National Autism Training Programme for Psychiatrists, Enhanced Course - March 2024

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is pleased to invite psychiatrists working in England who wish to develop a specialist interest in autism, to participate in the third National Autism Training Programme for Psychiatrists, Enhanced Course.

The programme will equip psychiatrists to become autism specialists, with the clinical skills needed to deliver enhanced autism support, including diagnosis, co-morbidity, and therapeutic approaches.

The development and delivery of this programme has been funded by National Health Service England – attendance is free. Places are limited and will be awarded on a first come, first-served basis. If you would like to join the training programme we recommend that you register as soon as possible.

The programme for the third cohort starts on 19 March 2024 with a full day event of training taking place in London from approximately 9am until 4.30pm.

To register for the course, delegates must be able to attend the in-person training day on 19 March 2024.

The Enhanced Course learning programme will begin with a full day event at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London on 19 March 2024.

This will be followed by 16 eLearning modules and required additional reading, supported by mentoring and peer to peer support. Participants will be able to complete the course at their own pace.

The course lasts for 12 months. A completion certificate will be issued on completion of the initial day, all eLearning modules, required reading, five reflections to be submitted to mentors, engagement with mentor and engagement with community of practice. The total study time required is approximately 50 hours in addition to the initial face to face event.  

Please make sure that you can commit to this requirement before enrolling on this course.

• Psychiatrists seeking to join specialist autism teams
• Psychiatrists already employed in specialist autism teams, or who are newly appointed or poised to take up a substantive post within a specialist autism team, who need to augment their training on autism or need more support to consolidate previous experience
• Specialty psychiatry trainees who wish to pursue a career in specialist autism services
• Specialty doctors, specialty trainee psychiatrists and consultant psychiatrists who have a special interest in autism and wish to develop it further within the services in which they currently work, complementing the work of specialist autism teams

• A broad understanding of autism and other related or co-existing neurodevelopmental conditions
• Knowledge of which physical and neurodevelopmental conditions commonly co-occur with autism
• Recognising the characteristics of autism and undertaking a diagnosis (NOTE: it does not provide certification in the use of specific autism diagnostic tools / instruments)
• Differentiating between autism and mental health conditions
• Evaluating risk and capacity in autistic people
• Developing appropriate and least restrictive treatment plans
• Putting in place reasonable adjustments to deliver the best care experience to autistic patients
• Co-production of services with autistic people and those with lived experience
• Understanding of the vulnerability of autistic people to engaging in offending behaviour and their experience of the criminal justice system