title: Implementing cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) in a mental health service: staff training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper describes the establishment of training in cognitive remediation for psychosis within a community mental health service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical staff working in the community of a mental health service were surveyed to ascertain their interest in cognitive aspects of psychosis and skills training in cognitive remediation (CR). Based on the results of the survey a tiered training programme was established with attendance figures reported for each level of training. Fidelity assessment was conducted on the five CR programmes operating.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 106 clinical staff working in the community with people diagnosed with a psychotic illness 51 completed the survey (48% response rate). The training needs varied with all 106 staff receiving the fundamental (mandatory) training and 51 staff receiving CR facilitator training. Thirty three percent of staff trained as facilitators were delivering CR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Up skilling the mental health workforce to incorporate an understanding of the cognitive aspects of psychosis into care delivery can be facilitated by a tiered training structure. Fundamental training on the psychosocial aspects of psychosis can act as a platform for focussed CR skills based training. There is also a need for accessible therapy based supervision for staff wishing to develop competencies as CR therapists.
authors.affiliation: PhD Candidate, School Public Health, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dark
authors.affiliation: Project Officer, Queensland Health, Metro South Mental Health, Macgregor, QLD, Australia ellie.newman@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Ellie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Fellow, School Public Health, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: PhD Candidate, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Clinician, Queensland Health, Metro South Mental Health, Woodridge, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: Advanced Clinical Psychologist, Queensland Health, Metro South Mental Health, Macgregor, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gore-Jones
authors.affiliation: Professor of Population Mental Health, School Public Health, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Harvey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Whiteford
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Psychosocial Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: Executive Director, Queensland Health, Metro South Mental Health District, Upper Mt Gravatt, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crompton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000072466:Cognitive Remediation / Q000193:education*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: cognitive remediation; evidence-based practice; implementation; staff training