Schwartz Rounds

A forum for staff & students from all health/social care professions to come together to discuss the emotional care aspects of their work and training
Schwartz Rounds

What are Schwartz Rounds?

A forum for staff and students from all health and social care professions to come together to discuss the emotional care aspects of their work and training.

Any number of attendees meet for an hour to hear experiences of practice incidents or episodes of care from a panel of usually 3-4 students and/or staff, share reflections on the emotional impact and give immediate feedback. Two trained facilitators co-ordinate the hour-long Round. Refreshments are always provided the half hour before the Round, to value participants and encourage open sharing. 

Schwartz Center Rounds began in the USA as a result of the experiences of Kenneth Schwartz after his diagnosis of terminal lung cancer, when “small acts of kindness made the unbearable bearable”.

The UK branch of the charity with whom we have a contract is the Point of Care Foundation.

Why is the University of Plymouth running Rounds?

Research shows that acknowledging the emotional aspects of providing care for others is helpful when done in a supportive and safe environment. We believe that the experience of Rounds will promote an attitude of reflective practice and help break down boundaries – setting the scene for future professional practice and lifelong learning. 

'Small Schwartz Rounds’ have been running at the University of Plymouth since January 2017. These started in the Faculty of Health and Human Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry – now the newly merged Faculty of Health. They also now incorporate the Plymouth Institute of Education and the School of Law, Criminology and Government as well as Speech and Language Therapy from Plymouth Marjon University.

Rounds in academic year 2020/21

Tuesday 22 September: This will take place via Zoom from 13:00–14:30; a link will be circulated to staff and students via internal email. Theme: 'New experiences'.

Wednesday 21 October: This will take place via Zoom from 13:00–14:30; a link will be circulated to staff and students via internal email. Theme: 'Courage in the workplace'.

Wednesday 18 November: This will take place via Zoom from 13:00–14:30; a link will be circulated to staff and students via internal email. Theme: 'Positivity in the workplace'.

Wednesday 13 January: This will take place via Zoom from 13:00–14:30; a link will be circulated to staff and students via internal email. Theme: 'New opportunities'

Wednesday 10 March: This will take place via Zoom from 13:00–14:30; a link will be circulated to staff and students via internal email. Theme: 'Living with COVID'

Wednesday 28 April: This will take place via Zoom from 13:00–14:30; a link will be circulated to staff and students via internal email. Theme: 'Shared care'

Wednesday 16 June: This will take place via Zoom from 13:00–14:30; a link will be circulated to staff and students via internal email. Theme: 'Hidden abilities'

Our University of Plymouth Schwartz Rounds were the subject of student clinical psychologist Dominique Clancy's PhD, and can be found on the following link: DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2019.1692797

Schwartz Panel at KSPA Truro, 24 September 2019

Schwartz Panel at KSPA Truro, 24 September 2019

You are also encouraged to attend Schwartz Rounds which run in many of our local Trusts, including:

  • Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
  • Devon Partnership NHS Trust
  • North Devon Healthcare Trust
  • Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
  • South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
  • Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
  • Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
  • University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
  • Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Watch a demonstration Schwartz Round at St Joseph's Hospice. Supported by The Point of Care Foundation.

Who can attend?

  • All health and social care students and staff.
  • Other professions or programmes which may share a common interest in exploring the emotional and psycho-social aspects of working with people.
  • No booking needed – first come, first served.
  • Volunteer as a panelist or just come and share the experience as part of the audience.


Feedback

“I really valued the openness and honesty of Schwartz panelists when sharing their stories.”

“…It was powerful, heartfelt, and helps break through boundaries and barriers.”

“I wasn’t expecting to benefit as much as I did…I will return to my placement with more confidence that my feelings are normal and I’m not a fraud.”

“How amazing is zoom, despite not being able to meet face to face we have all shared some amazing and emotional stories, I wouldn't have thought that was possible a few months ago."

“In this current time when we're all separated and in lockdown, I found it so touching to hear everyone's personal stories and came away from the session feeling so much less isolated from the world and got a feeling of human connection again!

"This is such a fantastic platform for students to get an insight into the workplace and empower them to be the best professionals that they can be, whilst also learning and accepting that mistakes are OK, it is how we go forward from that."

Want to know more?

If you want to know more about Schwartz Rounds or join as a panelist then contact either a member of the Steering Group or a student champion.

Steering Group Representatives


Student Champions

Useful documentation