Psychiatry of Learning Disability ST1

You must hold a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS, MBBS) degree or other equivalent medical qualification.

You must:

• be eligible to work in the UK.
• be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practise from, the General Medical Council (GMC) at the advertised post start date for the vacancy.
• meet the standards set out in Good Medical Practice, and not be subject to fitness to practise conditions which would prevent you taking up the post or performing fully within it.

You must not

• hold, nor be eligible to hold, a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) for this specialty.
• already be eligible for the specialist register for this specialty.

You must be able to provide complete details of your employment history, including any gaps.

• You must complete all sections of the application form fully and truthfully, in accordance with written guidelines.
• You must disclose in your application if you are subject to any ongoing fitness to practise proceedings or are subject to any fitness to practise conditions.
• If you are currently in training and applying to continue training in the same specialty in another region, you must obtain a Support for Application to another region form signed by the Training Programme Director/Head of School of your current Specialty Training Programme. This must confirm satisfactory progress and be submitted with your application.
• If you have previously resigned, or been removed from a training programme in any specialty, you must obtain a Support for Reapplication to Specialty Training form signed by the Training Programme Director/Head of School and Postgraduate Dean from the region you previously undertook training in. This must be submitted with your application.
• If you have previously resigned, been removed from, or relinquished a Foundation post or training programme and failed to gain the award of a Foundation Programme Certificate of Completion (FPCC), or Foundation Achievement of Competence Document 5.2 (FACD 5.2) you you must obtain a Dean's Supporting Declaration proforma signed by the Postgraduate Dean from the region you previously undertook Foundation training in. This must be submitted with your application.

You must have evidence of achievement of foundation competences in the three and a half years preceding the advertised post start date for the vacancy, via one of the following 4 methods.

• Current employment in a UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) affiliated foundation programme.
• Current employment in a GMC approved Specialty Training Programme holding either a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN).
• A Foundation Programme Certificate of Completion (FPCC) from a UK affiliated foundation programme.
• 12 months medical experience after full GMC registration (or equivalent post licensing experience), and a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training (CREST).

You must hold a current and in date valid driving licence or provide an undertaking to provide alternative means of transport when providing emergency and domiciliary care to fulfil the requirements of the whole training programme.

• You meet all criteria specified in the Eligibility to Apply section above.

• Interest in, and understanding of, the training programme.

• Ability to work in multi-professional teams and supervise colleagues.
• Ability to lead, make decisions, organise and motivate other team members
• Ability to manage/prioritise own and others’ time effectively.
• Ability to work safely under pressure and deliver good clinical care in the face of uncertainty.
• Ability to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues.
• Good basic IT skills, including Microsoft Office, email, and ability to learn new systems.

• Understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues.
• Understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management, evidence-based practice, patient safety, and clinical quality improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of evidence-informed practice.

• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Ability to work on own initiative, demonstrating curiosity.
• Strong attention to detail, preparation and planning.
• Ability to communicate messages effectively to a range of audiences.
• Ability to negotiate and build positive professional relationships.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with an analytical/scientific approach to problem solving.

• Understanding of NHS management and resources.
• Experience of management.
• Experience of research.
• Experience of audit and quality improvement.
• Experience of teaching.

Clinical skills 

• Appropriate knowledge of core medical care, psychotherapy, psychology, and neuroscience. 

Academic knowledge 

• Capacity to critically appraise research in psychiatry. 

Communication skills 

• Appropriate use of non-verbal communication. 

Leadership 

• Capacity to take the lead in diagnosis and prognosis. 

Coping with pressure and managing uncertainty 

• Patience to continue the long-term care plan of the patient whatever the severity or prognosis of the condition. 

Patient centred 

• Ability to relate to the patient and take the perspective of the patient. 

• Capacity to fully understand the patient's needs before forming a diagnosis. 

• Appreciation of taking a holistic approach to patient care. 

• Ability to build relationships with patients' families. 

• Capacity to work in partnership with patients. 

• Understanding of the value of spending time with patients. 

• Awareness of patient safety. 

• Capacity to act as an advocate on behalf of the patient when required. 

• Consideration of the impact of clinical decisions on relationship with patient. 

Commitment to specialty 

• Demonstrates interest and realistic insight into psychiatry and mental health. 

Qualifications 

• Additional related qualifications e.g. BSc, BA, BMedSci or equivalent (not including intercalated BSc or ‘Honorary’ MA). 

Career progression 

• Clinical exposure to a community-based specialty. 

Empathy and sensitivity 

• Capacity to collect patient history with sensitivity and care. 

• Ability to be empathic but not become emotionally attached. 

Organisation and planning 

• Capacity to engender hope around recovery of patients. 

Commitment to specialty 

• Extracurricular activities / achievements / interests that provide increased insight into psychiatry.