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College news
President's Update
Stormy weather in Brighton at
Liberal Democrat conference
In what was a blustery few days both
meteorologically and metaphorically, delegates had to battle the
wind and rain to reach the conference venue. Inside, the key theme
at many meetings was the impact of the new benefit assessment
process on those with physical illness, mental illness and learning
disability.
Still not sensing any "give" in the system, we
all know this is big chunk of government spend but NGOs, users and
carers are battling to get ministers to recognise the catastrophic
impact when the assessments are carried out poorly. This debate
therefore must continue. Find out more...
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Enewsletter polls: your views
wanted;
This month's poll:
we would like your views
Results of last
month's poll
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Note from the Editors: Dr Ros
Ramsay and Dr Chrissy Boardman
When the eNewsletter team visited the
International Congress in Liverpool this summer to find out from
members what they thought of the eNewsletter, our frequent
conversations concerned CPD opportunities. Therefore we thought it
might be helpful to highlight opportunities and links on the
college website:
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New Associate-Registrar for
Leadership and Management: Dr Fiona Mason
The new Associate-Registrar for Leadership and Management talks
about taking clear, effective actions. Find out
more...
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New College vacancies
RCPsych News Editor
Do you have an interest in writing for
the general public and some experience of
editing? Find out more...
Editor, CPD Online
CPD Online is looking for someone with
energy, commitment, a wide interest in all areas of psychiatry, and
an understanding of online learning. Find out
more...
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Book now: Prestigious Lecture
Series: Improving front line practice in child
protection
Professor Eileen Munro, 6.30 pm on
Tuesday 23 October 2012, Royal College of Psychiatrists in
London.
The lecture will sketch the thinking behind the recommendations
in the Munro Review of Child Protection on improving work with
children and families, offering an analysis of why previous reforms
have not had the expected impact. There is a charge of £5 to
attend, payable on the night. To reserve your place, email Thomas Kennedy by 12
October 2012.
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Leading mental health organisations
welcome MP vote to scrap outdated, discriminatory laws
MPs have voted in favour of the Mental Health
(Discrimination) Bill which will now go through to the
Committee stage. If eventually passed, it will put an end to
archaic laws which prevent people with mental health problems from
participating in jury service and becoming or remaining a company
director. It will also change a law that currently stipulates that
MPs themselves will lose their seats if sectioned under the Mental
Health Act, regardless of recovery.
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The National Audit of Schizophrenia
launches a new clinical resource
THE LESTER UK
ADAPTATION - Positive Cardiometabolic Health Resource: an
intervention framework for patients with psychosis on antipsychotic
medication
A new clinical resource will be included as
a laminated insert in the October issue of the British Journal of
Psychiatry (England and Wales). This resource provides a simple
framework for identifying and treating cardiovascular and type 2
diabetes risks in patients with psychosis, receiving antipsychotic
medication. Its development was facilitated by the
National Audit of Schizophrenia led by the RCPsych’s Centre for
Quality Improvement, funded by the Healthcare Quality Improvement
Partnership. It involved close collaboration with the Royal College
of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Nursing.
Click
here for more details about this resource, or to download
a PDF version.
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Update on the Recruitment Strategy:
Dr Tom Brown, Associate-Registrar, Recruitment
The Associate Registrar for
Recruitment reveals exciting initiatives. Read
more…
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History of the College:
Metamorphosis of Association to College: Dr Thomas Bewley,
Past-President and Vanessa Cameron, Chief Executive
“The fortieth anniversary of the Royal College
of Psychiatrists is an appropriate time to reflect on the past. The
Royal Medico-Psychological Association (RMPA) was not moribund in
1972, but its functions were limited. It had regional divisions in
the UK and Ireland and two specialist sections (mental handicap and
child psychiatry). It had one of the best psychiatric journals in
the world. The RMPA had little input into teaching, research or
academic psychiatry and had no examination to become a member.”
Read
more...
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New College Reports
New guide underpins
effective medical care for drug and alcohol users
This new guidance, Delivering
quality care for drug and alcohol users: the roles and competencies
of doctors, is intended as timely assistance in the
transition towards new commissioning arrangements for drug and
alcohol services next year.
Census of Psychiatric
Staffing
The
College’s 2011 Census gives a snapshot of psychiatric staffing
as at 31 December 2011. 81% of NHS Trusts responded to requests for
information, an increase over the 73% achieved by the 2009 survey.
Numbers of posts reported appears slightly higher than in 2009, but
this is proportionate to the better Trust response rate.
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Human Rights Conference – 13
November 2012, Bedfordshire
The College’s Special Committee on Human Rights is holding a
one-day conference, Blurring the Boundaries, to examine the
convergence of mental health and criminal justice systems. Speakers
will include Professor Sue Bailey, Chief Constable Simon Cole
(ACPO), the Crime Reduction Initiative, tribunal judges, barristers
and senior forensic psychiatrists. The conference is of interest to
trainees and consultants with an interest in human rights and/or
the interface between psychiatry and criminal justice. The cost of
the conference is £50. Email to book your place or to
receive the final programme.
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News from members: New group to
advise on learning disability issues
The Welsh Government has established
a new group to
champion learning disability issues and provide specialist
advice to ministers. Dr Roger Banks, consultant psychiatrist with
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Sophie Hinksman,
vice-chair of All Wales People First, have been appointed
co-chairs. The Group will help the Welsh Government shape its
learning disability policy on issues such as sustainable social
services, tackling health inequalities and social integration and
inclusion.
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New opportunities
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Medical Vacancies with the British
Army
Join the Territorial Army
as a doctor: day rate based on rank and experience
This is your chance to rise through the ranks and gain
experience in military specific medicine while continuing your
regular clinical role. At weekends, you’ll enhance your leadership
prowess through officer training, learn how to survive outdoors and
fire weapons through basic military training, and gain an
understanding of casualty mass management, tropical medicine, and
conflict surgery. You may be under 55, looking for an extra
challenge, and be currently practising in a clinical setting. We
are looking for doctors with experience in accident and emergency
or resuscitation, although applicants in other clinical areas are
encouraged to apply. To register your interest and find out more,
contact the
recruitment team.
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News from other organisations and the
NHS
Care Quality Commission
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Your rights under the Mental
Health Act
This document outlines people's rights under the Mental Health
Act following recent changes to giving consent to treatment. The
information has been produced for people who are detained in
hospital, on a community treatment order, and those who have been
recommended electro-convulsive therapy.
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Views of more
than 15,000 people using community mental health services
A survey of people who use mental health services shows that
there are still some people whose experience of care needs to
improve, especially around areas such as help with physical health
and day-to-day living.
Department of Health
- Dementia campaign launched
- New suicide strategy and £1.5 million
into prevention research
- Improving access to psychological
therapies for severe mental illness
- Join in the conversation on how to
strengthen the NHS Constitution
- Guidance on sharing information to
tackle violence
- NHS hospitals using innovative
solutions to prevent missed appointments
New GMC child protection guidance
comes into effect
New guidance from the General Medical
Council, 'Protecting Children And
Young People: The Responsibilities Of All Doctors’, helps
doctors protect children from abuse and neglect. The guidance has
been designed to give doctors the confidence to act when they need
to and makes clear where they can turn to for
support.
Personal budgets can support recovery and
transform mental health services
A briefing paper,
Recovery, Personalisation
and Personal Budgets, by Centre for Mental Health and the
NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network, concludes that personal
health and social care budgets can help people with a mental health
condition to set their own goals and rebuild their lives.
Medical Research Foundation / Medical
Research Council Clinical Research Training Fellowships in Mental
Health: Psychiatry: Scottish Training and Academic Research
(PsySTAR) Programme
Applications are invited from across the
UK for this clinical PhD training
programme, which aims to realise the opportunities and
priorities identified in the recent MRC review of mental health
research. Up to 6 Fellowships are available commencing August 2013.
Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to work with a
wide range of internationally leading basic and clinical scientists
around Scotland. They will be supported to develop their potential
as a clinical researcher in an integrated, structured training
programme with strong inter-disciplinary and cross-institutional
interaction and mentoring. Closing date: Friday 26 October 2012
with interviews in Edinburgh on Monday 12 November 2012. Direct
enquiries can be made to the programme director, Professor Stephen Lawrie.
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