Courses for IMGs
The following courses are available to International Medical Graduates.
Yorkshire and Humber offer a suite of courses as part of the Supported Return to Training Programme (SuppoRTT), some of which are also useful for IMGs in supporting your integration into the NHS workforce and UK Healthcare System. Where one of the courses form part of the SuppoRTT programme, it has been identified within the course details below. You can attend any of these courses within the first six months of working within the NHS.
All courses can be booked via the Professional Support Maxcourse booking site, unless otherwise stated. To be able to book a course on Maxcourse, you will need to create an account. You must ensure that your occupation is set to ‘International Medical Graduate’ to be eligible to book onto any of the courses listed below.
Once you have created your account, you will be able to find the upcoming sessions for your chosen course/s by searching the below course title/s in the Maxcourse search bar.
Please note: if you wish to attend any of these courses and they will conflict with your rota, you must apply for study leave well in advance of the course.
Supporting International Medical Graduates in the NHS
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) make a significant and valuable contribution to the NHS. More than a third of the NHS medical workforce have had their primary medical qualification overseas. In 2021 the total number of licensed IMGs in the medical workforce was over 77 000, with IMGs making up 34% of GP Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs). The following is extracted from Welcoming and valuing international medical graduates: A guide to induction for IMGs recruited to the NHS:
"41.9% of the NHS medical workforce are from an ethnic minority background. There is substantial evidence showing that ethnic minority staff are likely to experience racism and discrimination and may have poorer experience and progression opportunities, and that ‘the extent to which an organisation values its minority staff is a good barometer of how well patients are likely to feel cared for".
This day long course aims to address the specific issues that affect IMGs. These include team and workplace integration, confidence and anxiety of working in a new/unfamiliar environment, awareness of their own communication needs, learning about differential attainment and how to access support. There will be a discussion on self-care, resilience and thriving in the workplace.
Interpersonal Skills Workshops for International Medical Graduates
The aim of the course is to assist in enhancing communication skills & overcoming cultural and linguistic barriers. By improving communication skills we are hoping to enhance the patients experience of their health care and improve Doctor-Patient Relationships. The course also hopes to give Postgraduate Doctor in Training (PGDiT) skills in which to handle the more complex conversations will not only improve their confidence but also reduce the risk of complaints that may adversely affect a Postgraduate Doctors in Training (PGDiTs) long term career prospects.
Please note that this workshop has three versions: one for IMGs in Medicine, one for IMGs in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and one for IMGs in Paediatrics. To book one of those courses, please search for ‘Interpersonal Communication Skills for International Medical Graduates’ and select the relevant course for your specialty. If your specialty is not covered by these courses, we would recommend booking to attend the general Interpersonal Skills Workshop.
Building Personal and Professional Wellbeing
This course is designed to support you to increase your resilience and improve your communication skills. This course is offered via the SuppoRTT programme.
How to Avoid Stress and Burnout
This interactive, half-day course about burnout in medical staff aims to teach you how to manage stress and avoid burnout. This course is offered via the SuppoRTT programme.
How to Manage Conflict
A one-day course that will teach you how internal conflict is generated and the effect it can have on you and those around you. You will also learn how to deal with any external conflict that arises in terms of de-escalation, harvesting the lessons of the interaction and reducing any negative impact on your wellbeing. This course is offered via the SuppoRTT programme.
How to Manage Difficult Conversations
On this full-day course, you will learn how to manage difficult consultations in such a way that your wellbeing and the doctor-patient relationship remain intact. As a result, you will consult more expertly and efficiently reducing the risk of complaints, whilst rekindling the joy of working in Medicine or Dentistry. This course is offered via the SuppoRTT programme.
Human Factors and Communication
This is a one-day course using a blended approach of e-Learning presentations and simulation-based education provided within a safe learning environment. The main themes of the day are: breaking significant news using actors as simulated patient relatives, dealing with conflict and a video-assisted exercise to explore and discuss the importance of human factors within the healthcare setting. This course is offered via the SuppoRTT programme.
Improve Self Care, Manage Stress and Enhance Resilience
This workshop will provide you with time and space to reflect on recent challenges whilst providing you with a better understanding of the effects of health, illness, stress and fatigue on work. You will learn to manage your energy, rather than your time, and to explore work-life balance. This course is offered via the SuppoRTT programme.
This interpersonal skills workshop has been designed to make the participants aware of different styles of communication. It will address verbal, nonverbal and paraverbal communication and how all three need to work together and complement each other to produce effortless, confident and effective clinical communication. This course is offered via the SuppoRTT programme.
Tiny Habits® for Doctors
In this workshop you will find out how to implement the Tiny Habits® method: creating effective and successful new habits by understanding how to manage emotions and change behaviours. This course is offered via the SuppoRTT programme.
Building a More SuppoRTTive Culture
This e-learning module explores the significance of organisational culture in creating an NHS that is safe for the patients it serves, and in which its staff can thrive. The course highlights the fundamental role of every single person within the healthcare system in building a positive, supportive culture, and offer guidance on the measures that individuals can take to bring about positive cultural change.
Please note: this e-learning module is accessible via the weblink above, rather than through Maxcourse.