This is an exciting opportunity for doctors to join a team of facilitators working in the small group programme at Plymouth Medical School, at our sites in Plymouth, Torbay or Taunton. We are looking for clinicians to work in small groups of students within Reflective Practice.
Small group learning is a key component of the undergraduate medical course at the Peninsula Medical School where active, collaborative, reflective learning is fundamental. Small Group Facilitators play a vital role in these groups, using their expertise to stimulate reasoning and problem solving and to support students to activate their existing knowledge and to integrate and apply new learning.
You will be:
Expected to facilitate 2 groups in the same year group. Each session also attracts paid admin time for planning and assessment.Expected to act as academic tutors for up to 5 individual students. This role is also remunerated.Required to facilitate a small group learning in Professional Development Groups (where students share and explore their clinical experiences with a focus on reflective practice and professionalism skills).
This is initially a one year post, but with a chance to review potential opportunities to continue with small group medical education after that, depending on the needs of the curriculum and medical school in the next academic year.
We currently have vacancies for Y4 PDG Facilitators in Plymouth facilitating small group sessions on Fridays 3-5pm in the John Bull Building near Derriford Hospital (20 sessions in total, 10 sessions per group for 2 groups which alternate).
The dates of the sessions are as below:
18th September 2026 25th September 2026, 9th October 2026, 16th October 2026, 23rd October 2026, 6th November 2026, 13th November 2026, 20th November 2026, 18th December 2026.
15th January 2027, 22nd January 2027, 29th January 2027, 5th February 2027, 12th February 2027, 26th February 2027, 5th March 2027, 16th April 2027, 30th April 2027,14th May 2027, 21st May 2027.
However, if you are not available on Fridays in Plymouth, but are interested in small group educational work on other days of the week or other sites, then please still apply as there may be other opportunities which arise and you could subsequently take up if you were successful at interview. Please indicate in your application your preferred days of the week and which site(s) you could work in.
Due to the nature of the role, unfortunately we are unable to accommodate working from home.
Groups by site:
Professional Development Groups currently run on various days dependent upon year group and site - Plymouth, Torbay and Taunton – 7-10 two hour teaching sessions per group per year, i.e. 14-20 dates per year when taking 2 groups. Additional admin time paid per session and for assessments.
Sessions will run on fixed, regular days of the week, scheduled during university term-times (which may be different to school term times).
Posts at some sites are very limited, so please indicate in your application your preferred days of the week and which site(s) you could work in.
You should be medically qualified, GMC registered and currently or recently (within 4 years) practising in the South West locality. An interest in education and experience of teaching are essential and previous experience of small group facilitation is desirable. Induction and annual in-service training will be provided and support from a close-knit team makes this a great way to be a part of medical education.
For more information on Medicine please visit our dedicated webpage at https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools
You must currently be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). For more information about the job and the person specification, please refer to the job description.
About us:
The University of Plymouth has a strong interdisciplinary research ethos which is supported by our two strategic Research Institutes; the Marine Institute and the Sustainable Earth Institute. As a member of our academic community, you’ll be expected to contribute to our recognised research strengths. Working holistically across the University, you will be challenged to innovate, collaborate and deliver impactful research contributions as part of a systems thinking approach to addressing today’s global challenges.
A summary of our comprehensive benefits can be viewed here.
Application Process:
Please apply online, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training, skills and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.
In your covering letter, or personal statement, please indicate which role(s) you are interested in, preference for site and preferred days you would be able to undertake teaching. Please detail on the form how you meet the criteria in the person specification.
For informal enquiries, please contact the Professional Development Group Co-Leads: Hannah Wright: hannah.wright@plymouth.ac.uk and Emma Blundy: emma.blundy@plymouth.ac.uk
Additional Information
The University of Plymouth is building an inclusive and equitable university where everyone feels represented, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is guided by the Inclusive Institutions Framework, a strategic and externally validated approach that embeds these principles across the entire institution. To find out more please visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages.