SOUTH WESTERN DEANERY - South West Peninsula Deanery

POST:
TRAINER:
EMPLOYING TRUST:
Early Intervention in Psychosis
Dr Michael Metcalfe
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
The Cornwall Early Intervention in Psychosis Service has approximately 200 clients and is divided into two
teams, one based at Bodmin Hospital and the other based at Trengweath Unit in Redruth. In addition to
nursing staff, the service includes Occupational Therapists and Psychologists. There is a full time Consultant
Psychiatrist (Dr Mike Metcalfe) and Associate Specialist (Dr Cathy English). The team receives referrals of
individuals with a suspected first episode of psychosis between the ages for 14 and 35 years. Consultant
responsibility for those under16 years of age remains with the Child and Adolescent Consultants.
The full-time medical secretary and Associate Specialist are based at the Trengweath Mental Health Unit in
Redruth with office space also available at Bodmin Hospital. The trainee will have dedicated office space and a
networked computer and will be co-located with one of the Early Intervention Teams. The Consultant
Psychiatrist works across the whole county, the Associate Specialist mainly in the west. Clinical work may have
a focus in the west or east of the county, and this will be negotiated individually with trainees.
The trainee will be expected to take part in initial assessments for individuals referred to the service as well as
working with those individuals taken on by the service during their three year period of contact with Early
Intervention. This work will involve significant multi-disciplinary and multi-agency liaison and the majority of
clinical consultations will be carried out in conjunction with another member of the team. The trainee’s work
will be fully and comprehensively supervised by the Consultant Psychiatrist.
There is no direct inpatient commitment involved in this post. The majority of clinical contacts will take place
in outpatient clinics, general practice settings and at individuals’ homes. The experience gained and skills
learned will primarily be focused on identification and treatment of psychosis. The range of referrals will
enable the trainee to fine-tune their ability to distinguish early psychosis from other problems and disorders.
The work with those already on the caseload will enable the trainee to develop their skills and knowledge in
the treatment of psychosis, both in terms of medication and non-medical approaches.
There are particular opportunities to have clinical experience and training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for
psychosis and to train in use of the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS) under the supervision of
one of the clinical psychologists.
The Early Intervention service has monthly CPD sessions which the trainee will be encouraged to attend and
contribute to. There is also a monthly Trust CPD morning offering high quality educational presentations.
The team works in line with the principles of Recovery and the Whole Life Approach. Support workers and a
group worker focus on non-clinical activities, including a wide range of activity groups and an allotment. The
trainee will have the opportunity to work alongside these individuals and to develop their skills in using social
approaches in addition to the psychological and biological approaches already described.
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