49 The trainee ambassador scheme: creating a supportive leadership community responsive to trainee doctors needs in the Northern Ireland deanery

Collective leadership is required to transform healthcare. Challenging workplace environments contribute to low workplace morale & decreased recruitment of doctors into training. NIMDTA developed this scheme to create distinctive, supportive leadership training responsive to trainee needs, which aligns with NIMDTA strategy to attract &retain doctors in training. This ‘alongside clinical’ programme was trainee directed, led by a leadership fellow & supported by NIMDTA educationalists. Leadership training was tailored to participants learning needs & projects developed based on issues identified by trainees. NIMDTA educational teams attended meetings, developing Ambassadors’ understanding of organisational structure. Senior involvement gave authoritative influence to work. Networking & project collaboration was encouraged at training events. Quantitative surveys before & after the scheme ascertained Ambassadors’ awareness of healthcare structures, leadership styles & skill by self-rating Likert scale. Ambassadors worked on projects that harnessed technology, encouraged diversity, supported career transitions, &promoted training communities. At scheme completion, leadership knowledge improved with largest increases in awareness of leadership styles, skill in managing clinician/manager interface &devising improvement strategies. Participants increasingly felt doctors in leadership roles were valued. Empowering trainees to identify problems &solutions through trainee lead, NIMDTA supported improvement projects, enhanced individual capability &increased the profile of leadership roles within healthcare. Projects were organisationally advantageous. This scheme increased connections with trainees &enhanced NIMDTA understanding of training challenges to support doctors. Ambassadors identified the support to direct projects &the collegial community as positives. This sense of value &belonging, known to reduce burnout, aligns with NIMDTA strategy to retain doctors in training.