RCPCH/VSO Fellowship Scheme

RCPCH currently operates a volunteering scheme in conjunction with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). 

RCPCH/VSO Fellowship Scheme

Recruiting now!

The RCPCH/VSO scheme is currently recruiting for placements in Ethiopia, Cameroon, the Gambia and Sierra Leone. Fellows work for a year in a developing country, using their clinical, teaching and managerial skills to improve local paediatric services.

If you have, or expect to have, MRCPCH in the next six months and are interested see the VSO website - paediatrics section. Applications from Consultant Paediatricians are particularly welcome.

See our current placements;

Ethiopia Paediatrician JD (PDF, 49KB, 1 page)

Contact Jennie Snook for more information. (jennie.snook@vso.org.uk or tel; 020 8780 7235)

About the scheme 

The VSO Fellowship Scheme offers Specialist Trainees one-year placements working to improve child health in developing countries:

• the Fellowship offers one-year placements working in paediatrics and child health in developing countries
• Fellowship placements are Out Of Programme Experience (OOPE) with structured support from RCPCH to evidence personal and professional learning
• Fellows develop their teaching, managerial and clinical skills, working in partnership with local professionals to improve outcomes for some of the poorest children in the world

Support:

• Trainees are supported by one or two senior doctors, providing a level of supervision. One is an in-country senior doctor available on a regular basis for advice and guidance. One is a UK-based paediatrician who will remain in regular contact via email. This can be your existing educational supervisor. 
• VSO provides comprehensive training, living allowance, accommocation and health insurance. An in-country team of VSO staff and volunteers provide support while you are overseas.

Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 29KB, 3 pages)

Being a Fellow     

'VSO strives to build a sustainable future.  By training and teaching nurses and doctors here you make a real and lasting impact.  I.''.''''      '''''''''''           ''..  .’ve really been challenged, and learnt to work without the resources I’ve come to expect in the UK. I’ve also learnt from the nurses that I have helped to train.'

Natasha Sauven, Fellow, Makeni District Hospital, Sierra Leone 2010-2011   - Natasha SauvenFellow, Sierra Leone 2011-2012F

Read about Natasha's VSO experience

'You can certainly expect to make a lasting difference... Not only are you making a difference for the individual patients and children that you are looking after, you can make a difference by training doctors to continue the work that you've been doing after you've left.' 

Olly Jefferis, Fellow, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Malawi, 2006-7 and 2010-2011 

Watch Olly on DVD

You can read about past and current Fellows experiences on our Members activities overseas page. 

Further information

VSOs new campaign You to the Power of 10 illustrates the impact you could have as a volunteer.

 Medicine to the Power of Ten (PDF, 74KB, 1 page)

Events

VSO’s Health Information Day – Saturday 13 April 2013 

Join VSO on Saturday 13 April for their Health Information Day in the VSO premises in Putney, London.

This event brings  volunteering with VSO as a healthcare professional to life. You'll hear from returned healthcare professionals, giving a personal account of what it’s really like to be a VSO volunteer.

There will be an informal presentation on VSO covering the practicalities involved in volunteering, and the skills and experience they look for along with a Q&A session.

The doors open at 1:15pm with tea and coffee available.  The event will start at 2pm and finish at 4pm.

The event is free but booking is essential. Book your place now.  

Information about roles for health care professional with VSO.