Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
The University of Manchester
School of Psychological Sciences
Division of Clinical Psychology
2nd Floor Zochonis Building
Brunswick Street
MANCHESTER
M13 9PL
Telephone: 0161 306 0400
Fax: 0161 306 0406
Email: clinpsyd@manchester.ac.uk
Head of Division: Professor G Haddock
Programme Director: Professor Rachel Calam
Admissions Director: Professor A Wells
Programme Administrator: Mrs Clare Hamnett
Link to University of Manchester website
This three-year Programme, leading to a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, is provided by the Division of Clinical Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Human Sciences of The University of Manchester. The University of Manchester is the largest single-site University in the UK and the Division has an international reputation for the development and evaluation of psychological therapies, with particular strengths in CBT, psychosis, emotional disorders, health in adults and children, and developmental disorders. The Clin.Psy.D. Programme is approved by the Health Professions Council and accredited by the British Psychological Society, and is run in conjunction with NHS North West (formerly the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority). The Programme is based on the University of Manchester main campus, and has dedicated teaching rooms, computer clusters, common room/kitchen, and a secure area where lockers are available.
The Programme aims to provide trainees with the skills that will enable them to be reflective practitioners within the changing needs of health care systems and with clinical experience in a range of psychological approaches. In addition to a comprehensive in-depth training in cognitive-behavioural approaches, teaching is provided in family systems, psychodynamic interpersonal therapy, functional analysis and other therapeutic and clinical approaches. A critical evaluation of all models is emphasised throughout the training. There is strong emphasis on research throughout the programme and students work alongside research programmes within the Clinical and Health Psychology Research Group.
The training covers a wide geographical area, with placements at present available in many health districts and provider units within the North West Region. Applicants should be aware that most of the placements are in the Manchester area, although we sometimes require trainees to travel long distances. Use of a car is strongly recommended. All of the teaching is on campus in the centre of Manchester.
The Programme extends over three calendar years with an annual intake of approximately 24 trainees.
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A minimum of a 2.1 degree in single honours psychology or joint honours where psychology constitutes at least 50% of the course is required. The degree must have already been awarded at the time of application; candidates who are currently undergraduates will not be short-listed for interview. Candidates must be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society; candidates must establish this eligibility before commencing the Programme. Candidates with a 2.2 degree will be considered if they have obtained a further academic qualification such as an MSc or other higher degree by research. Due to our funding arrangements, we are only able to consider EU citizens or international applicants with Indefinite Leave to Remain (or "settled" status under immigration rules) with three years' residency in the UK. Students whose first language is not English require a minimum of IELTS 8 (with no less than 7 in the writing element), although this may be waived if the student has completed an undergraduate degree at an English-speaking institution.
12 months of clinically relevant experience such as work in a health care setting or a background in clinical research is considered essential. The Programme has a substantial research component and prior to short-listing candidates will be required to demonstrate clinical experience, competence and commitment to research. The Programme accepts applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and applications from mature trainees are welcome. Because of the composition of the local population, we are keen to encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. No applicant will be discriminated against on the grounds of race, colour, creed, disability, gender or sexual orientation. Please note that the Programme does not participate in the "Double-Tick" Disability Scheme.
The job description for this Programme can be found at our website.
Enquiries regarding the Programme should be made to the Programme Administrator at the contact details above.
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Short-listing of candidates is carried out by members of the Executive Training Programme Committee and in conjunction with regional Clinical Psychologists. Interviews are held over four days. Each candidate attends for a single interview by a panel comprising of both staff from the Clin.Psy.D. programme, NHS Clinical Psychologists nominated by the Executive Training Committee and representatives of the Community Liaison Group. Interviews generally last around 30 minutes. Candidates will have the opportunity to talk informally with current trainees about the Programme.
All offers of a place on the programme are dependent on satisfactory criminal record and health checks.
It is the policy of the Manchester Programme not to give feedback to candidates who are not successful in gaining an interview, as the number of applications received make it impossible to do this. After interview, feedback is given to candidates who are unsuccessful at this stage. We do not offer detailed feedback to people who we have placed on the reserve list, as being placed on this list reflects adequate performance at interview and indicates our willingness to offer a place should one become available.
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Trainees are fully funded on the Agenda for Change Band 6 by NHS North West, who also pay their fees. The intake over the past two years has been 24 in 2010 and 24 in 2011. At present, no alternative arrangements exist for funding and no self-funding trainees are admitted to the Programme. Fees are met by NHS North West.
Placements are offered throughout the North West, and trainees will be placed with the most appropriate supervisor(s) to meet their needs. Trainees are entitled to claim mileage reimbursement or public transport costs for travel from base-placement (exclusive of travel from home-base) and for travel within the placement setting. This must be done on a monthly/bimonthly basis retrospectively. Trainees must hold business insurance on their vehicles in order to claim mileage.
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Attendance at formal teaching sessions, including the induction block and at placement is compulsory. Under circumstances such as illness or exceptional events the Programme Administrator and additionally the Placement Supervisor (where necessary) must be notified of non-attendance. In cases where the trainee is absent from teaching it is expected that s/he will make all necessary arrangements to assimilate the material that has been missed.
The Academic Programme takes an adult learning approach. We are aware that many trainees bring substantial experience with them into training and have designed the curriculum to build on and develop prior knowledge. Throughout the Programme the majority of teaching has an interactive, workshop-based format. Problem based learning opportunities occur throughout the Programme which are in line with our adult learner approach, and help trainees to learn more about key links between theory and clinical practice. Teaching is delivered mainly by practising clinicians. In addition to teaching from clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses and other professionals make significant contributions to the Programme. We have strong links with services users who both deliver teaching and, through our Community Liaison Group, input into the development of the curriculum. Feedback is obtained from trainees and lecturers for all teaching and plays a crucial role in the development of the Programme.
The Programme begins with a four-week induction, during which basic interviewing skills, assessment, formulation and treatment techniques are introduced. Academic work (including formal instruction, study time and research time) takes place on two days per week during University term time throughout Years 1 and 2 and one day per week in Year 3. Teaching is organised into a modular system and is provided by Programme staff and clinicians from the region. The teaching units include: general skills; core clinical areas (adult, child, older adult, learning disability); specialist areas (eg family therapy, psychotherapy, substance misuse, health, forensic); research methods and trainee presentations (eg case presentations and seminars). Teaching is organised around placements for the first two years, and is primarily skills-based, with teaching in the third year being largely workshop and seminar based. Trainees have a Clinical Tutor and Academic Advisor to facilitate and review all aspects of progress throughout the three years. The incorporation of problem based learning tasks enhances group dynamics and encourages discussion of complex issues within the year groups.
Clinical training is supervised by experienced clinical psychologists. A wide range of supervisors is available and there is a wealth of clinical expertise within the geographical area. The first two years consist of four blocks of 6-month clinical placements in the areas of adult, child, older adults and learning disability. The third year provides trainees with the opportunity to work in more specialist settings or re-visit clinical settings in which they wish to develop further. Current placements cover many different areas, including: health psychology, substance misuse, forensic psychology, neuropsychology, cognitive therapy, family therapy and psychotherapy. Trainees are encouraged to undertake a 12-month placement in order to gain a more realistic experience of post-qualification working. However, two 6-month placements may be considered.
Trainees are visited at the mid-point and end of each placement by their Clinical Tutor who facilitates and reviews their clinical development.
During a clinical placement in either the first or second year trainees are required to carry out a Small-Scale Research Evaluation project. During the second and third years, trainees are required to undertake a substantial piece of original research (to doctoral level) of clinical relevance. This work is presented in the form of a bound thesis. To ensure high quality supervision, trainees undertake research within the areas of expertise of members of the Clinical and Health Psychology Research Group of the School of Psychological Sciences, which includes the psychopathology of psychosis, affective disorders, child mental health, behavioural medicine, developmental disabilities and cognitive behaviour therapy. Each trainee arranges supervision for their project with an academic supervisor and clinical field supervisor as appropriate. Computing facilities and support are available to all trainees. Details are available on our website.
Following a successful pilot scheme, funded by NHS North West, the Programme has a Community Liaison Group comprising service users, carers and community members who advise on and participate in all aspects of Programme activities. Their involvement has already helped to shape the Programme in significant ways and we are committed to continuing this groundbreaking work.
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The degree of Clin.Psy.D. is awarded on the basis of the formal evaluation of: (a) clinical skills; (b) academic knowledge; (c) research skills. Trainees must pass all three aspects of the evaluation procedure in order to be awarded the degree.
Trainees are rated by clinical supervisors for clinical knowledge and competence at the end of each placement. Failure to achieve satisfactory ratings will lead to discontinuation of training. Trainees submit, and must pass, a total of five pieces of work including four case reports, and one piece of Small-Scale Research Evaluation work carried out during the first or second year (see Course Structure - Research Skills section above).
There are short examinations at the end of the teaching blocks in March and June of Year 1 and June of Year 2. Confirmation of registration is dependent upon passing these examinations. Clinical case reports may also be the subject of viva voce examination at this stage. The University regulations permit a candidate to resit failed examinations in August/September of the same year.
The research thesis is submitted in June of the third year and is examined orally in mid-September. There are three main categories of outcome, ie pass (with or without minor corrections), resubmit and fail. Resubmission requires a considerable revision of the work and may delay the award of the degree.
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It is the Programme's policy to seek regular feedback from trainees on all aspects of the programme. Such feedback has played an important part in shaping the programme in recent years. There is trainee representation on all programme committees.
Throughout the three years of the Programme trainees are considered to be adult learners responsible for meeting their own learning objectives; however, the Programme places considerable importance on trainee support and development. A number of formal and informal support systems are available to trainees. Each trainee is allocated a Clinical Tutor and an Academic Advisor from within the Programme Team. The Clinical Tutor reviews all aspects of progress at placement visits on a three-monthly basis. The Programme has a module dedicated to the personal and professional development of trainees which aims to develop a collaborative group ethos as well as facilitate self-reflection and career development. There is a "buddy" system so that new trainees will be contacted prior to training by a trainee already on the Programme. The Trainee Advocate, a qualified clinical psychologist elected by the trainees, undertakes an advocacy role on behalf of the trainees independent of the Programme management. For trainees experiencing difficulties, a confidential contacts network is in place to allow trainees to seek out support and therapy independently of the Programme structure.
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Programme staff are as follows:
Professor Gillian Haddock - Professor of Clinical Psychology, Head of Division
Professor Rachel Calam - Professor of Child and Family Psychology, Programme Director
Professor Adrian Wells - Professor of Clinical and Experimental Psychopathology, Admissions Director
Dr Richard Brown - Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Academic Director
Dr Dougal Hare - Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Research Director
Ms Linda Steen - Clinical Director
Mr Ian Fleming - Clinical Director
Ms Judith Moss - Senior Clinical Tutor
Dr Lara Bennett - Senior Clinical Tutor
Vacant Post - Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology
Dr Anja Wittkowski - Lecturer in Clinical Psychology
Dr Sandra Bucci - Lecturer in Clinical Psychology
Dr Penny Bunton - Academic Tutor
Dr Daniel Pratt - Academic Tutor
Dr John Fox - Academic Tutor
Dr Claire Fothergill - Clinical Tutor
Dr James McManus - Clinical Tutor
Vacant Post - Clinical Tutor
Mr Austin Lockwood - E-Learning and IT Development Co-ordinator
Mrs Clare Hamnett - Programme Administrator
Ms Alison Cox - Clinical Administrator
Mrs Tracey Hepburn - Programme Secretary, Secretary to Prof Haddock
Mr Matthew Fraser - Programme Secretary
A large number of NHS clinical psychologists also play a major role in the organisation and teaching of the Programme.
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