GP/Foundation training in psychiatry

We offer a variety of GP and foundation training posts to Resident doctors as part of the secondary care training programmes linked to Kent Acute Trust Hospitals: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.

Psychiatry placements are spread across a large geographical area and further information on the locations of these placements can be obtained from the our Medical Education Department. Programme information can also be obtained direct from the GP School and South Thames Foundation Schools as well as from the employing acute trusts.

Tuesday teaching

The Tuesday Teaching programme is rolled out every 4 month rotation and takes place weekly virtually.
The programme links to the foundation and GP trainee Psychiatry curriculum requirements.
The programme content is packed with a variety of interesting and stimulating psychiatry subjects.
Previous trainees have commented that no other specialty linked to Kent provides such a robust teaching programme.

Balint groups

Balint Groups are held weekly at each site and are attended by trainees and led by a Consultant. A Balint group is a method of training doctors, generalists or specialists, in the doctor-patient relationship.

A group of trainees get together at each site once a week for one hour under the supervision of a consultant for this experience. A doctor reports, as spontaneously as possible, a case from his/her practice that poses a problem.

Participants and leader then help the presenter, by means associations, questions, and interpretations, with the difficulties in the presenter's relation with the patient.

Journal clubs

Journal Clubs are held weekly at each site and attended by trainees and Consultants. The presentation is usually an interesting case or critical appraisal of a journal article.

Trainees present interesting cases, which they choose with the help of the chairperson (usually their Consultant); this is in keeping with the level of experience and training of the presenter as the focus is new learning from the case.