2 results
Physician Associates in the Frame: Developing a National Competence Framework for Physician Associates Working in Mental Health
- Pranav Mahajan, Helen Crimlisk, Ellie Wildbore, Paris Tatt-Smith, Tony Roth
-
- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, p. S28
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Aims
Physician associates (PAs) are becoming more commonplace in psychiatric services in the UK to help address long term workforce difficulties. The 2019 NHS Long Term Plan detailed a commitment to transforming mental health care in England recognising that services were not meeting current or future increase in demand. Health Education England's (HEE) report, Stepping Forward to 2020/21: The Mental Health Workforce Plan for England, described a longer-term strategy to expand the mental health workforce, including recruiting 5,000 people into ‘new roles’ including physician associates. The NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan 2019/20–2023/24 stated an aim of recruiting 140 PAs to the workforce over five years in addition to the requirements specified in the HEE report. Competence frameworks make the link between evidence and practice and can be a valuable basis for training, an agenda for supervision and a guide for self-monitoring and personal development for people working in the role.
MethodsThe competence framework was developed by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH). The work was overseen by an expert reference group, comprising experts in training PAs in mental health, PAs, researchers and experts by experience, all selected for their expertise in research, training and service delivery. The completed framework was then sent to relevant stakeholders including the Faculty of Physician Associates and patient groups for comment and adapted accordingly.
ResultsThe completed framework has been arranged into seven domains: Knowledge of Mental Health, Professional/Legal Issues, Engagement and Communication, Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment Planning, Interventions, Team Working and Metacompetences. This reflects the expected roles and responsibilities of PAs working in mental health.
ConclusionThe Competence Framework for PAs will help those involved in mental health care services who wish to deepen their understanding of the PA role, and will be useful to team members working with PAs, to their managers and to commissioners. It will support the work of PA supervisors and peer coordinators, and those delivering education and training to them. It also brings a level of standardisation of the role. More work will be needed to adapt the Competence Framework for PAs for specialist contexts, such as in dementia care or children and young people's services.
Curriculum Development: A National Curriculum for Physician Associates in Mental Health
- Pranav Mahajan, Helen Crimlisk, Ellie Wildbore, Paris Tatt-Smith, Tony Roth
-
- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, pp. S28-S29
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Aims
Physician associates (PAs) are becoming more commonplace in psychiatric services in the UK to help address long term workforce difficulties. The 2019 NHS Long Term Plan detailed a commitment to transforming mental health care in England recognising that services were not meeting current or future increase in demand. Health Education England's (HEE) report, Stepping Forward to 2020/21: The Mental Health Workforce Plan for England, described a longer-term strategy to expand the mental health workforce, including recruiting 5,000 people into ‘new roles’ including physician associates. The NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan 2019/20–2023/243 stated an aim of recruiting 140 PAs to the workforce over five years in addition to the requirements specified in the HEE report. A curriculum for PAs working in mental health would set out the competencies required to work in mental health services.
MethodsThe curriculum was developed by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH). The work was overseen by an expert reference group, comprising experts in training PAs in mental health, PAs, researchers and experts by experience, all selected for their expertise in research, training and service delivery.
ResultsThe overarching aims and objectives of the curriculum was to convey a practical understanding of the attitudes, knowledge and skills that underpin the role, thus enabling PAs to offer effective and value-driven support to patients.
The completed curriculum has been arranged into seven modules: Knowledge, Professional/Legal Issues, Engagement and Communication, Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment Planning, Interventions, Managing the Interface of Mental and Physical Health and Team Working. This reflects the expected roles and responsibilities of PAs working in mental health.
ConclusionHEE and the Royal College of Psychiatrist have recommended all mental health organisations implement an educational programme for new PAs. The curriculum will inform the training requirements for PAs and standardise the training they receive from mental health organisations. It should support the work of PA supervisors and peer coordinators, and those delivering education and training to them. The curriculum will be a dynamic document and work will be needed to adapt it as the role changes, for example with incoming regulation and potential prescribing rights that follow.