Surgical Mentoring Scheme

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Surgical Mentoring Scheme connects surgical trainees seeking mentorship with a diverse group of trained surgical mentors from across the UK. This scheme is designed to help surgical trainees unravel their potential and support their professional development.

What is mentoring?

Mentoring is a learning relationship where a skilled individual, the mentor, supports and guides the personal and professional growth of another person, the mentee.

Mentors assist mentees in managing immediate problems while also helping them take a longer-term view to achieve their full potential. Mentors guide mentees in deciding what they want to achieve and the actions needed to reach those goals, empowering them to make lasting changes. Ultimately, it is the mentee who chooses the best course of action, with the mentor providing support and guidance throughout the process.

Formal mentoring is recommended by the GMC in Good Medical Practice. In their Mentoring toolkit for organisations launched in August 2024, they highlight that it brings benefits to mentees, mentors, and the organisations they work for.

Effective mentoring offers a psychologically safe and confidential space to discuss opportunities or dilemmas. It is not only for use in times of crisis; mentoring is a valuable tool for all professionals, including those excelling in their fields, to explore and navigate new opportunities throughout their careers. The RCSEd mentoring scheme is designed with this philosophy in mind, aiming to support the professional development of its members and help them unravel their full potential.

How does our mentoring scheme work?

Our new online mentoring platform supports the scheme, making it easy for mentees to find, connect, and communicate with mentors. Once mentees register and create their profiles, they can search for mentors who align with their specific needs. Mentees can ask potential mentors questions before sending them a mentoring request. Mentors can choose to accept or decline requests from mentees and can switch their availability for mentoring on and off.

The platform supports mentees and mentors through every step of their mentoring journey and is packed with videos, written guidance, and useful checklists. Features include tools for scheduling meetings, setting agendas, recording notes, and defining goals. Additionally, it offers a built-in video chat tool allowing virtual meetings to be conducted directly within the platform.

Who can join the scheme?

Becoming a mentee

To join the scheme as a mentee, you must:

• Be an RCSEd Member in your senior years of Surgical Training (ST6 - ST8)
• Currently working in the UK

Note: Mentee places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. As the scheme grows, the eligibility criteria will expand, enabling a wider range of RCSEd Members and Fellows to benefit.

Becoming a mentor

To join the scheme as a mentor, you must:

• Be an RCSEd Fellow or Member
• Currently working as a Consultant Surgeon or SAS Doctor in the UK
• Have completed the RCSEd Mentor Development Programme

If you haven’t yet completed the RCSEd Mentor Development Programme but are interested in becoming a mentor, you can find more information about the course here.

Ready to join?

If you meet the eligibility criteria and you’d like to join the scheme, follow the steps below. Remember, mentee places are limited, so please only proceed if you are serious about participating in a mentoring relationship.

Join as a mentee

1. Update your RCSEd profile: Ensure your profile is up-to-date by logging in here with your existing RCSEd account. Verify that your Email Address, Discipline, Specialty, Grade, GMC Number, and Correspondence Address are all correct, as these details are required for our eligibility checks.
2. Register on our online mentoring platform: Log in here with your existing RCSEd account and select “I want to be a Mentee” during registration. We will review your application to ensure you meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria.
3. Complete your mentee profile: Once approved, you will be asked to complete your mentee profile. This profile is crucial for the matching process, so provide as much information as possible.
4. Match with a Mentor: You can now search for and match with a mentor.

Join as a mentor

1. Update your RCSEd profile: Ensure your profile is up-to-date by logging in here with your existing RCSEd account. Verify that your Email Address, Discipline, Specialty, Grade, GMC Number, and Correspondence Address are all correct, as these details are required for our eligibility checks.
2. Register on our online mentoring platform: Log in here with your existing RCSEd account and select “I want to be a Mentor” during registration. We will review your application to ensure you meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria.
3. Complete your mentor profile: Once approved, you will be asked to complete your mentor profile. Providing comprehensive information helps potential mentees determine if you’re the right match for them.
4. Match with a Mentee: Upon creating your profile you’ll be available for matching with mentees.

Any questions?

If you have any further questions,  please do not hesitate to contact us at mentoring@rcsed.ac.uk or by calling 0131 527 1676.

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