Quality Assurance (QA) in training
Our quality assurance processes
The College's quality assurance in training processes are overseen by our Quality Assurance Committee (QAC), chaired by our Specialist Advisor for Quality Assurance, Dr Suyog Dhakras.
The committee has oversight of the following key areas in training:
- Externality
- Applications for Time out of Training (OOP)
- Results of the National Training Survey
- Quality Matrix
- Quality assurance and curricula implementation
- ARCP outcome variance
The committee currently meet three times a year. For more information about the work currently being undertaken, please contact psychiatrytraining@rcpsych.ac.uk.
The 2025 Quality in Training report is due to be published on this page by the end of January 2026.
Quality in Training Report 2024
Quality in Training Report 2023
The process of flexibility in training time will be as per the COPMeD guidance (PDF).
In addition, RCPsych recommends:
- Wide engagement of relevant senior educational leads alongside the key stakeholders (residents, ESs, CSs, TPDs, HoSs) including Trust DMEs in stakeholder discussions
RCPsych recommends including Trust DMEs alongside all the other relevant stakeholders (the residents, ESs, CSs, TPDs and HoSs) so as to ensure that the DMEs can update employer organisations regarding manpower and rota issues and find solutions as early as possible so as to prevent any possible impact on services and also to ensure that residents are not impacted on adversely by these issues. - Include External Advisors in ARCP decision-making
This would help us get the relevant quantitative and qualitative data on how this flexibility in training time is being implemented in the context of our capabilities-based curricula. It will also help provide data on the consistency with which standards are being applied across the UK and also help with educational quality assurance.
Looking for an External Advisor or interested in becoming one? Please visit our Externality page.