Royal College of Psychiatrists

With more than 20,000 members, the RCPSYCH has various governing bodies to ensure that the college runs smoothly, fulfils its duties, and delivers on its promises. These governing bodies are explained below, along with their organisational responsibilities and roles.

Honorary Officers

The honorary officers in the RCPSYCH are chosen through elections held by the members. These officers hold leadership roles and are one of the most senior members of the institute. All honorary officers are also a part of the Council and the Trustee Board.

Council

The RCPSYCH council has a key president who helps with various matters related to policy, education, professional standards, professional practice, quality and research, psychiatry training, and public engagement. Some of its responsibilities include electing new members and approving applications for other membership categories. The Council also provides recommendations regarding the nature, extent, and scope of membership privileges to the Board of Trustees.

Some members of the RCPSYCH include Honorary Officers, Division Chairs, Committee Chair Reps, elected and co-opted members, and Faculty Chairs.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees at the RCPSYCH  is led by an elected President, who acts as the College’s primary governing body. It owns the legal responsibility for running and managing the institute effectively, ensuring that it complies with good practice and all applicable laws and delivers on its promises and purpose.

Staff and Operations

The Royal College has a team of more than 230 staff members. These staff members have been categorised and distributed among nine different departments. The offices run by RCPSYCH are spread across the UK under the supervision of their own directors. The Senior management team at RCPSYCH meets every week to make decisions and plan on how to work on them in addition to reviewing progress on previous plans.

Special Interest Groups

The Royal College of Psychiatrists currently has 15 special interest groups or SIGs, each representing a key issue within mental health and psychiatry. Some of these issues may include marginalised groups, sustainability, and diversity. These special interest groups have a dedicated Executive Committee and a Chair.

Faculties

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has 13 faculties, each representing various major specialities and other subspecialties within the scope of psychiatry. The purpose of building faculties is to represent the existing expertise, body of knowledge, and experience in each specific speciality. Each of the RCPSYCH’s faculty has its own Chair and Committee for optimised operations

Devolved Councils

Many Devolved Councils (DCs) run under the RCPSYCH in Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland to support the college and take forward its objectives and aims. It reflects and resolves the differences in each devolved nation’s laws and services. Every DC comes with its own Chair and Executive.

Divisions

The RCPSYCH has eight divisions, each representing the college locally, tending to its local needs, and providing professional advice as needed. Each division is run by an Executive Committee and a Chair who collaborate and work closely to ensure coordination of all standards in addition to their easy accessibility to all members. Moreover, each division serves the purpose of providing high-quality training to all doctors and ensuring that they have sufficient opportunities to engage in continuous professional improvement.

In addition to local divisions, the Royal College of Psychiatrists also has six international decisions, which include the following:

• European
• African
• Western Pacific
• South Asian
• Pan-American
• Middle Eastern