North Wellbeing Resources
An important and difficult part of training is learning to look after ourselves and find balance in what can be a difficult and stressful job. Wellbeing is a key priority for Trainees in the North of Scotland and there are a number of trainee led wellbeing initiatives.
You can also find useful contacts related to the North Deanery and useful links below.
There is also a number of supportive resources available here: Support and Wellbeing.
You can also find useful contacts related to the North Deanery and useful links below.
There is also a number of supportive resources available here: Support and Wellbeing.
NOS Trainee-Led Wellbeing Initiatives:
RACH Peer Support Service
Peer support is a service which offers early emotional support to healthcare staff and is delivered by their peers who have “been there”. This is because we know that healthcare workers prefer to receive support from their peers after a stressful event at work, or if personal stressors are impacting on their work. Peer supporters undergo training to upskill themselves in delivering “psychological first aid”. This is defined as a compassionate and supportive presence designed to mitigate acute distress and assess the need for continued mental health care. Peer support is not a counselling or mentoring service. It is where a colleague has been trained to have a supportive conversation with their distressed peer, to utilise empathic listening and signpost to helpful resources or to the next level of professional help if necessary. There is currently a team of 9 trained peer supporters at RACH.
Tea & Timeout Trainee Wellbeing Sessions
OUR AIM Is to allow informal conversations between trainees where we can come together and openly discuss difficult or stressful situations as a group and hopefully share a bite to eat! To improve trainee wellbeing and help support each other.
WHAT? It’s an informal get together to chat over any difficult cases, stressful situations you’ve been involved with or just catch up with other trainees. There will be food and hot drinks provided!
WHY? It can be hard to get together with colleagues for a good ‘get-it-off-your-chest’ type chat when work is always so busy. But friendly, open conversations are an important way to help us share worries and reduce stress.
WHO? For all paediatric trainees working in Aberdeen – those at RACH or neonates welcome!
WHERE? RACH seminar room 1 (3rd floor)
Buddy system
We currently have a buddy system in place for all trainees, including those nearing the end of training who would like a consultant buddy. Please contact Dr Daks Ineife on ineife.daukoru@nhs.scot for more information.
Who can I approach for advice or support?
Local contacts
Deanery contacts
- College Tutor - Dr Courtney Willis (due to change soon)
- Training Programme Director - Dr Shyla Kishore
- Responsible Associate - GP Director - Dr Helen Freeman
- Postgraduate Dean - Dr Alan Denison
RCPCH
- North of Scotland Trainee Representative – Dr Stewart Cox
- Officer for Scotland- Dr. Mairi Stark
- LTFT Training Advisor - Dr David Cordiner
See RCPCH website for support for trainees returning from maternity leave / OOPE
Departmental Clinical Leads
- Raigmore Hospital, Inverness - Dr Salim Ghayyda
- Neonatal unit, Aberdeen - Dr Saulius Satas
- RACH, Aberdeen - Dr Sarah Jarvis
Grampian
Highland
This page was last updated on: 07.07.2025 at 11.42
