There are Old Age psychiatry training posts across the region with a wealth of opportunity to tailor the programme to meet the needs of the individual trainee.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust provides innovative integrated community and mental health care and offers single and dual training in old age psychiatry.  The training posts are spread through the county including posts in Peterborough, Huntingdon and Cambridge and trainees would typically spend time in different parts of the county during their training county in order to experience the variety in sociocultural and educational opportunities. One of the higher training posts is in Liaison psychiatry, based at Addenbrookes Hospital and provides an endorsement in liaison psychiatry. The strong links with The University of Cambridge provide excellent research and teaching opportunities. The mental health trust is also part of an active research network and trainees may contribute to portfolio studies. The Trust has an excellent teaching programme with weekly cases conferences and academic lectures. We have a strong reciprocal training relationship with Medicine for the Elderly and Neurology. Trainees have the opportunity to gain clinical experience in these specialities are very welcome to attend their local teaching programmes.

Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation trust offers single Old Age Psychiatry and dual Old Age / General Adult Psychiatry training opportunities with placements ranging from inpatients wards, outpatients clinics, Memory clinic services and liaison. As a university trust, the Trust has strong links with the University of Hertfordshire where trainees can undertake various postgraduate and research degrees courses such as Masters degree programmes in Psychiatric Practice, Medical Education and other areas. Several past trainees have completed doctoral research degrees leading to the award of MDs and PhDs supported by the Trust.

Old Age Psychiatry higher trainee post in Bedfordshire and Luton provides a vast range of experience in inpatient wards, community mental health teams and specialist memory clinics. The training posts benefit from a protected session for special interests and another research purposes. There are various opportunities to pursue special interest sessions in liaison psychiatry, geriatric medicine, neurology, neuroimaging and drug and alcohol services locally and in neuropsychiatry at Northampton. There are excellent opportunities to be involved actively in teaching medical students and trainee doctors. Higher trainees have successfully run several mock CASC exams locally which are popular and sought after by core trainees in and around Bedford and Luton. Other resources available locally include a well-stocked medical library, a well-established teaching programme and a group of committed and enthusiastic trainers.

Trainees are encouraged to be involved in teaching University of Cambridge medical students. At a minimum, this is 1:1 teaching for students placed with their team. Further supervised opportunities include:

• Small group communication skills teaching (co-led by an experienced communication skills expert) using the internationally-renowned Cambridge-Calgary method
• Preparation of on-line learning resources
• Writing and standard setting for end of placement exams and finals
• Plenary lectures
• Conducting medical education research

Trainees involved in medical student teaching are encouraged to attend the free University of Cambridge IFME 'teaching the teachers' course

For further information contact: Dr Fiona Thompson, Training Programme Director fiona.thompson@cpft.nhs.uk