Ground Rules for Coaches and Coachees

1. The coaching scheme exists to support postgraduate doctors, dentists and public health registrars in training (including those taking a period of time out of training), Leadership Fellows (medical and non-medical), SAS doctors, NHS England Yorkshire and Humber Senior Educators and NHS England Yorkshire and Humber employees.
2. Coaching is offered to any trainee at any stage of their training (Foundation to CCT, and those on OOPE).
3. Coaching sessions typically last between 60 to 90 minutes.
4. Coachees are offered up to six sessions, and it is advised that these are completed within a six-month window.
5. Coaching will usually be arranged virtually via an online platform or via phone. If face-to-face coaching is preferred and available, the coachee should be prepared to travel a reasonable distance to meet their coach.
6. The meeting place is a mutually convenient one and is typically located away from the workplace. As coaching sessions are considered a professional activity, social venues should be avoided.
7. All coaches work by the ethical framework. Coachees are also expected to adhere to the principles laid out in this Code and should read this section carefully.
8. The coach will outline how they work and what the coachee can expect, prior to coaching commencing. This may occur in an introductory phone call, or at the start of the first session.
9. Either coach or coachee is entitled to withdraw from the process via the coaching administrator should unforeseen sensitivities arise.

Coach Agreement

1. Coaches will attend the NHS England (Yorkshire & the Humber) coaching course and pass the assessment.
2. Coaches will keep a Personal Development Plan (PDP) in relation to their own learning needs as coaches and will discuss their coaching practice at appraisal.
3. Coaches are responsible for identifying and pursuing CPD appropriate to their learning needs and appraisal requirements.
4. Coaches will create and maintain an account on the Coaching Hub platform and use this to respond to requests and record coaching activity.
5. Coaches will respond to coachee requests within a reasonable timeframe (48 hours, unless a weekend or bank holiday, then asap afterwards). If a coach cannot offer coaching he/she should let the coachee know so they can choose an alternative. Coaches will be sent a reminder one week after the request has been made if it has not been accepted or rejected. If the match is not accepted or rejected within two weeks, the Coaching administrator will reject the match so the coachee can find a suitable alternative.
6. If a coach has no capacity to coach for a period of time (e.g. annual leave/sabbatical/altered clinical commitments) they should let england.coaching.yh@nhs.net know and amend their details on the Coaching Hub platform so prospective coachees are aware.
7. Coaches will agree with their coachee the frequency and timeframe of sessions.
8. After each session the coach will log activity via the Coaching Hub platform and if required, return a coaching claim form to the administrator. If sessions are not logged on Coaching Hub, then the claim will not be processed. All sessions must be logged.
9. Coaches will inform the coaching lead should any concerns arise during coaching (e.g. data breach, complaint, mental health concern).

Ethical Framework for Coaches and Coachees

While the coaching agenda is the coachee's, the coach must always keep in mind the healthcare context in which the coachee is working and the implications for patient care of the changes the coachee wishes to make. The time of NHS colleagues is a scarce resource. To justify the investment of time, coaching must add value in terms of enhancing the motivation, performance, or retention of NHS staff.

Competence

1. Coaches should continuously develop their skills through reflection, training and supervision.
2. Coaches should recognise the limits of their competence and work within them, suggesting alternative sources of support for the coachee where these would be more appropriate.
3. Coaches should attend and contribute to CPD and supervision sessions.

Professionalism

1. Coaches should treat coachees as whole people with lives outside their working environment, with respect for their individuality and their diversity of lived experience.
2. Coaches should challenge their coachees if it becomes apparent that the coachee is not treating their patients as individuals, respecting their dignity, being polite and considerate towards them and respecting their confidentiality.
3. Coaches must respect the coachee's right to confidentiality, within the constraints set by the law and by the Duties of a Doctor.
4. Coaches should be responsive to the coachee in the language they use and the way they manage the relationship and the process. They should ensure that the expectations of the coachee are clear and understood.
5. Coaches should respect the resourcefulness of the coachee and their ability to find their own solutions.
6. Coaches should not encourage dependency and should work to bring the relationship to a conclusion by mutual consent.
7. Coaches must treat all coachees equally and not discriminate unfairly against any groups.
8. Coaches must never exploit or abuse the coachee's trust or vulnerability.
9. Coaches should understand that professional responsibilities continue beyond the end of the coaching relationship.

Integrity

1. Coaches must be honest and open and act with integrity.
2. Coaches must act without delay if they have good reason to believe that their coachee may be putting patients at risk.