Future RCPsych
We are delighted to announce that we have reached a number of key milestones in our project to modernise the RCPsych, in preparation for the forthcoming post-lockdown era in the UK.
Our Trustee Board agreed, in principle, last Friday with plans to refurbish our main office, at 21 Prescot Street, Whitechapel, central London.
The plans will see the building upgraded, so that it has a more welcoming, modern and accessible look and feel, with a revamped auditorium and improved meetings spaces for members.
The overhaul would also see the IT functionality at the building being enhanced, so that we can deliver hybrid events at scale, with both in-person and digital audiences, when we start to deliver face-to-face events again.
It is hoped we will again be able to hold in-person events at Prescot Street from the autumn onwards, and events at other venues from early 2022 – depending on the prevailing rates of Covid infection and government advice at the time.
Over the last two weeks, the RCPsych Trustees and Council have also agreed with our evolving thinking on the model for the delivery of member services once the UK lockdown restrictions are lifted.
Both key College committees have expressed support for the idea that – having successfully migrated all our services online in the face of the pandemic last year – we should keep many of our services and activities online for good, while also preparing to return to delivering some in-person conferences and events at scale.
Many members have found the fact that all RCPsych services are now online convenient and helpful, as it means they don’t have to travel long distances to venues to participate in College events.
It has also meant that everyone has equal access to College services wherever they work or live.
In addition, the move to a being a virtual college has helped us to slash our carbon emissions.
However, many members have also missed the chance to interact and network physically with colleagues.
The return of some face-to-face events will allow members to discuss emerging issues face-to-face with others.
The final shape of the model for delivering member services will be shaped by our first ever membership survey – which will be rolled out online between 19 May and 13 June.
Finally, having last month conducted the biggest staff consultation in the history of the RCPsych, with 215 employees being consulted, we announced to staff on Monday that once lockdown measures have been lifted, they will move to a blended way of working – being asked to come into the office for a minimum of two days a week, while being able to work the rest of the week at home.
During the last 13 months, the RCPsych staff team, working with members, has successfully migrated all our services and activities online while working virtually – and we wanted to recognise all the excellent work they have done while working remotely, by allowing them to continue to work from home for a large part of the week.
However, we also believe it is vital that staff come into the office for some of the week, so as to nurture the strong sense of team that already exists, as well as helping to support people’s mental wellbeing – which we believe is best served by regularly working together, as a team, in one space.
All our plans for the new era will of course be subject to change depending on how the pandemic is playing out in the UK at the time.
We are delighted to announce that we have reached a number of key milestones in our project to modernise the RCPsych, in preparation for the forthcoming post-lockdown era in the UK.Back to our April 2021 eNewsletter.