Trainees are allocated two sessions (one day)/week to undertake research. This initially needs to be used to achieve the curriculum required research competency (carrying out a literature review to a publishable standard) which should be achieved within the first 18 months of training. Many trainees publish their reviews in well regarded journals (see below appendix). Trainees on this scheme will be encouraged and supported in attaining additional research competencies (generation of original research and dissemination of findings) once they have completed their review.
There is also a rolling programme of research seminars (one per term) covering different aspects of research methodology and providing an opportunity for facilitated peer supervision of trainees’ individual research projects. Opportunities are also provided monthly for trainees to present their research as part of the academic programme.
The scheme has a research co-ordinator – currently Dr Julia Gledhill, who meets trainees within their first month of starting on the scheme. Previous research experience and current interests will be discussed, and trainees are supported to select a topic for their literature review and are allocated an individual research supervisor. Some trainees may have already achieved the required research competency prior to starting on the scheme. In this situation trainees will be strongly encouraged to become involved in a research project (likely linked with Imperial) and supported in finding a project and a supervisor.
Trainees who have completed their required research competency may obtain special interest experience in many aspects of child and adolescent psychiatry including:
- Substance misuse
- Adolescent forensic psychiatry
- Child neurology/neuropsychiatry
- Paediatric liaison
- Psychological treatments
- As well as many other clinical and non-clinical areas such as teaching, etc.
- Baker, SC., & Gledhill, JA. (2017). Systematic Review of Interventions to Reduce Psychiatric Morbidity in Parents and Children After PICU Admissions. Paediatric Crit Care Med. Apr;18(4) 343-348. doi:1097/PCC.0000000000001096.
- Mitra, R., & Hodes, M. (2019). Prevention of psychological distress and promotion of resilience amongst unaccompanied refugee minors in resettlement countries. Child Care Health Dev, 45(2), 198-215. doi:10.1111/cch.12640.
- Ngo, T., & Hodes, M. (2019). Pervasive refusal syndrome in asylum-seeking children: Review of the current evidence. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry, 1359104519846580. doi:10.1177/1359104519846580.