Students offered safe space to share emotional challenges of working in health and social care

The University of Portsmouth is running a programme to encourage newly qualified and soon to be qualified health and social care workers to discuss the emotional aspects of their profession in a safe space. 

NHS England South East has funded four universities and six NHS Trusts on the south coast to run Schwartz Rounds, in an effort to bolster interprofessional learning, reduce psychological distress and promote staff wellbeing. 

The voluntary forums offer people working and training in the field a regularly scheduled time during their fast-paced work lives to share their experiences, thoughts and feelings. 

They include students within nursing (adult and mental health), biomedicine, pharmacy, pharmacology, dentistry and psychology. As well as those studying to be paramedics, radiographers, social workers, physiotherapists and operating department practitioners.  Academics, clinicians, health and care workers, and alumni also join.

Portsmouth began running the sessions in September last year, and so far 238 students across the University have benefited.

Melanie Tanner, Senior Nurse lecturer and interprofessional Education Lead at the University’s School of Health and Care Professionals and Schwartz Lead, said: “The idea is that by students and academics having an opportunity to regularly come together to decompress and reflect, it enables them to appreciate the intrinsic challenges and rewards that are at the heart of providing health and social care. This in turn should help promote enhanced communications with patients and colleagues.”

Schwartz Rounds take place in hundreds of organisations across the world, including in the US, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. In the UK, they are supported by The Point of Care Foundation.

Each forum is coordinated by two trained facilitators, and a panel of three to four storytellers share an experience of practice and how it made them feel. The facilitators then encourage members of the audience to share their thoughts and experience.

The theme of the next University of Portsmouth Round, held on 7 February 2024, is 'New Beginnings'. Up to four speakers from differing health and social care backgrounds will share stories about starting something new. 

Lucille Seppi, a second year BSC (Hons) Psychology student, said: “I found Schwartz Rounds a positively surprising experience. Coming in with no expectations, I was welcomed with warmth from the people in attendance. The Panel told their stories with vulnerability and reflection that exudes knowledge and insight unlike any other. 

“I felt proud to witness these people’s stories and feel I have learnt resilience, compassion, and curiosity through them. I am hoping everyone gets to experience this atmosphere at least once in their lives!"

Gabriella Aiyegbeni, a first year MSc Social Work student, said: "The Schwartz Round unveiled the power of sharing stories, and gave me a chance to reflect on my personal journey. As a social work student, this transformative experience provided a safe haven to open up, free from judgement, fostering a deeper understanding of how important reflective practices are."

Two more Rounds have been scheduled for January and February next year. Other universities running Schwartz Rounds on the south coast include Southampton, Winchester, and Bournemouth. The five NHS Trusts include the Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, University Hospital Southampton, Solent NHS Trust, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The partnership managing this initiative is known as the Wessex and IOW ICS Schwartz Consortia. More information on where the programme is running can be found here.