The Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability Specialist Training Programme is well-established in Wessex. It is a small friendly scheme, currently with three training posts. As there are more approved training locations than posts, we are able to tailor the training experiences to meet an individual’s training needs and interests.
The size of the scheme means that trainees are well supported by their peers, but also will know, and be known by, the wider group of trainers and other consultants in learning disability psychiatry across Wessex, through the monthly Learning Disabilities Academic programme.
There is also the Psychiatry Professional Programme, which provides a three-year rolling programme for all specialist psychiatry trainees to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes in a range of topics to supplement learning within the clinical post, in preparation for consultant practice. A range of psychotherapy opportunities are available, as well as a case based psychotherapy group attended jointly with old age psychiatry trainees.
Currently, we offer posts hosted by Southern Health NHS Trust (in North Hampshire, West Hampshire, East Hampshire and Southampton), alongside a post with Solent NHS Trust in Portsmouth. Clinical experience is available in well-developed multidisciplinary community learning disability teams, specialist learning disability in-patient services and Forensic learning disability services (community and in-patient).
There are many opportunities to develop management and leadership skills, to equip trainees for their consultant career. Special interest sessions are actively promoted, in areas such as developmental psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, genetics, psychotherapy, epilepsy, neuropsychiatry, education and teaching, and management.