Welcome to the KSS School of Psychiatry Forensic training programme. This training programme is led by Dr Shadé Olajubu, Training Programme Director (TPD). To find out more about her role, please visit the Meet the Team webpage.
Forensic Trainee Programme and Placements
The KSS programme in Forensic Psychiatry offers rotation within seven placements; three in West Kent, three in East Sussex, and one at Broadmoor Hospital, West London Mental Health Trust. Higher trainees work with experienced Consultant Forensic Psychiatrists, who are dedicated to clinical and educational supervision and have clear expectations of trainees.
The placements give a wide variety of experience of the care pathways for: male inpatients (medium and low security), women’s secure services (both medium and low secure), low secure learning disability services, and community forensic mental health.
There is also experience of liaison with high security, and out-of-area treatment provision. Trainees carry out risk assessments for secondary care mental health services, in police custody and in the community, and experience liaison and diversion services. There is also exposure to HMP Psychiatry within a Category B remand prison, and prison assessments (as emergencies and for admission to medium security).
Trainees can report and give evidence for managers and tribunal hearings, observe psychiatrists’ evidence in court (and give court reports and evidence when more senior) and be involved in the legal process in relation to patients at the inpatient unit.
The range of available experiences can individually match trainees’ interests and curriculum needs in each placement, including attachments to other specialist forensic services.
Opportunities
Academic afternoons and journal clubs are held within the Kent and Medway Social Care Partnership Trust forensic psychiatry service (each once monthly) and trainees can attend academic programmes at other trust venues, including the weekly journal club, weekly consultant CPD, and quarterly Trust-wide CPD.
Trainees are encouraged to attend the monthly senior staff/consultant committee meeting. Similarly there is an academic program within the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The forensic rotation is also considering the option of a video-linked academic programme to take in both centres, to enhance the academic programme and develop closer links for trainees in both areas.
Trainees are encouraged to undertake and publish research (with a dedicated research forum in KMPT for trainees & trainers) and Higher Degrees (for example, the MA in Leadership).
To find out more about opportunities in KSS, please visit the Teaching and Learning webpage.
Curriculum
The forensic psychiatry curriculum and further detailed information can be accessed via the Royal College of Psychiatrists curricula webpage.