Overview
Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (LPFT) is part of the East Midlands Speciality Psychiatry Core Training Scheme. This covers Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.
We host core trainees in a variety of posts across the county and trainees on the scheme can choose to remain in Lincolnshire for the majority of the programme. Many aspects of our core training programme are unique to Lincolnshire and we are very proud of the individualised and friendly nature of our programme.
Most core training posts in LPFT are based either in Lincoln or Boston. Two additional posts are available at Stamford and Grantham.
The Trust has a focus on connected working and trainees are provided with laptops with the ability to work from home or other community sites. Trainees have close relationships with the medical education and management team. We have a well-attended and active Junior Doctor Forum and Local Negotiating Committee.
Leadership
We have recently rolled out a leadership programme for Core Trainees in order to support their development. Trainees will be supported to take on projects. They will be guided through these as part of an immersive experiential learning process.
Psychotherapy
We aim to give you an excellent grounding in psychotherapy and an understanding of the unconscious mind. This will give you a solid foundation for future discovery. We will also be supporting you to manage the challenges of clinical practice.
Psychotherapy tutor, Dr Beena Rajkumar, will help tailor the trainee's experience to their interests. This will include support to complete the required short and long psychotherapy cases.
Dr Beena runs a Balint Group that not only includes case discussion but also covers key areas of psychotherapeutic theory and practice, including modules on Freud, Klein and Jung.
Supporting your learning
You will have the opportunity to present a case and journal at our weekly post-graduate teaching. This is in a supportive and engaging environment.
The MRCPsych course runs weekly for all core trainees across the East Midlands scheme. The content is primarily based on the Royal College curriculum. Areas of core medical knowledge underpin the specialist training and the list of topics included in MRCPsych examinations.
Prior to the RCPsych CASC (practical exam), we offer consultant supervised weekly preparation sessions. A mock CASC is organized by East Midland deanery. This offers the practice of stations with the emphasis on feedback on performance.
On-calls
The Trust operates two resident on-call rotas covering either Lincoln sites, the Grantham and Boston sites or Sleaford site. These are currently non-resident. Taxis are available to transport you between sites as needed. Whilst on call you are supported by a consultant.
Teaching opportunities
There are numerous ways in which core trainees can get involved in teaching. We host medical students in many different areas who greatly value core trainee teaching.
A week in the life of a CT3 trainee
Rachel Wright
"As a junior doctor representative, I attend regular junior doctor forums, LNC and MAC meetings, which are currently all conducted over Microsoft Teams. Below you can read about what I do in my role throughout a normal week as a less than full time CT3 trainee (during the COVID-19 pandemic)."
Tuesday
"The morning consists of attending an outpatient clinic with my clinical supervisor and learning disability consultant. These clinics take place at different locations across East Lincolnshire. At present, most of the clinic appointments are done over the phone and we talk through each service user’s case prior to the telephone call. After clinic and a lunch break, I either accompany the consultant on home visits or attend home visits alone. Home visit letters are written up from home before the end of the day."
Wednesday
"I attend the learning disability team’s weekly meeting via Microsoft Teams where new referrals are discussed and triaged. In addition, we discuss current cases, service users who have recently been discharged, and additional team matters. We have team lunches regularly over Microsoft teams throughout the week to keep in touch.
Following our team meeting, I have supervision sessions with my clinical supervisor. This is a great opportunity to discuss cases I am currently managing, my own training and education, as well as any personal matters.
In the afternoon, I attend Balint group with our psychotherapy supervisor and other psychiatry trainees over Microsoft teams. There is also a learning disability re-formulation meeting Wednesday afternoons where we are encouraged to bring forward cases to discuss and reflect on formulations and management plans as an MDT. Occasionally I will also conduct a home visit."
Thursday
"I attend a Postgraduate Education meeting over Microsoft teams. This is normally attended by 60+ trainees and consultants working within the trust. During these meetings, trainees present cases and critically appraise journal papers. In addition, experts from within and outside the trust lecture on various topics from showcasing the latest research, to management of physical health or even discussions about the history of psychiatry.
In the afternoon, I often attend home visits or use the rest of the working day to concentrate on updating my portfolio and additional tasks such as audit work."
