Special interest sessions
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS (PDS) for higher doctors.
The table below acts as a guide to what opportunities are available to higher trainees to use within their PDS time. If there is a named contact person, do get in touch with them to find out more.
Please note that the list is not exhaustive, and there are many other ways that higher doctors can utilise their PDS. It is suggested that you discuss your PDS goals with your educational supervisor. Your colleagues too are a great resource to know what is out there.
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PDS Opportunity |
Contact person and role |
Further information |
Location |
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Addiction psychiatry Quality improvement work with CMHT |
Dr Alison Battersby Consultant psychiatrist and CMHT lead consultant, Livewell SW |
There are opportunities to gain experience in supervised work with people with dual diagnosis. This could be based either in CMHT or the complex needs team. You will learn structured ways to work with substance misuse. There are opportunities to learn about further integrating CMHT with primary care. These include deprescribing projects but not limited to that. |
Plymouth CMHT complex needs team and primary care |
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Homelessness Mental Health |
Dr Bernadette Rheeder, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist and Associate Medical Director, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust |
The Homelessness Vulnerability Liaison Service is a dynamic and ambitious multi-disciplinary team serving the homeless population in Cornwall. There is an opportunity to provide Psychiatry input to the team supported and supervised by Dr Rheeder. This is a great opportunity to work with underserved and excluded groups and gain dual diagnosis experience. There is also ample opportunity to get involved with research and service development if interested. |
Cornwall
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Research in CFT and beyond |
Dr Simon Vann Jones Consultant Psychiatrist in Old Age Psychiatry, CFT and NIHR Specialty Research Lead for Dementia, SW Peninsula |
Interested in research? Then contact me! I have supported previous STs to gain exposure to clinical trials from artificial intelligence to cannabis, from medical support through to NIHR Associate Principal Investigator roles. Providing medical support to a research trial is a great way of testing the waters and hugely appreciated by the R&D teams and may help build confidence to encourage you into becoming a Principal Investigator. I am also happy to link you in with research going on in Devon, Somerset and Livewell who are as active and enthusiastic as we are in Cornwall |
Various throughout the SW Peninsula region
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Working to prevent dementia; various schemes |
Dr Vicky Brown Semi – retired consultant psychiatrist, CFT
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Several opportunities
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Teaching – different location in Cornwall every time. Public Health – online Brain Health Clinic - Bodmin |
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Digital mental health at CFT |
Dr Ellen Wilkinson Chief Clinical Information Officer at CFT
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There are plenty of opportunities for a doctor in training to become involved in digital projects, including new applications, implementation and transformation, records optimisation, using data intelligently and more. Very flexible time commitment. Please get in contact with me to find out more! |
Mostly working remotely, with some workshops and meetings. |
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Devon Adult Autism Interventions Team |
Dr Alexander Hartley Consultant Psychiatrist, DPT |
There are few autism services nationally that provide support around placement breakdown, delivering autism informed practice on inpatient wards or solution finding in complex cases for autistic people. Devon Adult Autism Interventions Team (DAAIT) is one of these services and we’re happy to offer experiences in a variety of ways and timeframes or link in with autism assessment and ADHD services more widely for a full neurodiversity programme. |
Devon (including Plymouth) |
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Experience in working with people with LD |
Dr Simon Bonell, Consultant Psychiatrist in Intellectual Disabilities, Plymouth CLDT |
Excellent opportunity for doctors in training in any subspecialty to gain experience of working with people with LD. Come and observe clinics, carry out new patient assessments and work with the MDT. This will be a valuable experience, no matter where you end up working! |
Plymouth (Westbourne, Scott Business Park PL2 2PQ)
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Medical Education opportunities within the MRCPsych course |
Dr Susan Howson, Consultant Psychiatrist |
Opportunities for Medical Education related leadership, service development, QI, delivery of medical education, or related projects, within the MRCPsych course. In the past doctor in training have used the MRCPsych course as a way of having a ready-made audience for medical education developments, for example, trainees undertaking MedEd higher qualification. There is scope to take on a leadership role with delivering part of the course to developing something new within the course. |
Flexible across the trusts.
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Post Graduate Certificate (PG cert) in: Clinical education
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These courses can be accessed through a number of universities. Please see their websites for details. Please note HESW offer bursaries for the PgCert courses at the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth and with the Medics Academy in collaboration with the University of Lancashire. Please see the bursary funding page on the Peninsula Deanery website for more information |
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Diploma in Geriatric Medicine |
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This is a credential awarded by the Royal college of Physicians, and comprises 2 examination components with self directed learning. |
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Mentoring |
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There are mentoring opportunities within the school of psychiatry. In the past doctor in training have completed mentoring courses. |
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Training in Psychological Therapies |
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In addition to training in therapies as part of higher training, some doctor in training may wish to extend this experience within their PDS. You may wish to contact the psychotherapy lead for your trust to enquire regarding opportunities. Additionally doctor in training have completed post graduate qualifications in specific psychological therapies. |
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Medical Student Teaching |
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Please contact the medical student teaching lead for your trust to enquire regarding opportunities for teaching, leadership and service development roles with regards to medical student teaching. |
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Roles within the Royal College of Psychiatrists |
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The Psychiatric Training Committee represents Psychiatry trainees within the UK. There are many ways you can get involved and support the PTC and fellow trainees. Do look at the PTC page on the RCPsych website for more information:
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Local Representative Roles |
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There are a number of local higher training representative roles including the higher training representative, less than full time training representative and the IGM representative. Please enquire with the deanery and your colleagues regarding these roles. |
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