A message from President Dr Ruth Loane

Professional Competence

Information on our Professional Competence Scheme (PCS) and Continuous Professional Development Support Scheme (CPD-SS) for NCHDs in Non-Training Posts.

Section Menu

Contacts for Professional Competence

A message from President Dr Ruth Loane

How time flies! I am now approaching the end of 6 years on the Council of the College – three as Vice President and three as President. It has been both an interesting and rewarding experience and at times challenging! Over that time I have witnessed the College move from strength to strength – we now have circa 1,000 members, an excellent training programme, developed our own postgraduate exam, and have purchased our own building.

We have increasing numbers of our members giving their time voluntarily both in committees and faculties, and this is especially gratifying as I note the increasing lack of time afforded to members by their employers. Despite the increasing workloads and strains on mental health services including raised expectations, the College still receives much work and contributions from its members. My thanks to everyone for this ongoing work.

With the global political shifts it is vital now more than ever to stick together as a professional group, as a College. It is important for us to continue to develop and build on cross border relations both through faculties and as a College. Various faculties have held cross border meetings both to share expertise and for educational opportunities and I am pleased to see that these are continuing and developing. Over my time as President I have been able to represent the College at various tables – including the HSE, Medical Council, Forum of Post Graduate Training bodies to name but a few. While Psychiatry is more likely in recent years to be asked for input, this needs more work to ensure our voice is heard as per our mission ‘to promote excellence in the practice of psychiatry’. We, as trained professionals, are in a unique position to support and facilitate society, individuals, and their families, and it is important that we recognise this and promote it.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have supported and assisted me over the last few years – my colleagues on the Management Committee and Council, the staff of the College ably led by Miriam Silke, Chief Executive, and the wider membership. Good wishes and thanks to Dr John Tobin, Vice President, Dr Miriam Kennedy, Director of Professional Competence and Dr John Hillery, Director of Communications & Public Education who have completed their terms. It has been a privilege to have served as President over the past three years and I will watch with interest the continued development of the College.

I am delighted to hand over to Dr John Hillery who will take up the post on 1st January 2017 and I wish him and the new Management Committee every success.

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous and peaceful 2017.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
Dr Ruth Loane
President


Message from Dr Miriam Kennedy

Outgoing Director Professional Competence

Dear Colleagues,
December 2016 sees the end of my term as Director of Professional Competence. It’s been a privilege to hold the position and to engage with so many professional colleagues. Many of you have been kind enough to give your time to speak at events, despite ever busier work schedules. You have given your thoughts on professional competence issues and developments, taken part in pilots and surveys, some have worked on educational research and others provided helpful reflective feedback. The level of engagement was invaluable and your time and expertise has been a real asset to the College in running our Professional Competence Scheme to meet the particular needs of psychiatrists, as well as meet statutory and legislative demands.

It’s been a busy, interesting and hopefully productive four years working with the Professional Competence Committee, the College Management Committee, Departments and Professional Competence Team, as well as external bodies such as the Forum of Postgraduate Training Bodies and the Medical Council to implement, oversee and develop professional competence for psychiatrists. Professional Competence Workshops at College conferences have now become a regular ‘slot’, offering opportunities to keep abreast of wider CPD issues both nationally and internationally. Some of you have said the Professional Competence Newsletters were especially welcome in keeping members up to date. I have particularly enjoyed the development of our educational CPD meetings. Prof Sartorius speaking on stigma in 2013, and the recent PTSD conference with excellent speakers from Croatia and both sides of the Irish border, spring to mind as stimulating and inspiring. 2015 saw the introduction of the successful monthly Hot Topics CPD meetings which I am glad to say are now embedded in the College calendar, giving us a chance to meet and peer review clinical and other issues pertinent to patient care and our services. A lot more to do, but thankfully a system in place to further develop it.

I’m particularly pleased to announce (finally!) that the CPD Approved Hot Topics Online eModules will be launched for college members in January 2017. These have been developed to facilitate those members who can’t make it to the monthly evening meetings but wish to access excellent clinical updates from colleagues. More details and a short introductory video are available here.

I’m also pleased to be passing the Professional Competence Director’s baton on to Dr Lorcan Martin. Congratulations to Lorcan on his appointment – I know he will bring his considerable experience in medical education, clinical professionalism and commitment to lifelong learning to the position, as he works with you over the coming four years.

Last but not least a sincere thanks to Lorna O’Callaghan PCS Manager, Mona McCormac and Louise Bunyan for doing all the hard work, ensuring reports and deadlines were met, and facilitating all of the activities of the office with such grace and courtesy that it was genuinely a real pleasure to walk into the office and do whatever had to be done. The Professional Competence Committee in particular deserve a special thanks for training me in – their forbearance in doing so and real collegiality was again a joy…a real resource for the incoming Director.

Happy Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!
Dr Miriam Kennedy
Director Professional Competence


Memebers Updates

New College Officers & Directors

We are pleased to announce the following officers and directors of the College commencing January 2017:

President
Dr John Hillery

Vice President
Dr William Flannery

Director Professional Competence
Dr Lorcan Martin

Director Communication & Public Education
Dr Miriam Kennedy (from June 2017)

Dean of Education
Prof Greg Swanwick

Treasurer
Dr Joanne Fenton

College Closure

Over the Christmas period

The office of the College will be closed on Friday 23rd December 2016 and will reopen on Tuesday 3rd January 2017.
The College team wish you and your family a peaceful and relaxing Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.


External Affairs & Policiy

Parole Board vacancy notification

Department of Justice correspondence

The Department of Justice will soon host a publicly advertised competition for a vacancy on the Parole Board which members may be interested in.
Please see letter here from the Department of Justice to President Dr Ruth Loane with further detail.