PTC blog - March 2020

We’d like to think that we do a good job at keeping in touch with trainees to update you about all the work going on within your committee at the College, but we also know how busy you are.  We’ve been thinking for a long time about how we can reach as many of you as possible and so we’d like to welcome those of you reading this to the new PTC Blog!

There’s a lot to tell you about!

For those of you new to quality improvement we’ve recently published our QI Guide (which you can access through the College website or the link in our newsletter).  It’s a really useful resource and can be used to help guide you through your project, helping to make sure that it has the impact you’re looking for (and looks good at ARCP too)!

We’re working closely with the College to enhance and support the experience of international medical graduates (IMGs), including investigating how to reduce differential attainment rates, particularly with regards to exams; as those of us already post membership know what a stressful time this can be!  Along this supportive theme, we’ve got our mentoring guide coming soon highlighting how valuable having a mentor/being a mentee can be and most importantly, how to navigate through the mentoring process to achieve the results you want.  We’re collaborating with the Psychiatrists’ Support Service (PSS) on a document looking at taking a period of parental leave and things to think about in these circumstances.  We’re also writing our ‘Staying Well’ guide aimed at both trainees and trainers, exploring difficult situations that trainees may find themselves in as well as the resources and help available to overcome them.

We’ve taken on board what you said about wanting to know how your exam fees are spent and the Treasurer of the College, Dr Jan Falkowski is producing a document for us detailing this so all is clear and transparent (leading the way for most of the other Colleges it has to be said)!

We’re organising our next trainees’ conference for later this year (details to follow as soon as confirmed) and it would be fabulous to see you there!  It’s a great opportunity to meet other trainees and be inspired by all the fabulous work that’s going on across the four nations (and get some ideas about how you could potentially change your working life/ service for the better too).  Before then however, we have CONGRESS!!!!  Unless you’ve been living in a cave you’ll be aware that it’s taking place in beautiful, historic Edinburgh from 29th June to 2nd July.  The programme looks great, really varied with lots for everyone, and there are some truly amazing speakers attending.  We’ll be there as always in #TheMess (the student and trainees’ lounge) and if you can join us for the dinner then even better!  Our Scottish reps are on hand to help us make the absolute most of our time there and point us in the right direction of where to explore!

There’s far too much going on within the PTC to cover in this blog so this is just a snapshot.  If you want to know more you’ll find it in our newsletter and as always you can contact us, your local PTC reps or keep up to date through  Facebook,  Twitter or by emailing us at   ptcsupport@rcpsych.ac.uk.

Dr Laura Stevenson

@LauraSt40837429
Co-Secretary

Dr Rosemary Gordon

@Rosie_j_g
Co-Secretary

Dr Luke Baker

@drlukebakerUK
Vice Chair

Dr Ross Runciman

@RuncimanRoss
Chair