P100 – 2260: Child and adolescent psychiatry training: The experience of UK neurodisability trainees

Abstract

Objective Neurology and neurodisability trainees should gain child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) experience equivalent to three months during their training programme. The aim of our survey was to gather information and analyse this training in the current trainees. Methods A questionnaire based survey which was sent out to 26 neurodisability trainees in the UK via email. Total 10 questions were asked relating to their CAP training experience. Results 6/26 trainees responded (61.5%). The neurodisability grid programme was of two years for 60% of the trainees. Most of them (73%) had already started their neuropsychiatry placement. Only 6% found it easy to access the training, and 26% thought that it was very difficult. 15% had to have a separate honorary contract with the child and family mental health (CAMHS) department. None was on a separate 3 month contract. In terms of satisfaction, one third seemed dissatisfied for various reasons and only 6% were very satisfied. Comments included “CAMHS team members are reluctant to have the neurodisability trainee in the clinic unless it was a pre-school child with possible developmental problems”; “No learning disability CAMHS consultant in the service”; “CAMHS services were not sure of the competencies needed to be achieved”; “Difficult to get the placement and the service was quite stretched”; “Spent a lot of time chasing sessions”; “CAMHS consultants should be involved while submitting the grid posts to RCPCH”. Conclusion CAP services in the UK are reported to lack the expertise and resources required to provide comprehensive assessments and ongoing management for those with developmental disabilities. Our survey highlights the need for these services to understand the competencies neurology and neurodisability grid trainees need to achieve in CAP. Equally, the respective CSACs should work in partnership with the child mental health CSAC to design a smooth and well-structured training programme.