SOUTH WESTERN DEANERY - South West Peninsula Deanery

POST:
TRAINER:
EMPLOYING TRUST:
Forensic
Dr Eluned Dorkins
Devon Partnership Trust
ONE YEAR FORENSIC PLACEMENT (RUNNING FROM AUGUST TO JULY)
This post is designed for specialist trainees who wish to gain a broad experience of what forensic mental health
services can offer. In particular, it aims to help trainees develop their risk assessment and management skills
through a structured approach and by exposure to a variety of different clinical environments, (where the
elements of structural, relational and procedural security all vary). The aim is to develop skills which will have a
broad applicability in whatever context trainees will work in the future.
Langdon Hospital has an established track record in providing forensic training and is the base of the Peninsula
Deanery Forensic Training Scheme for ST4 to ST6. There are already three forensic trainees on the site so that
trainees from the general scheme will automatically have a peer group based at Langdon during the year’s
attachment.
The year is divided into two x six month placements, the first starting in the medium secure environment,
followed by a placement in open/low secure settings which serve different a different population. e.g Owen
House (open complex care and rehabilitation),
There is a separate on line guide describes each of these placements in detail. This includes induction, a brief
description of the units, a timetable for the trainee, the competencies which can be achieved, particular
training opportunities and the kind of objectives that can be set. A variety of special interest sessions are also
described, although it is anticipated that the general psychiatric trainee may have other interests they wish to
pursue, granted that they may not be heading for a career in forensic psychiatry. The documentation also
includes a map of general and specific knowledge and skills which can be obtained during the placement,
mapping out how these could be achieved through a variety of different mechanisms.
There is also an academic programme that runs throughout the year, which takes place on a Thursday
afternoon, which includes a lunchtime multidisciplinary case conference, followed by a medical academic
programme. The trainees will take part in this; this includes journal club, medico legal presentations, and
challenging cases. There is also clinical governance programme, that runs through the hospital site and again
trainees will be anticipated to take part in this in whatever setting they find themselves.
There are sessions in psychodynamic psychotherapy related to forensic patients which general adult trainees
are also welcome to attend.
The trainee will have one supervisor for each placement who will provide both clinical and educational
supervision. However, to ensure continuity, the trainee will meet with the training programme director shortly
after starting the year, at six months and then at the ARCP. Trainees can also meet with the training
programme director informally throughout the year. Trainees who are considering undertaking this placement
can contact the training programme, Dr Eluned Dorkins, at any point during the year and can make an
appointment to discuss their specific training needs. Contact details: Jenny Peterson – 01626 884423 –
jenny.peterson@nhs.net or eluned.dorkins@nhs.net
First placement August-January Dewnans centre Dr John Parker
Second placement February-July Owen House Dr Eluned Dorkins
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