NAPICU key aims are to advance Psychiatirc Intensive Care and Low Secure services, improve mechanisms for the delivery of psychiatric intensive care, audit effectiveness and to promote research, education and practice development within the speciality. NAPICU and its members have played a key role in the research and development of the National Minimum Standards for PICU and Low secure Services and is also working with the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and the Royal College of Psychiatrists CRT team.
NAPICU provides quarterly educational forums for debate and training at meetings held throughout the United Kingdom which are hosted by NAPICU Members and are free to members. These forums have proved to be a very popular way of sharing good practice with colleagues as is the annual conference. Practitioners also have the opportunity to complete a course on PICU at the South Bank University London. September 2008 will also see the launch of a new 'e' based learning course for staff devised by NAPICU and Kingston University. Members can also participate in an annual award scheme which was launched in 2004. Both UK and International members recieve the Bi annual "International Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care". An annual Travel Bursary is also available. By attending the regional metings free of charge (£25 for non members), recieving discounted rates for national conference and a free copy of the journal often (£28 per issue) the cost of membership is quickly reclaimed. For more information vist NAPICU.
