Career Advice Support at NHS Trusts in Mersey Deanery: More or Less?

Background: Mersey Postgraduate Deanery is responsible for careers advice and support (CAS) provision for all postgraduate trainees. Foundation Year (FY) trainees need focussed support before application to specialist training (ST) posts in year 2 (FY2). To inform a Deanery Careers Support Strategy we identified CAS activity already offered in the Deanery. Summary of Work: Open and closed questions on SurveyMonkey were emailed to Postgraduate education Centre Managers (PECMs) and GP Course Organisers (GPCOs), who co-ordinated responses by NHS Trust/geographical area. Summary of results: 10 PECMs and 6 GPCOs replied. All 10 Trusts provided CAS to FY2s, but only 9/10 to FY1s. Post career choice STs and GPTs received considerable CAS (70%, 66%), but Fixed Term Specialist Trainees and Staff and Associate Specialist Grades were offered CAS in only 5 Trusts. (50%). Trusts also provided CAS to local sixth formers (60%), preclinical undergraduate (40%) and clinical undergraduate (70%). Types of CAS included: workshops, protected teaching sessions, weekly 'CAS' clinics, ad hoc guidelines for STs, one-to-one meetings and careers fair. There was minimal inter-provider coordination. Conclusions: Trusts are offering different levels of CAS, but under provide for target groups. Take-home messages: A Deanery Strategy should standardise CAS provision by experienced staff.