Trainee think tank
We are a group of trainees from a range of specialities, with a range of experience, who are working with Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) to promote trainee views. We meet regularly to discuss interesting projects, areas for development and to ensure that high quality training and trainee welfare remain a core focus of HEIW.
Next meeting
Quarterly meetings are held in March, June, September and December.
You can view a summary of the minutes from our meeting in March 2023.
Our vision
For all trainees in Wales to experience the highest quality training and enjoy a healthy work life balance.
Our mission
Our mission is to influence future development and improvement of medical and dental training programmes within HEIW. We believe that all trainees should be treated as equals and as such, all trainees should feel supported and valued. We will interact with trainees of all specialities and training grades with the purpose of gaining trainee perspectives to identify opportunities for change and we will meet regularly and provide trainee feedback directly to the Dean.
Feel free to email or tweet us if there is anything you would like to discuss!
We will be holding further focus groups in the near future. Please check back for details or contact Kellie Bateman.
Welsh Clinical Leadership Training Fellow (WCLTF) and the Trainee Think Tank
Many of the fellows on the WCLTF are often engaged with the TTT during their training. Going forward, the fellows will have a key role in shaping and developing the TTT. In return, the TTT can provide fellows the opportunity to get feedback on their projects and continue developing their leadership skills upon returning to training.
To find out more contact heiw.traineethinktank@wales.nhs.uk.
A working group of enthusiastic and committed trainees who wish to work with the medical and dental deanery within Health Education Improvement Wales, to promote trainee views and improve the training experience across Wales.
Any medical or dental trainee who shows interest.
We have a maximum of 30 members and priority will be given to Welsh Clinical Leadership Training Fellows.
- Collaborating with trainees from various specialties on key issues issues such as flexible working, parental leave, expenses, differential attainment, communication, wellbeing etc.
- Opportunity to network with other trainees and senior members from Health Education Improvement Wales (HEIW).
- Supported in having an equal voice.
- Opportunity to improve training for yourself and your peers.
- Point of contact for HEIW to share new ideas and receive feedback.
- Develop leadership skills.
- Formal recognition certificates available on request.
A commitment to attend quarterly meetings and engage with communications and projects via Microsoft Teams as suited to your special interests.
Email Trainee Think Tank (TTT) Co Chairs Sarah Wright or Jonathan Gamble to express an interest and find out more.
To be held via Teams:
- Wednesday 1 March 2023, 12 - 2pm
- Friday 2 June 2023, 12 - 2pm TBC
- Wednesday 6 September 2023, TBC
- Friday 1 December 2023, TBC
The TTT was formed in 2017, following the inaugural BEST Trainee Awards for the Welsh Deanery.
They quickly got to work on projects looking at access to the Professional Support Unit (PSU), supporting Less Than Full Time (LTFT) training and communications.
In 2019, the group was extended to all nominees for the BEST Trainee Awards.
In 2020, due to the pandemic the awards process was subsequently put on hold, so membership also included medical and dental Welsh Clinical Leadership Training Fellows (WCLTF). This had the extra benefit of linking with WCLTF projects within Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) and providing members with more time for projects.
In 2021, the TTT agreed to open membership up to all interested medical and dental trainees.
More information on the projects we’ve been involved with will be available soon.
