Job Description approval process

The Royal College of Psychiatrists provides an important service to those organisations employing psychiatrists by reviewing new job descriptions and offering advice to ensure that they are of a standard that enables the psychiatrist to deliver high-quality care.

As the NHS evolves and the pressures on services increase, these job descriptions can be complex and introduce new models of care.

By engaging with the college approval process, employers can ensure that planned jobs are feasible and have the recommended balance between direct clinical care (DCC) and supporting professional activities (SPA) that is required to ensure psychiatrists can fulfil each part of their increasingly demanding roles.

There is a wealth of information and guidance regarding the writing of job descriptions that does not need to be repeated here and are readily available at any time on our JD approvals website.

Resources include:

• exemplar job descriptions and checklists
• guidance on office accommodation and secretarial support.

While Health Boards in Scotland do not take part in the college process for the approval of Job Descriptions, there is an approval system run through the Scottish Academy of Medical Royal Colleges that performs a similar function.

Direct clinical care (DCC) and Supporting professional activities (SPA)

The table below represents the college recommendations on the allocation of DCC and SPA for full time and less than full time roles. Job Descriptions will generally not be approved by the college unless they conform to these recommendations, which we think are necessary in terms of allowing the appropriate amount of time for psychiatrists to fulfil all aspects of their roles, including CPD and training. While less than full time roles can be more negotiable, we would expect to see at least 1.5 SPA in any job plan to ensure psychiatrists have time built in to complete the necessary amount of CPD.

The College believes that seeking to reduce the number of supporting professional activities within any psychiatrists role, risks losing the expertise of individuals with key roles in education, leadership, innovation, service development and acting as ambassadors of the organisation in links with primary care and other services. These are roles vital for the success of any healthcare organisation.

Psychiatrists directly contribute to teaching, training, quality improvement, service development and key governance tasks such as helping organisations learn from significant events. These activities not only improve patient safety and the quality of care but also help services adapt to the changing needs to our patients and keep up with advances in evidence based care, ultimately improve the efficiency of services and saving resources.

SPA may also be used to take part in College roles which can be vital in developing strategies and actions that will effect policy and workforce across the UK. We would therefore urge employers to ensure that any college role taken by a psychiatrist is incorporated into the job planning process. There is a mutual benefit in allowing psychiatrists the leadership and improvement development that college roles can offer.

Consultant DCC and SPA recommendations

SAS psychiatrist DCC and SPA recommendations