We offer an exciting programme which offers a solid grounding in child and adolescent psychiatry as well as opportunities for specialist training and academic research. We have posts in two health care trusts (Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust) and can accommodate eight whole time equivalent trainees or a combination of full and LTFT trainees.
Trainees will have experience in community CAMHS posts, an adolescent inpatient unit and possible other specialties depending on their interests (neuropsychiatry, eating disorders, liaison). All trainees have posts in at least two trusts to ensure experience of different management structures.
Trainees, with support, run their own academic programme on a Tuesday afternoon, have weekly supervision with a psychodynamic psychotherapist as well as weekly supervision with their supervisor. There is the possibility of experience in family therapy clinics, cognitive behavioural therapy, group therapy and dialectical behavioural therapy. Prof Alan Stein supports and facilitates research opportunities within the university and a number of trainees do further research. There is access to the university department seminars and lectures. For those who complete their research requirements and wish to concentrate on other specialist interests we are keen to enable this. In the past trainees have had special interest sessions in learning disabilities, early years, forensic child and adolescent psychiatry and liaison.
We support and facilitate trainees who wish to train flexibly and those who wish to take time out of programme for research. This is a small and very popular programme. Our small size enables us to know all our trainees well and support them, we are also lucky to be able to offer a wide range of diverse opportunities.
Training Sites Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (for Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire posts)
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
· DME – Alastair Reid – Alastair.reid@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
· Training Programme Director – Meinou Simmons – meinou.simmons@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Main hospital sites:
· Highfield Adolescent Unit, Warneford Hospital
· Community posts in Abingdon, Oxford and Aylesbury
Oxford University Hospitals (for Oxfordshire posts)
Oxford University Hospitals
· DME: Claire Pulford – claire.pulford@ouh.nhs.uk
· Training Programme Director – Meinou Simmons – meinou.simmons@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Main Hospitals:
John Radcliffe Hospital – Liaison Services
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (for Berkshire posts).
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
· DME – Raja Natarajan – raja.natarajan@berkshire.nhs.uk
· Training Programme Director – Meinou Simmons – meinou.simmons@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Main hospital sites:
· Berkshire Adolescent Unit, Wokingham Community Hospital, Wokingham
· Community posts in Reading
What our recent trainees are saying about the programme?
Holly Wolton
“I am Holly Wolton, and ST8 dual trainee in both Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry. I studied medicine at the University of Manchester and completed my core psychiatry training in London, before gaining my specialty training number, and chose Thames Valley specifically for the dual training opportunity.
I have found the clinical and administrative teams extremely welcoming when I came to the trust.
I have completed two years of specialty training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and found that the programme has lots of variety and flexibility in the posts and other opportunities that are available. I am now undertaking my ‘hybrid’ year where I work with the Forensic CAMHS service, both inpatient and community based.
Thames Valley deanery values it’s trainees and the smallness of the trainee group size allowed me to form a supportive and caring group of peers.
I have found the weekly supervision with a Child and Adolescent Psychodynamic Psychotherapist not only valuable as a learning experience for providing psychotherapy to a child, but also a safe space to discuss training and on-call issues.
The TPD listens to trainees’ requests on where they would like to be placed and tries their best to accommodate them. My clinical and educational supervisors have always ensured that supervision is a priority and have always ensured I am fully prepared for ARCP and eventually my CCT. I have found it a very pro-active training programme and dedicated in preparing their trainees to become consultants and the organisation is keen to retain their trainees as consultants.”
Muhammad Noor
“I am Muhammad Taha Noor, ST6 in Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS).
I am an IMG (International Medical Graduate) and chose to train in Thames Valley, as Oxford is well known throughout the world for excellence in all fields. The worldwide popularity is not without reason, and I have experienced some of the best years of my life training in the region.
The Thames Valley Deanery has provided me an excellent opportunity to train as Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. All the supervisors and Training Programme Director (TPD) are very supportive and look out for the trainees needs. I always felt listened to. I had regular meetings with TPD to plan rotations tailored according to my interests and needs. Especially split in my final year rotation to 6 months each, so I could get to experience more subspecialties. The research opportunities are abundant, and it is always encouraged.
All in all, a great place to live, train, and raise a family. ”