We want to work closer with trainees inspired by edpsy and hopeful for our profession

The energy and grassroots innovation of TEPs deserves a greater chance to influence what we do.

We know that trainee EPs are highly engaged with lots of the work we do. Much of our work has been specifically designed to support trainees in their development. From our thesis directory, our mentoring directory or our supportive and developmental approach to first time blog writers.

We now want to establish and work with a group of trainees, where every university in the UK that offers EP training, is represented.

We’d appreciate it if you could share this blog and opportunity within your TEP groups and networks.

What we’d ask of you

• ⁠Commitment to be a part of this group for two years e.g. during your first and second, or second and third year of training.
• Commitment to attend two meetings a year – online in the first instance lasting about an hour.
• ⁠For you to develop your peers’ awareness of edpsy and the things we do
• ⁠Occasionally seek your peers’ opinions on what is going on in the profession or what we’re doing
• ⁠Representing TEP needs to edpsy

The benefits of being part of this group

• You’ll be paid £50 for attending meetings (two a year)
• We’ll offer you free or heavily discounts tickets to edpsy events (depending on the event)
• ⁠You’ll be able to influence edpsy – what we do, how we do it, where we might go
• This means you’ll also be able to influence the profession, from a grassroots perspective
• Learn from committed and passionate peers from Universities across the UK
• Be part of something bigger
• It’ll be fun!

Who we’re looking for

This role would be ideal for trainees who are:

• In their first or second year of training
• Compassionate and thoughtful
• Interested in the future of the profession and it’s sustainability
• Collaboration and community focused
• Committed to seeing the opportunities and possibilities inherent in connection and working together
• Excited by ideas and innovation, but also willing to contribute actively to the change we seek

We are particularly interested in hearing from trainees who come from under-represented and/or marginalised groups, also within the profession. This includes people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQIA+ people, and men.

We’re mindful of the power imbalances that come with working with qualified EPs (the edpsy team) and particularly for those trainees from under-represented groups that may, for various reasons, experience difficulty in sharing different or challenging perspectives.

We will ensure that when we first come together as group we dedicate time to developing compassionate tools for disagreement. We also want to ensure we’re able to develop a strong commitment to values guided action. For example, edpsy’s core values are community, creativity, engagement and sustainability, and this guides everything we do. Establishing this group is us continuing to live by those values.

You’re interested, what next

Complete a brief expression of interest form by 19th May.

We’ll read every submission and invite some of you to have an informal conversation with us (it’s not an interview!) – primarily an opportunity for us to meet you and to answer any questions you have.

We’ll invite one person from each University to join the group.

Any questions?

If you have any additional questions, ask them on our padlet below (we’ll respond on there)

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