Psychiatry

Psychiatry training is an uncoupled training pathway except for posts in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Learning Disability Mental Health which are offered as run-through programmes. The minimum time to complete psychiatry training is 6 years.

ST1-3 - Core Psychiatry

6 x 6 month placements across 3 years - combination of subspecialties

ST4 onwards - subspecialty recruitment nationally

Essential Criteria:

• Clinical Knowledge

  • Interest in, and understanding of, the training programme

• Workplace Skills

  • Ability to work in multi-professional teams and supervise colleagues

  • Ability to lead, make decisions, organise and motivate other team members

  • Ability to manage/prioritise own and others’ time effectively

  • Ability to work safely under pressure and deliver good clinical care in the face of uncertainty

  • Ability to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues

  • Good basic IT skills, including Microsoft Office, email and ability to learn new systems

• Academic Knowledge

  • Understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues

  • Understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, practice safety, and clinical quality improvement initiatives

  • Knowledge of evidence-informed practice

• Personal Skills

  • Commitment to personal and professional development

  • Ability to work on own initiative, demonstrating curiosity

  • Strong attention to detail, preparation and planning

  • Ability to communicate messages effectively to a range of audiences

  • Ability to negotiate and build positive professional relationships

  • Strong problem-solving skills, with an analytical/scientific approach to problem solving

• Specialty Specific Clinical Skills

  • Appropriate knowledge of core medical care, psychotherapy, psychology and neuroscience

• Specialty Specific Academic Knowledge

  • Capacity to critically appraise research in psychiatry

• Communication Skills

  • Appropriate use of non-verbal communication

• Leadership

  • Capacity to take the lead in diagnosis and prognosis

• Coping with Pressure and Managing Uncertainty

  • Patience to continue the long-term care plan of the patient whatever the severity or prognosis of the condition

• Patient Centred

  • Ability to relate to the patient and take the perspective of the patient

  • Capacity to fully understand the patient’s needs before forming a diagnosis

  • Appreciation of taking a holistic approach to patient care

  • Ability to build relationships with patients’ families

  • Capacity to work in partnership with patients

  • Understanding of the value of spending time with patients

  • Awareness of patient safety

  • Capacity to act as an advocate on behalf of the patient when required

  • Consideration of the impact of clinical decisions on relationship with patient

• Commitment to Specialty

  • Demonstrates interest and realistic insight into psychiatry and mental health

Desirable Criteria

• Understanding of NHS management and resources

• Experience of management

• Experience of research

• Experience of audit and quality improvement

• Experience of teaching

• Qualifications

  • Additional related qualifications e.g. BSc. BA, BMedSci or equivalent (not including intercalated BSc or ‘Honorary’ MA)

• Career Progression

  • Clinical exposure to a community-based specialty

• Empathy and sensitivity

  • Capacity to collect patient history with sensitivity and care

  • Ability to be empathic but not become emotionally attached

• Organisation and planning

  • Capacity to engender hope around recovery of patients

• Commitment to Specialty

  • Extracurricular activities/achievements/interests that provide increased insight into psychiatry