Mentor Role Summary - Addictions Psychiatry Credential


Credentialing is a structured, outcomes-based process through which doctors develop and evidence specialist capabilities within a defined area of practice, supported by a curriculum, portfolio, and formal assessment. Mentorship is an essential component of the credentialling blueprint, providing the structured framework through which progression, supervision and capability development are achieved.  Typically, mentors are psychiatrists on the specialist register, while mentees are doctors seeking to develop additional expertise.

The mentor provides structured clinical, educational, and professional support to the credential participant, ensuring they achieve the required capabilities and successfully complete their credential.

  • Supports development, progression, and reflective practice
  • Acts as both an educational supervisor and clinical advisor
  • Ensures evidence is generated for portfolio and final sign-off
  • Provides assurance of progress to the credentialing body

To undertake this role, mentors will:

  • Be on the specialist register in General Adult Psychiatry with an endorsement in Substance Misuse, or on the specialist register in General Adult Psychiatry via a CESR route with substantial experience in addiction psychiatry.
  • Be a recognised trainer (or have equivalent experience supervising doctors)
  • Be working in a substantive role. 

A mentor does not need to be in the same Trust as the mentee.

Those with alternative routes to being an addiction specialist, including "senior specialty doctors" or "specialist addiction psychiatrists" and those with equivalent accreditation from another jurisdiction, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Educational planning and development

  • Develop a placement-specific Personal Development Plan (PDP) with the mentee at the start
  • Align the PDP to the credential curriculum and capabilities
  • Support learning through appropriate clinical and non-clinical activities
  • Regularly review and update progress against the PDP

Mentorship meetings (key requirement)

  • Meet at least fortnightly (minimum 1 hour per session)
  • Deliver a minimum of 20 hours of mentoring overall
  • Sessions can be face-to-face or virtual
  • Include both:
    • Individual supervision
    • Group case discussion sessions

Clinical and educational support

  • Provide:
    • Clinical guidance on complex cases. Mentors may provide guidance; however, patient treatment and management remain the responsibility of the host team and its clinical governance structures.
    • Educational supervision and feedback
    • Career and professional advice
  • Support reflective discussion and critical thinking
  • Ensure cases selected for discussion are:
    • Clinically appropriate
    • Of sufficient complexity
    • Focused on specific learning/reflection objectives

Assessment and portfolio support

  • Support and sometimes undertake workplace-based assessments (WPBAs)
  • Ensure use of:
    • Case-Based Discussions (CBDs)
    • ACE and/or mini-ACE
    • Reflective practice evidence
  • Guide mentee on portfolio requirements
  • Agree format for recording mentoring sessions

Monitoring progress and managing concerns

  • Actively monitor progress against expected outcomes
  • Provide honest, timely feedback
  • If concerns arise:
    • Share concerns with the mentee
    • Develop an action plan
    • Escalate to the credentialing lead (RCPsych) if concerns persist

Final review and sign-off contribution

  • Complete a final mentor report at the end of the credential
  • Report must:
    • Summarise progress
    • Provide evidence-based judgement
    • Contribute to the final credential outcome

Mentor session recording

  • All sessions must be logged in the portfolio under “Activities”
  • Each session must be numbered clearly (e.g. Mentor Session 10)
  • Evidence must demonstrate:
    • At least 20 hours of mentoring
    • A mix of individual and group sessions

Case discussion groups (mentor role)

Mentors should:
  • Support structured group supervision
  • Help coordinate sessions, acknowledging logistical challenges
  • Encourage:
    • Early collaboration between mentees
    • Clear organisation, including a rota for presentations
  • In group sessions:
    • The mentor may function as chair
    • The mentee may function as a note-keeper

Mentors should ensure that:
  • Cases are:
    • Relevant and appropriately complex
    • Focused on specific dilemmas or learning points
  • Mentees:
    • Present cases on a rota in groups
    • Use CBD /ACE/ Mini ACE forms within the portfolio
  • Discussions support:
    • Reflection
    • Clinical reasoning
    • Application of theory to practice