This report underlines the College’s concerns over the
Non-Consultant Career Grade (NCCG) doctors working in psychiatry.
While acknowledging the negative tone of the term, the term is used
in the spirit of its current standing to ensure that all career
grade psychiatrists who are not Consultants (such as Clinical
Assistants, Hospital Practitioners, Clinical Medical Officers etc.,
who are not included by the term Staff and Associated Grade
doctors) are included in the considerations.
The working group was established in recognition of the vital
contribution that such people make towards the care of the mentally
disordered, the massive expansion in their numbers (especially the
establishment of Staff Grades), and of the fact that they have
specific career needs and structures. The report examines ways and
means of helping these, and focuses on the Affiliate Membership
that enables individual NCCGs to forge a formal link with the
College.
The report is positive and inclusive, and is concerned with
the interests both of those NCCGs who wish to proceed to be
included in the CCST, and of those who for whatever reason do not
wish to do so. It highlights the roles, responsibilities and
complex interactions between other agencies such as the Department
of Health, the NHS, the NHS Confederation, the British Medical
Association, the General Medical Council, employing Trusts and the
Deaneries. The implications of the proposals for consultants are
also considered.
The report recommends that Affiliates should have the same
sort of status and influence within the College’s structures as
that held by the trainees through the Collegiate Trainees
Committee. It aims for a balanced but achievable structure that
will direct this group of doctors away from extremely variable job
formats, often with low expectations and resulting in stagnation,
apathy, and marginalisation, towards a much more positive future
which be beneficial both for the Affiliates and ultimately for
patients and carers.