Information for Volunteers

A buddy can be any doctor with experience of working in NHS Scotland. Our buddy scheme includes consultants, GPs and resident doctors. Many of our volunteers are IMGs, however some are also UK graduates.

Any doctor with an interest in helping IMGs integrate can become a buddy. Being an IMG is not essential, but it is important to have good understanding of the specific issues faced by IMGs. Personal attributes such as effective listening, empathy, and communication skills, ability to motivate, inspire and empower others, along with being approachable are essential qualities. Experience of having supported IMGs in the past will be desirable. Doctors at any stage from F1 to senior colleagues, e.g., SAS or consultants can be buddies. Some IMGs prefer to have a buddy of a similar age/stage of training, while others prefer more experiences buddies.

The buddy system has 2 main cohorts each year in February and August (when the training year usually starts), however individuals can request a buddy outside these times matching is done on a monthly basis. 

If there is a high demand for buddies in your local area or speciality you may be asked to support a second participant, however this is not required if you do not feel able to do so. You are more likely to be asked to do this if you work in a rural area where volunteer buddies may be more limited.

The role of each buddy varies depending upon the needs of the IMG they are supporting. Once you have been matched with an IMG, please make the first contact with them. It is then up to each pairing how often and where they meet. Most participants in the buddy scheme contact their buddy 1-6 times during their first 3 months of work and this is usually via e-mail or messaging. Some choose to stay in touch longer than 3 months. If you are close enough geographically to meet the person you are supporting face-to-face they may wish to meet you in person and we would encourage you to meet this request if possible. Some people also contact their buddy by telephone call or Teams, if both participants are willing to share their telephone number.

The main areas of support requested from buddies are help in understanding:

• the working culture and systems
• help in navigating medical training programmes (also refer to the relevant Speciality Royal College or Faculty)
• personal issues such as finding accommodation, orientation of the local area

What should I do if the person for whom I am a buddy has a query I can't answer? - You might find that the person you are supporting is looking for help with an issue in which you do not have expertise. Direct them to the following: Preparing for life in Scotland - New to NHS Scotland

The role can be variable depending on the needs of the IMG. You would be expected to take the lead in establishing the initial contact with your allocated IMG Buddy – usually via email. This would lead to exchange of contact details and setting up of an initial meeting, which could either be face-to-face or virtual. The purpose of this meeting would be for both buddies to get to know each other and to identify your buddy’s specific needs. The frequency of contact will be determined collaboratively based on your buddy’s needs and your availability.

The areas an IMG is likely to require information on Preparing for life in Scotland - New to NHS Scotland section here.

We don’t expect buddies to have an answer to these questions but should be able to direct the new IMG to where they could find the answers and solutions.

This will vary depending upon the level of support required by the IMG and on the specific demands of your job. The expectation would be for you to be the friendly face that your buddy can come to on an informal basis for support and guidance.

You are not expected to deal with formal complaints or training issues, for which you should direct the IMGs to the usual routes within the NHS Board and/or Training Programme (FPD/TPD/APGD).

Volunteer certificate will be released on completion of the annual SIBS evaluation form.

Administrative support is provided by the Scottish Foundation School, who match IMGs with their prospective buddies. Buddies are matched on a monthly basis where possible.

Research conducted in November 2021 revealed that 58.3% of past participants in the buddy system strongly agreed that they would recommend the buddy system to another IMG who was new to working in Scotland. With a greater number of volunteers in the programme, the Deanery would be able to make the programme available to more participants and hopefully increase satisfaction by making more suitable matches in terms of geography, specialty etc. Many positive comments have also been received from IMGs regarding particular buddies who have provided them with valuable support and advice during the process of moving to a new country and commencing work in the NHS.