Research & Funding Policy

All new projects require a formal written proposal. Grants of up to £1,000 can be made at the Chairman’s discretion. Those between £1,000 and £10,000 can be dealt with by internal assessors and any amount over that figure will be sent to both internal assessors and to at least one external one external assessor. If there are disagreements between the views of the assessors the Chairman will seek a second external assessor before convening a short meeting of the internal assessors to determine whether the proposal can go forward, or alternatively which proposal will find favour. We will not normally directly interview applicants for funds at this time.

Small (less than £1000) additional purchases by holders of restricted funds may be made at the discretion of the Chairperson without going through this procedure. If expenditures on an approved project exceed available resources they cannot be approved, and must be referred to the Chairperson.

Applicants for new projects may be made by any member at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience and associated Mental Health Trust (South London and Maudsley Foundation Trust) even where funds were obtained by a grant to a particular staff member. However, we will always warn the staff member to whom funds have been allocated beforehand. All new expenditures must be in the form of a research proposal, which will give an account of the aim of the research, the method & measures, a time budget and a financial budget.

We do not wish to hold on to large sums in our restricted budgets, and reserve the right to invite bids for these funds having drawn the attention of the original fund holder that this may occur.

Staff Appointments: These posts are advertised and the most able applicants are short listed and interviewed by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience Appointment Committees which include several professional members, The appointment is awarded to the applicant most suited to the job. In the case of short term appointments, applicants from overseas who seem exceptionally able to a Head of Department can be supported temporarily while they apply for funds from a medical charity.

Surplus Funds: For the distribution of Unrestricted Funds, as and when available, the Trustees appoint a committee containing specialists from several fields and invite applications from the Head of each Clinical Academic Groups (CAGS) in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.