Why is your designated supervisor important to you?

Your foundation designated supervisor is perhaps the most important person during your training.

They have a wealth of experience and knowledge behind them which you can learn from. Your tutor is there to support and guide you through your training, and it is important to maintain a good working relationship.

It will be your designated supervisor who will have the overall responsibility of your foundation training and ultimately decide whether you can be signed off at your final declaration as being satisfactory or unsatisfactory to practise safely as a pharmacist.

What is the role of your designated supervisor?

Your tutor will have various roles in supporting and facilitating your training, some of which may include:

• Supporting your professional development by helping you identify gaps in your practice and how you can meet those gaps
• Providing general guidance and support through your foundation training on how to meet your performance standards
• Assisting development by monitoring your progress with foundation training through regular progress reviews
• Listening and addressing any concerns you may have during or about your foundation training
• Providing feedback on practice, to ensure that you learn effectively from their experiences

Introducing yourself to your designated supervisor

To ensure that you get off to the best start we recommend that you set up a one-to-one meeting as early as possible to introduce yourself to your tutor. This will allow you to cover your specific needs for your training and development.

We have provided some suggestions that you may find useful to cover during your first meeting.

Discussion points for your first meeting with your designated supervisor:

• Your expectations and career goals: what you would like to achieve throughout your training?
• Your supervisor’s expectations and role: what do they expect from you as a foundation trainee and how should you present your evidences?
• Your preferred learning style and how you want to achieve your goals: think about your study time, agree on how much and when you can have protected study time
• The vision and mission of the organisation, the role of different teams/departments, and how your role as a foundation trainee fits into the organisation
• Ask about your employment contract, ensure you read this thoroughly – seek specialist advice from employment specialists if appropriate, Pharmacist Support offer specialist advice
• Discuss your annual leave entitlement, how many days you have and how and when to book your leave 
• Agree a learning contract provided by the GPhC with your supervisor
• Obtain your supervisor’s and other key members’ contact details (e.g. line manager, superintendent pharmacist and foundation manager)
• Discuss where you can go for further support
• Are there any key dates to note (e.g. study days, foundation events)
• Discuss how often you should meet (a minimum of every two weeks is recommended by the GPhC)
• Arrange a date for your next meeting

Further tips for rapport building

Below are some additional tips that may help you to build rapport with your supervisor and gain the most out of your foundation training.

• Remember communication is the key, listen and talk to your supervisor regularly
• Don’t be afraid to be open and honest with your supervisor
• Talk through any concerns you have early on
• Take responsibility for your own learning, don’t expect your supervisor to give you all the answers
• Take initiative – look for opportunities to get involved and apply your skills and knowledge
• Learn to respond positively to constructive feedback
• Provide your supervisor with feedback
• Work with your supervisor and be flexible to their needs
• Be honest about your strengths and weakness and areas of improvement
• Admit when you have made a mistake
• Ask for support if you don’t know how to do something or don’t know the right answer
• Approach situations as a professional
• Arrange regular meetings with your supervisor, and ensure that you plan for the meetings

What to do if rapport breaks down

If the rapport between you and your tutor breaks down it is best to deal with this early on. Below is a list of steps you could follow to resolve any issues between you and your tutor.

1. Make a list of your concerns, what they are, why you have these and suggestions of how you and your supervisor could work to resolve these concerns
2. Organise a meeting with your supervisor to discuss the problems. Record the outcome of the meeting including dates, times, what was said and what was decided. Consider STAR
3. If you feel a problem between you and your supervisor is particularly difficult for you to solve, gain further guidance from more senior colleagues and highlight any significant issues. See if you can discuss this with your line manager or a foundation manager. You may be able to get support from regional or national foundation coordinators.
4. Try to read the GPhC Guidance on tutoring, along with our mentoring handbook this will help you understand further what to expect from your supervisor. 

If you have particular concerns about your supervisor’s behaviour, you may wish to contact the GPhC.

If you have any questions about foundation training, please contact the RCPharm Professional Support service:

• Online: www.rcpharm.org/professional-support/
• Phone: 0845 257 2570
• Email: [email protected]

Other useful contacts

Foundation discussion group

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC): 0203 713 8000

Pharmacist Support enquiry line: 0808 168 2233

Listening Friends: 0808 168 5133