Nick Brown
Page 1
2/18/2016
PERSON SPECIFICATION
APPLICATION TO ENTER PSYCHIATRY TRAINING at ST4
ESSENTIAL
QUALIFICATIONS
DESIRABLE
 MBBS or equivalent medical
qualification
SOURCE OF
EVIDENCE/WHEN
EVALUATED
Application Form
 Achievement of Foundation
competencies
 A pass in MRCPsych Part 2
ELIGIBILITY
 Evidence of achievement of
Foundation and Core
Psychiatry Training (ST1,
ST2 & ST3) competencies
or equivalent
CLINICAL SKILLS
 Evidence and
Demonstration of
achievement of Foundation
and Core Psychiatry
Training (ST1, ST2 &ST3)
competencies including (as
described in the curriculum
for training in psychiatry):
 Good clinical care –
demonstrate ability in
basic skills of history
taking, examination
(mental and physical)
and synthesis of
findings
Evidence of commitment to
(sub)-specialty programme of
choice within psychiatry
Application form and
largely Selection Process
(Centre)
Demonstrate a range of
clinical experience and
learning from that
experience
Show increasing
independent clinical
practice
 Maintaining good medical
practice – demonstrate
ability to organise
learning and
assessment in a way
that prepares for
lifelong learning
 Relationships with patients
and communication –
demonstrate ability to
communicate
effectively in both
verbal and written
forms at all times;
furthermore show the
ability to reflect on
and learn from
relationships with
patients
 Working with colleagues –
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Application form
Participation in a case
discussion or Balint
group
Documented
experience of
supervised
psychotherapeutic work
with a range of patients
using differing
therapeutic modalities
Nick Brown
Page 2
ESSENTIAL
demonstrate
understanding of and
ability to work in
teams that are multiprofessional and multiagency in mental
health care


 Teaching and training –
demonstrate ability to
teach using small
group and mini-lecture
formats
 Professional behaviour and
probity


2/18/2016
DESIRABLE
SOURCE OF
EVIDENCE/WHEN
EVALUATED
Understanding of own
role(s) in teams –
including leadership
role
Ability to assume
leadership role when
appropriate
Show within record of
achievement evidence
of presentations within
local (and regional)
postgraduate (or
undergraduate)
programme e.g. case
conference or journal
club

 Acute clinical care (in line
with GMC standards/Good
Medical Practice) –
demonstrate ability to
assess and provide
care for acute
(emergency) clinical
situations in psychiatry
(including deliberate
self harm, acute
psychosis and acute
organic brain
syndromes)
FITNESS TO
PRACTISE
 Is up to date and fit to
practise safely
KNOWLEDGE &
ACHIEVEMENTS
Demonstration of acquisition of
the level of knowledge and
skills necessary for the
completion of Foundation and
ST1/2/3
Show ability to assess,
formulate and manage
acute clinical situations
with a level of
independence
Application form
 Academic and
extracurricular
achievements
 Demonstration of basic
knowledge relevant to
practice of psychiatry
(includes pass at
MRCPsych Part 2)
 Demonstration of active
participation in aspects of
‘Good Medical Practice’
and “Good Psychiatric
Practice”
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Application Form
Application Form and
selection centre
Nick Brown
Page 3
ESSENTIAL
2/18/2016
DESIRABLE
 Demonstration of
educational reasons for
applying for this School /
Deanery / Programme
EDUCATIONAL &
PERSONAL
ASPECTS
SOURCE OF
EVIDENCE/WHEN
EVALUATED
Application Form
 Demonstration of personal
reasons for applying for
this School / Deanery /
Programme
COMMUNICATION
Skills
 Evidence of ability to
communicate effectively in
written English
 Evidence of ability to
communicate effectively in
spoken English
Demonstrate good written
(including letter writing)
communication skills
Demonstrate ability to
communicate with patients
and carers at all times
Application Form
And selection centre
HEALTH
 Meets professional health
requirements
Pre-employment health
screening
PROBITY
 Displays honesty, integrity,
aware of ethical dilemmas,
respects confidentiality
Application Form and
selection centre
Personal skills
Demonstration of:
Aptitude
(an ability to learn and
understand)
Trainability
(ability to respond to and
benefit from instruction and
practice by attaining an agreed
standard of proficiency)
Vigilance
(an alertness to dangers or
problems particularly in relation
to clinical governance)
Interpersonal Skills
(see patients as people,
empathise, work co-operatively
with others, open and nondefensive, sense of humour)
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Evidence of commitment to
chosen sub-specialty
Application form
Selection centre
References
Demonstrate an
understanding and active
participation in clinical
governance including clinical
audit and critical incident
reporting in psychiatry
Demonstrate an
understanding of the role of
non-statutory services in
mental health care and have
experience of working with
these services
Selection Centre
Nick Brown
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ESSENTIAL
2/18/2016
DESIRABLE
Decisiveness/Accountability
(ability to take responsibility,
show leadership, make
decisions, exert appropriate
authority)
Show an understanding of the
nature of leadership in clinical
teams and potential to fulfil
leadership roles
Uses a Non Judgemental
approach to Patients and
Colleagues
(regardless of their sexuality,
ethnicity, disability, religious
beliefs or financial status)
Demonstrates increasing
level of understanding of the
needs and wishes of service
users and carers (including
an understanding of how and
when these may differ)
Flexibility
(able to change and adapt,
respond to rapidly changing
circumstances)
Demonstrate the ability to
prioritise in situations of
demand
SOURCE OF
EVIDENCE/WHEN
EVALUATED
Resilience
(able to operate under
pressure, cope with setbacks,
self aware)
Thoroughness
(is well prepared, shows selfdiscipline/commitment, is
punctual and meets deadlines)
Shows
Initiative/Drive/Enthusiasm
(self-starter, motivated, shows
curiosity, initiative)
Probity
(displays honesty, integrity,
aware of ethical dilemmas,
respects confidentiality)
Career
Progression
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Progression of career
consistent with personal
circumstances
Application form
Nick Brown
Page 5
ESSENTIAL
Organisation and
Planning
Academic /Research
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2/18/2016
DESIRABLE
SOURCE OF
EVIDENCE/WHEN
EVALUATED
Ability to prioritise clinical need
Ability to organise oneself &
own work
Evidence of participation in
audit
Experience and ability to work
in multi-professional teams
Information Technology Skills
Understanding of NHS,
clinical governance &
resource constraints
Show clear learning from
active involvement in audit
Application Form
Understanding of contemporary
research in psychiatry and the
principles of its application to
clinical practice
Demonstrate the ability to
construct clinical research
questions from everyday
practice
Application form and
Selection Process (Centre)
Application Form and
selection centre