The Forensic Psychiatry Specialist Training Programme is well-established in Wessex. It is a small friendly scheme, currently with five posts, which include joint training schemes with General Adult Psychiatry (GAP) or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHs).
The Forensic services are based in Hampshire at Ravenswood House Medium Secure Unit and Southfield Low Secure Unit provided by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, where trainees have ample opportunity to build skills in in-patient Forensic Psychiatry, through experience of admissions, the care pathway, risk assessment and management, MHT experience and multi-agency working.
There are opportunities to work in the community team as well as specialist Pathfinder, Stalking, Forensic Intellectual Disability and Forensic CAMHs services. Some trainees have used special interest sessions to obtain experience in other areas of psychiatry, including Addictions.
Trainees gain experience of High Secure services through a placement at Broadmoor and prison experience at HMP Isle of Wight and HMP Winchester. The trainees have plenty of opportunity to develop expert witness skills through report writing and attending court. There are a range of psychotherapy opportunities available. The trainees are well supported by peers and supervisors and quickly become part of the whole forensic team. Out of hours working is part of a second on-call rota covering GAP and Older Persons Mental Health units within Hampshire.
There is a weekly local academic programme for Forensic specialty registrars and core trainees based in the service, along with a monthly Secure Services academic meeting. There is a case based psychotherapy group offered bi-monthly. There is an additional weekly academic meeting for all psychiatrists based in East Hampshire, where trainees can access supervision for out-of-hours working.
All higher trainees in psychiatry attend a three-year rolling, monthly professionals programme enabling the trainees to develop wider peer groups along with the knowledge, skills and attitudes in a range of topics to support preparation for a consultants post.
There are many opportunities to develop management and leadership skills, to equip you for the start of your consultant career as well as educational skills by taking part in teaching and training.