SOUTH WESTERN DEANERY - South West Peninsula Deanery

POST:
TRAINER:
EMPLOYING TRUST:
Community Psychiatry and Early Intervention In Psychosis
Dr Antony Thekkepalakkal
Devon Partnership Trust
JOB DESCRIPTION: This is a new and exciting opportunity for ST4-6 trainees to work in a diverse setting in
the community covering a large but predominantly rural area of outstanding natural beauty. The trainee would
be a much valued member of the Early Intervention in Psychosis (STEP) Team (South and West Devon) & the
Community Mental Health Teams (Mental Well being and Access/ Recovery and Independent Living/Assertive
Outreach functional network teams, in the areas of Totnes and Dartmouth). The trainee would join a skilled
and experienced multi-professional team which includes a Consultant Psychiatrist (Educational Supervisor) and
a Specialty doctor based at Cabot House, Totnes.
The trainee would have opportunity to work flexibly either across the 4 teams or focus on a specific team(s)
based on their interests, clinical experience and learning needs. The trainee could also develop his/her
confidence and leadership skills by providing psychiatric input to the team working in a particular geographical
area with regular supervision and the support of an efficient medical secretary. Our award-winning STEP team
works with young people (age range 14 to 35) with first episode psychosis, sharing the positive and forward
looking EI ethos adopting an assertive but befriending model of care for up to three years often in close
collaboration with other local services including CAMHS. There are ample opportunities to gain experience of
working with families and to learn CBT based techniques as well as psycho-educational skills from a well
motivated, enthusiastic and friendly team. By working with the functional network teams, the trainee would
gain valuable experience in the clinical management of patients in the community with an emphasis on the
Recovery principles. The teams comprise of experienced clinicians and the trainee could learn to develop and
maintain close working links with GPs, service user/carer groups (e.g.: Be Involved Devon), voluntary sector
(e.g.: Rethink), other local Trusts (e.g.: Community Care Trust) and the private sector (e.g.: Community of St.
Antony and St. Elias, Totnes) which would benefit the trainee immensely in their transition process from being
an StR to a Consultant psychiatrist.
The Educational supervisor has done his basic and specialist psychiatric training in the South West Peninsula
Deanery and is keen to support the trainee to meet and/or shadow other senior clinicians, clinical/medical
directors, Chief Executive and the Trust managers in order to develop their knowledge and understanding of
the new Clinical Directorate as well as the role of clinicians in management within the modern NHS structure.
This post also offers opportunity to teach medical students during their local SSU placements (‘Road to
Recovery’) and the FT/CT doctors at Journal clubs/Case Conferences/Tutorials/ Audit meetings/ MRCPsych
exam practice sessions in South Devon. The trainee would be encouraged to be innovative and take on clinical
audit and service evaluation projects that might be of interest to them. Research and other special interests
would be fully supported in this post. The trainee would be encouraged to do Section 12 MHA work/training
and attend educational courses/events for CPD/NHS appraisal purposes. Mentorship via the Deanery will be
supported. They would also receive support for their WPBA with a view to achieving a satisfactory ARCP while
working towards a Certificate of Completion of training (CCT) and obtaining a Consultant job in the NHS.
a.m.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Clinical and
9.30 to 11.30 : Research
Educational
Clinical Team session
Supervision with meeting
Consultant ( 9.30 to
11.00 am )
Clinical
work/Home visits
Clinical work/Home
visits
11 am : Clinical
12.30 to 1.30 :
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