How the College works
In order to support our 20,000-strong membership, the College is run by a number of different governing bodies – from our Trustee board, who are legally responsible for the effective management of the College, through to our Special Interest Groups (SIGs), who help to drive forward the College’s work on key issues like diversity and sustainability.
The below infographic shows how these different functions work together.
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Find out more about each of the groups who help to run our College.
Honorary Officers
The Honorary Officers of the College are elected by our members. They act in a leadership capacity as the most senior members of the College, and are both members of the Trustee Board and Council.
Find out more about our College Officers
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees, which is chaired by the President, acts as the governing body of the College. It has full legal responsibility for the effective management of the College, ensuring it delivers on its purpose and complies with all applicable laws and good practice.
Find out more about our Board of Trustees
Council
Council, which is chaired by the President, leads on matters relating to education, policy, professional practice, professional standards, public engagement, quality, research, and training in psychiatry. Its responsibilities include the election of new members and Fellows and the approval of applications for other categories of membership. It makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees about the nature, scope and extent of the privileges of membership.
Council is made up of the Honorary Officers, Committee Chair Reps, Division Chairs, Faculty Chairs, elected members and co-opted members.
Find out more about our Council
Staff and operations
The College is supported by more than 230 staff, grouped into nine departments with offices spread across the UK – each of those departments headed up by a Director. The Senior Management Team meets weekly to translate decisions into actions, monitor and review progress against the strategic plan and address key issues affecting the College.
Find out more about working at the College
Faculties
There are 13 Faculties within the College that represent the major specialties and sub-specialities of psychiatry. Faculties represent the expertise, experience and body of knowledge in each particular specialty. Each has a Chair and an Executive Committee.
Find out more about our Faculties
Special Interest Groups
Our 15 Special Interest Groups (SIGs) lead on key issues within psychiatry and mental health, such as diversity, marginalised groups and sustainability. Each Special Interest Group has a Chair and an Executive Committee.
Devolved Councils
Devolved Councils (DCs) in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland provide support by taking forward the aims and objectives of the College in each devolved nation of the UK, reflecting and addressing the differences in devolved law and services. Each DC has a Chair and an Executive.
Find out more about our Devolved Nations
Divisions
Our eight Divisions represent the College locally, address local needs and provide professional advice where required. Each Division has a Chair and an Executive Committee. They work to make sure that standards are coordinated, up to date and accessible to members, that doctors can have high-quality training and that there is continuous improvement in the relationship with trainees so that they become advocates of the profession.
Find out more about our Divisions
The College also has six International Divisions – African, European, Middle Eastern, Pan-American, South Asian and Western Pacific.