Higher training in psychiatry
Higher trainees in psychiatry are supported through a network of colleges, clinical and educational supervisors, local faculty groups and the inspection mechanisms. Our education and training courses cover subjects including study leave and expenses, counselling, appraisal and assessments and professional development.
Local training days
Weekly CPD takes place each Thursday at all sites and higher trainees are invited to attend. This is a bleep-free protected time. Its content includes educational lectures, NICE guidelines updates, Journal Club, mandatory training, and workshops.
Higher trainees are also offered the opportunity to attend and participate in the senior medical staff committee meetings held monthly, with opportunities available for higher trainees to act as secretaries to this committee.
Educational opportunities
Trainees are encouraged to attend local training days/conferences in relevant domains, from clinical leadership to humanities. The higher trainees organise quarterly Calman Days, which are an opportunity for all higher trainees to come together and to organise their own educational programme based on their needs.
There are also a number of other deanery-supported courses, both externally as well as within Health Education Kent Surrey and Sussex.
Higher Trainees have their own monthly virtual teaching programme. Each month contains a 2 hour teaching session. There are 2 longer sessions a year face to face.
Sub specialty opportunities
Besides the required rotations for higher training, there are also opportunities to obtain Certificate if Completion of Training (CCT) endorsements in liaison, rehabilitation and addictions psychiatry. Each trainee is also allocated two PAs weekly for special interest or research purposes.
The possibilities are endless, with opportunities to partake in specialist clinics (e.g. neuropsychiatry) or services (forensic, personality disorder units, perinatal mental health and neurodevelopment psychiatry).
Opportunities are also available for trainees to partake in psychotherapy should this be of interest to them.
Balint groups
Higher Balint groups are held fortnightly. A Balint group is a method of training doctors, generalists or specialists in the doctor-patient relationship.
Journal clubs
Journal clubs are held weekly at each site and attended by trainees and consultants. The presentation is usually an interesting case or critical appraisal of a journal article.
We offer an excellent work-life balance. While higher trainees would be expected to take on a proactive role at the workplace, trainees are encouraged to adhere to the contracted working hours with no undue pressure for long shifts or days.
All of this allows for a family-friendly and well-balanced work-life balance, with plenty of time to enjoy the beauty, nature and beaches Kent offers.
Library and knowledge services are made available to KMPT staff through libraries at acute trusts linked to Kent and Medway.
By joining a NHS library most convenient to you, you can gain access to the latest health-related books and journals. We also provide our own resource rooms at Maidstone, Medway, Canterbury and Dartford.
Did you know that the NHS Knowledge and Library hub link can be accessed through both the KMPT i-connect intranet (Library Services page) and through iLearn?
The iconnect page includes a link to the NHS Knowledge and Library hub, user guide, account set up details plus contact details to all your local libraries.
You can also access Library Reports for KMPT on Padlet https://padlet.com/quietformunited/kmpt-lfg-q5t8wq9hnkr5x1kk.
Padlet is a ‘living’ document so will automatically update when new reports are added and the link remains the same.
Our KMPT Dedicated Librarian Maria Hughes maria.hughes8@nhs.net
Dr Vinu Vasudevan
Dartford
vinodini.vasudevan@nhs.net
Dr Abubaker Isac-Momoh
Medway
a.isaac-momoh@nhs.net
Dr Adina Parkes
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells
adina.parkes@nhs.net
Dr Ivana Pristicova
East Kent Canterbury
ivana.pristicova@nhs.net
Dr Max Pickard
East Kent Ashford and Thanet
max.pickard@nhs.net
All trainees are entitled to weekly supervision with their clinical supervisors. Trainees are also supported to ensure they meet the requirements for the final ARCP review. We also run a mentorship programme.
Exam support higher trainees are offered the opportunity to participate in undergraduate and core trainees teaching, including CASC practice and CASC mock exams.
The London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex Supported Return to Training (SuppoRTT) programme aims to support all trainees to safely and confidently return to training after a sustained period of absence.
The programme applies to all trainee doctors absent for 3 months or more, regardless of the reason. Click here to visit the website
