Published December 24, 2025 | Updated December 24, 2025
By MedCourse
Useful, relevant, and interesting content for UK Junior Doctors.
About the Author
Dr. Kainat Khan, ST5 Higher Trainee, Psychiatrist in Intellectual Disability in North London Denary
I have always had interest in mind and emotions and to learn about human personalities and behaviours fascinated me. This increased with my psychiatry exposure in medical school. Psychiatry was also my last rotation in Foundation year 2. I took a year out of training to work in psychiatry as LAS to be sure this is what I want to do. Then I applied for core training and got into it. I completed my core training from Essex and applied for higher training in Psychiatry of learning disability (Intellectual disability) in London which I am currently part of. I chose this speciality of psychiatry because it is rewarding and challenging but you still get good work life balance.
It combines biological, psychological and social factor which undermine the mental illness. I was BMA Local negotiating committee representative which has provided me experience to negotiate for my colleagues. I am academic teaching organiser for North London learning disability, this is regional programme for all of North London Learning disability. During my day to day working, I work closely with MDT providing leadership to colleagues and support and supervision in my remit to my junior colleagues. As psychiatry Higher Trainee you also get a day in week where you can develop special interest. I have done perinatal psychiatry, autism and population health.
Courses & Conferences to Attend
- Â Royal College of Psychiatrist International CongressÂ
- The Joint Pan-London conference with Forensic and Intellectual Disability higher trainees
- Faculty of Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability Annual Conference
- UK Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability Trainee Conference
- British Pakistan Psychiatrists Association Conference
- ADOS and ADI-R training
- Simulation course
- An Introduction to the Open Dialogue approach
- Introductory weekend in Group Analysis
- Learning to be Educators And Facilitators (LEAF) Course
- Mentoring Masterclass
- Medical school Introduction to Clinical Teaching
- Basic life supportÂ
- Advanced Life support
Attend RCPsych International Congress and try to present posterÂ
Learning to be Educators and Facilitators (LEAF) course and Introduction to Clinical Teaching are great courses
ALS and/or BLS
How to Maximise Your Portfolio
Always start early. Look at portfolio requirements for specialty and also start to look at what is needed for CT3. Manage your time effectively.
Try to participate in audits and get involved in quality improvement projects. A lot of trust offer QI training as well, get yourself enrolled and start a project with QI team support. Also look for opportunities for research. You can write your projects in journals and also do poster presentations.
Get involved with Royal College of Psychiatrists.Â
Also participate in teachings, along with local teaching look out for opportunities in regional teachings.
Making the Most of Your Day Job
Be proactive and talk to your supervisors about your interests and your aims for professional development. Aim to secure a job with Intellectual Disability in your Core Psychiatry training. Spend time with your other MDT Colleagues like Psychologists, Occupation Therapist and Speech and Language therapist to understand MDT working and what they offer for holistic care plans for patients. Try to attend multiple conferences and network at conferences. Do not be shy to ask for help. For interviews practice as much as you can. Get involved in leadership and management opportunities for example being representative for junior doctors or organiser for teachings and conferences.
Making the Most of Intellectual Disability Psychiatry ST4 Placements
Enjoy. Be engaged and integrate with the team.
Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability has lots to offer make the most of it. We work with patients and their carer to deliver holistic care which is personalised. You get to learn how mental health can present differently in people with learning disability. There are loads of special interests you can develop. You can learn about Autism, ADHD. Epilepsy or genetic syndromes and learn impact of different conditions and comorbidities on mental health.
What About Non-Intellectual Disability Psychiatry ST4 Placements?
Learn about transferable skills for example strong communication skills can be worked on in any speciality which will help you later on. I think it is particularly important when you are working in learning disability as you have to pick on non-verbal communication as well and think of ways to engage with people who either have limited speech or are non verbal. Working with Multidisciplinary teams is helpful and learning how different teams work. Learn how to make personalised care plans and can be adapted according to needs of individuals and their circumstances.
