral role.  They are frequently well placed to identify personal problems/difficulties which may interfere with a clinical student’s welfare or possibly put patients at risk.  The General Medical Council (GMC) stresses that such problems may prevent a student from obtaining a qualifying degree and should be taken very seriously.

Early discussion in confidence with the Sub-dean of the Trust, Clinical Sub-dean for student welfare, Dr Fiona Cooke (welfare@medschl.cam.ac.uk), College Director of Clinical Studies, Clinical Dean, CGC Director or Director of Undergraduate Clinical Supervisor Programme is important if the clinical supervisor has any such concerns.

 

Professional

Clinical supervisors are key professional mentors and it is important that the supervisor demonstrates the appropriate attitudes and behaviours expected of a Doctor.  If the Supervisor has any concerns regarding the professional attitudes and behaviours of their students, early discussion in confidence with the Sub-dean of the Trust, Clinical Dean, CGC Director or Director of the Undergraduate Clinical Supervisor is recommended.

 

Undergraduate Clinical Supervisor Staff Development

As a clinical supervisor you are eligible to apply for the Clinical School’s Integrated Foundations of Medical Education (IFME) programme.  This programme offers an opportunity to develop your teaching as well as a forum to have regular contact with the clinical school and with other multiprofessional educators.  The sessions run over a period of six months and are a mix of half day and evening sessions with additional self-directed activities.  More details about this programme, including how and when you can apply can be found here:  Integrated Foundations of Medical Education (IFME) programme.

 

*unless you are appointed specifically as an Addenbrookes Paediatric Clinical Supervisor.  Please refer to the guidance from the Addenbrookes Paediatric Department Manager.