Personal qualities and competencies required to be a psychiatrist

The key to securing a CT1 job is to review the person specification which can be located on the MMC website. The 2008 Gold Guide is also very useful.

Psychiatry has its own person specification. It is essentially a description of the qualifications and skills the Royal College of Psychiatrists would like potential trainees to have acquired and demonstrated during their previous training. There is a clear link between the qualities and competencies required for the CT1 job and those necessary to be a good psychiatrist.

The Person Specification is broadly divided into two sections

1. The entry criteria required for entry into CT1 training in psychiatry. For example, qualifications (medical degree), language skills and transportation (psychiatrists must hold a current driving licence with access to a car or propose a suitable alternative means of transport).
2.  The selection criteria which are the qualities and skills on which candidates will be chosen.

The criteria are classed as either essential or desirable and they provide an explanation of what selectors will be looking for and where it should be demonstrated, i.e. application form, interview and selection centre. The personal specification is therefore an indispensable document to have to hand both when preparing the application form and for he interview.

The person specification should not be viewed as a completely comprehensive list of personal qualities and competencies required to be a psychiatrist. It is helpful to expand upon this list and a comprehensive list to aid your preparation is provided below. Good psychiatric practice also lists the attributes of a good psychiatrist.

Skills required for core training in psychiatry:

Page last updated on 22 May by E Baker-Glenn