Lamb et al (Psychiatric Bulletin, February 2006, 30, 61–64) have reported the views and experiences of trainees in child psychiatry placements and their influence on the choice of child and adolescent psychiatry as a career.

The College recommends that ‘trainees should have considerable experience in child and adolescent psychiatry at senior house officer level’. However, it seems that by the time trainees start a child psychiatry placement most have already decided on their career plan.

Senior house officers are accustomed to working within in-patient adult psychiatry units. The transition to a child and adolescent psychiatry placement can be disconcerting. Trainees have to work within a multidisciplinary team where their role and objectives are unfamiliar and seem remote from adult services. Trainees also find that their skills and work experience are not centre stage.

The College specifies that probably the most important ingredient of clinical training is regular direct supervision either individually or in a small group by the consultant (and where available) by specialist registrars. Regular direct supervision would also be valuable to help trainees reflect on their career goals.

We believe that providing a mentor (a senior colleague, specialist registrar) at the beginning of the placement, early involvement in novel training experiences (e.g. family therapy) and in-house workshops and seminars (e.g. child protection issues) could help create a rewarding training experience that could encourage trainees to perceive child psychiatry as a future career.