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Psychiatry

thinking process

The School of Psychiatry is committed to ensuring that Wales offers a high quality, curriculum driven, sustainable training programme with the aim of producing psychiatrists of the highest calibre who will deliver the best possible care for their patients.

Psychiatrists enjoy a combination of intellectual challenge and the opportunity to really understand the 'whole patient'. Psychiatry offers diversity of practice across a broad range of clinical and community settings.

Psychiatry training is split into three years of core training and three years specialty training. Core takes in basic skills as well as getting a flavour of more specialist areas such as child mental health and addictions. On completion of membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists trainees are then eligible to apply for a three-year specialist training scheme to pursue interests in either child, adult, old age psychiatry, intellectual disability or forensics.

Trainees in Wales benefit from exceptionally supportive peer and professional relationships and high standards of teamwork. Trainees in Wales also enjoy close links with the Royal College devolved council. This allows opportunities to influence policy and practice around mental health at a national level. On top of this, Wales is host to high quality research centres and medical schools, meaning trainees have access to experts in research and education if that is their interest.

As part of a Welsh Government initiative, trainees in Wales are eligible to receive reimbursement for the costs of the first sitting of the MRCPsych membership examinations. This is unique to Wales and currently worth around £2000.

Overall, Wales provides high quality clinical training with access to exceptional opportunities - all in a friendly and supportive environment.

All trainees are expected to be familiar with the relevant curriculum for the training programme they are registered on. Details can be found on the Royal College of Psychiatrists website.

 

Child and adolescent psychiatry higher training

Child and adolescent psychiatry is a subspecialty of psychiatry that focuses on the mental health of children and adolescents

Core psychiatry training

Core psychiatry training in Wales is structured as follows:

Forensic psychiatry higher training

This is a three-year training programme in forensic psychiatry, completion of which will allow the successful trainee to achieve a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Forensic Psychiatry.

General adult psychiatry higher training

Our training programme in General Adult (GA) psychiatry is a large scheme with posts across South East, West and North Wales

Old age higher training

Old Age Psychiatry is a subspecialty of Psychiatry that focuses on the mental health and wellbeing of older people. There are numerous areas that allow for clinical and academic experience on the programme

Psychiatry of learning disability higher training

Psychiatry of Learning Disability (LD) Higher Training in Wales offer fantastic opportunities for trainees to work in fully multi-disciplinary teams with highly experienced colleagues.