Preparing for consultancy: setting up a new psychiatry service as an advanced trainee.

Objectives: The aim of this paper is to describe the experience of an advanced trainee establishing a new psychiatry service, and to demonstrate how such an activity is a viable option for advanced training and helps develop consultancy skills. A detailed description of this process is provided, with a particular focus on consultation, training issues, service evaluation and the challenges encountered.

Conclusions: Involvement in establishing a new psychiatric service provides an advanced training experience which may prepare the trainee for consultancy by developing core skills such as communication, administration, leadership, teaching and experience in quality assurance.