Core Psychiatry Training

The NWL Core Psychiatry Training Programme is spread across 2 Local Education Providers; CNWL NHS Foundation Trust and West London NHS Trust. They cover a wide variety of areas including both inner city and suburban locations with the ability to offer a range of experience and preparation for specialist training. There are excellent transport links both within London and across the country. Both Trusts have Supported Return to Training and Less Than Full Time Training champions to ensure that we support trainees to the best of our ability if they need to take time out of training or choose to work less than full time.

A Typical Rotation

A typical rotation would consist of ‘Core’ experience in the first year across General Adult and Older Adults, in-patient and community. Specialty experience would be gained in the 2nd and 3rd years and should include CAMHS or LD as well as the opportunity for other sub-specialties. Posts are allocated for the first 12 months on entry to the scheme and then subsequently on a 12 month basis, taking into account trainee preference. Over the last 2 years we have developed a new process for allocation, with our trainees, to aim for a fair and transparent process.

The trainee will have weekly one-to-one one-hour supervision with an approved consultant trainer. The focus of this should be around learning and be trainee led. The trainee will be expected to complete a portfolio of evidence including workplace based assessments and reports which will be used in preparation for the ARCP. There is a Regional MRCPsych course and trainees are expected to attend on a regular basis. Psychotherapy training is built into the programme and a film club is organised by the scheme to stimulate thinking and discussion around mental health issues. This is a very popular and well received event.

The trainee will be allocated an Educational Supervisor who will meet with them on a regular basis to provide an overview of their training as well as pastoral and enhanced support. The trainee will also have an allocated Training Programme Director who will also be available for advice and further management of any training or support issues.

We are constantly looking at ways to improve the scheme and value feedback from trainees. This has led to the development of CT3 Management and Leadership Programme for Core Trainees as well as a comprehensive Communication Skills Development course, which have been very well received with positive feedback. We are very keen for trainees to be involved in developing training and clinical services and regard the participation of trainees in these activities as a necessity.

Applying for Core Training in NW London

Applications for CT1 psychiatry training posts in England, Scotland and Wales are co-ordinated by Health Education England’s North West Local Office.

Details of recruitment process, timetables, indicative vacancies and applicant guidance can be found here: https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/psychiatry/core-psychiatry-training

Number and Variety of Posts

Within the scheme there are 101 Core Psychiatry Training posts; CNWL - 50 posts and WLT - 51 posts. CNWL covers the boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon. West London covers the boroughs of Hounslow, Ealing and, Hammersmith and Fulham.  These posts cover all the specialties such as General Adult, Older Adult, CAMHS, LD and Forensic, as well as many sub-specialties; Liaison, Eating Disorders, Addictions, Perinatal and Psychotherapy.

The schemes also have some core Forensic posts at Broadmoor Hospital, which is only one of 3 high security psychiatric hospitals in England and Wales and internationally renowned for its highly specialized care and research. We have close links with many Research Institutions and welcome applications from Academic Clinical Fellows. We are in the process of developing a Research training programme to update trainees on current areas of research as well as supporting them to get involved in research if they wish to do so.

Regional Teaching (MRCPsych Course)

Hosted by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, we offer regional teaching in the form of the MRCPsych course. The MRCPsych course is an essential part of Core Psychiatry training and passing the exams are a pre-requisite to progression to Higher training in Psychiatry. The programme is designed specifically to meet the needs of trainees sitting the exams and designed to compliment your practical experience and meet the standards and requirements of the RCPsych Examination Syllabus.

The course consists of two annualized streams, Courses A and B, reflecting the syllabus of the two written papers of the College examination; streams A and B also include Psychiatric Interviewing Skills and Professional Skills teaching. The final part of the MRCPsych examination process is the practical Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies (CASC) exam. Both West London NHS Trust and CNWL run mock CASC examinations to support trainees preparing for the final step in MRCPsych qualification. The programme has had a very high pass rate of 83-95% for the CASC exam over the last few years.

Find the latest prospectus here.