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Certificate of Advanced Training in Forensic Psychiatry

Forensic psychiatryThis page contains information about the Certificate of Advanced Training in Forensic Psychiatry. The requirements apply to both trainees and Fellows-in-training.

Training requirements

For each Certificate of Advanced Training, there are specific training requirements (outlined below) in addition to mandatory training requirements that apply to all Certificates of Advanced Training. Specific training requirements for the Certificate of Advanced Training in Forensic Psychiatry are:
 

  • Successful completion of 24 months1 FTE training in accredited forensic psychiatry training posts.
    The following experiences can be achieved concurrently:

    • 3 months FTE treatment of prisoners/remandees
    • 3 months FTE acute inpatient unit in a hospital
    • 3 months FTE rehabilitation
    • 3 months FTE community (treatment and/or assessment work).

      1At least 12 months FTE must be working with adults (i.e. over 18 years old). Up to 12 months FTE of forensic research/medical administration/medical education can be prospectively approved on a case-by-case basis by SATFP. Any application would need to detail how the required forensic psychiatry EPAs are to be completed. Trainees are required to maintain their clinical currency by spending at least 0.2 FTE (or 1 day per week) in direct clinical work.

  • Attainment of eight Stage 3 forensic psychiatry EPAs (see below); two per 6-month rotation.

    • Six forensic psychiatry EPAs are mandatory for Certificate completion, trainees are to choose an additional two EPAs to attain from the remaining forensic psychiatry EPAs.

    • A minimum of three WBAs are required to contribute to the evidence base for each required EPA.

  • Completion of a mandatory minimum of one Observed Clinical Activity (OCA) WBA with forensic patients during each 6-month FTE rotation.

    • This applies to all trainees (including transitioning trainees) and Fellows-in-training regardless of OCI pass.

    • The OCA will be recorded on the end-of-rotation In-Training Assessment (ITA) form.

    • This will satisfy the Fellowship OCA requirement for pre-Fellowship trainees.

  • Completion of a formal forensic psychiatry teaching program, equivalent to a Graduate Certificate.

    • The teaching program must be university level and externally assessed.

    • SATFP have approved the following courses:

    • Trainees can apply prospectively to SATFP for approval of equivalent courses (not outlined above) that are university level and externally assessed.

    • The teaching program can be undertaken while on a break in training depending on the arrangements with the course provider and with the employing health service, where relevant.

  • Successful completion of a research project. [Summative assessment]
    .Research project guidelines [PDF; 111 KB]

    • A successfully completed Fellowship Scholarly Project may be used to fulfil this requirement.

    •  A doctoral thesis, Masters thesis or Honours thesis in a field relevant to psychiatry or mental health or an article published within the past 10 years in a recognised, peer-reviewed English-language journal relevant to psychiatry or mental health that has satisfied the Fellowship Scholarly Project exemption criteria may be used to fulfil this requirement.

    • Trainees with no Fellowship Scholarly Project must submit a research projects to their Director of Advanced Training for marking.

      • There is no fee payable for marking projects for the Certificate program.

  • Completion of (formative) mid-rotation and (summative) end-of-rotation ITAs.
    .Stage 3 trainee mid-rotation ITA form [PDF; 444 KB] 
    .Stage 3 trainee end-of-rotation ITA form [PDF; 492 KB]
    .Fellow-in-training mid-rotation ITA form [PDF; 2471 KB]
    .Fellow-in-training end-of-rotation ITA form [PDF; 246 KB]

    • End-of-rotation ITA forms must be submitted within 60 days of the completion of each rotation.

  • Submission of checklist & sign off
    .Checklist & sign off [PDF; 602 KB]

    • To be signed by the trainee, DOAT and SATFP Chair as declaration and confirmation that
      the trainee has satisfactorily completed the requirements of the Certificate training program.

    • See Certificate award process for details.

The requirements listed here were approved by the Subcommittee of Advanced Training in Forensic Psychiatry (SATFP) on 29 September 2015.

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EPAs

.Forensic psychiatry EPAs and COE forms [PDF; 289 KB] (combined document)

EPA number

EPA title

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-FELL-EPA1
​Mandatory

Forensic education seminars.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-FELL-EPA2A
​Mandatory*

Systemic working: case review.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-FELL-EPA2B
​Mandatory* 

Systemic working: clinical audit.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-FELL-EPA3 

Academic forensic psychiatry: research project.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-AOP-EPA4
​Mandatory

Consultation and liaison role to contribute to a multi-agency approach to manage a complex forensic patient.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-AOP-EPA5
​Mandatory

Violence risk assessment and management 3.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-AOP-EPA6
​Mandatory

Management of a long-term forensic patient.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-AOP-EPA7
​Mandatory

Expert evidence 3.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-AOP-EPA8

Women’s forensic psychiatry: consultation–liaison.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-AOP-EPA9

Medicolegal assessment (civil): injury and impairment.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-AOP-EPA10

Medicolegal assessment (civil): fitness and capacity.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-AOP-EPA11

Adolescent forensic psychiatry: clinical assessment and treatment.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-AOP-EPA12

Assessment of an older person in a criminal or civil context.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-AOP-EPA13

Assessment and management of sexual offending.

EPA

COE

ST3-FP-AOP-EPA14

Civil forensic psychiatry: Family Court.

EPA

COE

*Trainees can attain either EPA2A or EPA2B, not both.

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Forms and documents – forensic psychiatry

Workplace-based Assessments (WBAs)


Please direct all enquiries to training@ranzcp.org.

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