GP Trainee Peer Support Buddy Programme

The GP Trainee Peer Support Buddy Programme connects 1st year GP trainees with more experienced 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year colleagues to provide friendly, informal support during the transition into your scheme. Senior Buddies help welcome and guide new trainees in their local scheme, strengthening wellbeing, collegiality, and a sense of community.

We sincerely thank all current and prospective Senior Buddies — the College, your scheme, and your fellow trainees greatly appreciate your interest. Below is key information to help you understand the role and what it involves.

1. Grow your GP skills – Strengthen your communication, listening, feedback, and teamwork skills
2. Enhance Your Professional Profile – Add meaningful volunteering experience to your CV
3. Be Recognised for Your Contribution – Receive a formal Letter of Appreciation from the College + be entered into a recognition draw (voucher + acknowledgement in College communications)
4. Build Community and Local Networks Build Community – strengthen your local networks & connections
5. Make a difference – Support colleagues during a key transition and contribute to a culture of wellbeing and collegiality in GP training.  

Any GP trainee with more than one year of experience. You don’t need to be an expert or have all the answers. A suitable Senior Buddy is simply someone who is: 

• Willing to listen and be approachable
• Open to understanding others’ perspectives
• A clear and respectful communicator
• Keen to encourage and support colleagues

Senior Buddies offer informal, peer-based support to one to three trainees. You can indicate your preferred capacity, and you may choose to meet with 2–3 buddies together in a group rather than separately.

Step 1: Initiating contact with your assigned trainee within 2 weeks.
Step 2: Arranging an initial meeting within 4 weeks.
Step 3: Discuss the trainee’s specific needs and tailoring support accordingly.
Step 4: Agreeing on a suitable frequency and format of ongoing contact (in-person, phone, or Teams). Consider your own boundaries, e.g. around texting, etc. Typically, Buddies meet between 1–4 times over the course of the academic year.
Step 5: Providing encouragement, orientation, support, and general guidance.
Step 6: Signposting to appropriate supports where needed.

The role is designed to complement, not replace, formal mentorship, supervision, or employer responsibilities. Buddies are not expected to handle formal complaints or training issues, but serve as a friendly, informal point of contact to support trainees on topics such as: 

• Understanding HSE work culture and systems
• Navigating Medical Training and Exams
• Settling into a new area e.g. accommodation, local orientation, cultural acclimatisation, childcare
• You are a supportive peer who has walked the path before them.

• How are you settling into training and work so far?
• What’s been the most challenging / surprising so far?
• Is there anything I can explain or share that would make things easier?

Conversations with your Junior Buddy should not be shared or discussed with others. The only exception is if you have wellbeing or safety concerns, or you require guidance to support your buddy, here you may appropriately discuss the matter with:

• The Scheme Directing Team
• The Trainee Health & Wellbeing Manager

You are encouraged to reach out for guidance, this is to support you and the trainee whilst also not disclosing personal details unnecessarily. 
Junior Buddies are informed of this approach when they apply and agree that their Senior Buddy may seek guidance if needed.

You are not expected to know everything. 
Simply signpost your trainee to resources such as: 

• The Trainee Handbook
• The Scheme Directing Team
• The Trainee Health & Wellbeing Manager
• The HSE

Senior Buddies offer peer support on a voluntary basis, alongside their own personal and professional commitments.
 
Junior Buddies are encouraged to be mindful of this and respect the Buddy’s time and availability.  

Clear, respectful communication is key to maintaining a positive and sustainable peer support relationship.