New AHP Student Buddy Scheme guide now available

Our new Allied Health Professional (AHP) Student Buddy Scheme guide, designed to be used by higher education institutions in collaboration with students and health providers to develop or enhance existing buddy schemes, has now been published. This can be downloaded from the related documents section below.

To support its publication, we will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday 15 February, between 14:30 and 15:30. Here you will learn more about the benefits of a buddy scheme and how to implement one at your institution. In attendance will be Jenny Davies and Yogita Stokes who produced the guide, as well as an AHP student who has benefitted from being part of a buddy scheme. Please email alliedhealthprofessionsheemidlands@hee.nhs.uk for an invite.

The guide can also be downloaded from the Love Our Learners resource area of the Learning Hub. Here you will find other resources for supporting AHP learners, including:

• Raising concerns
  
  • Freedom to Speak up Guardian website
  • E-learning for Health training package
• Student Buddy Schemes
• Learner self-care
  
  • NHS Learning Support Fund
  • You Matter – A self-care guide for learners
  • Start Well>End Well: Psychological safety through courage
• Early career support
  
  • Culture of Care Barometer
  • Preceptorship
  • Preparing for your future
• Resources for all

Peer-to-peer support has immense benefits to those in a buddying relationship, as well as organisations, and can be used to support retention programmes. Peer support from a buddy is often the first step in accessing wider university support and all students would benefit from being offered access to a buddy during their training.

The guide is focused on AHPs, but the principles can be applied to nursing and midwifery professions.