South Wales Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology
Archway House
77 Ty Glas Avenue
Llanishen
CARDIFF
CF14 5DX
Telephone: 029 2020 6464
Fax: 029 2019 0106
Email: CAV_Psychology.Training@wales.nhs.uk
Programme Director: Professor Reg Morris
Programme Administration Manager: Debbie Robinson (to whom enquiries should be made)
Link to South Wales website
The South Wales Programme has a long and established pedigree. It was set up in 1975 and in 1992 it was one of the first courses in the UK to become a Doctoral Programme. The Programme has strong links with Health and Social Care Services across West, East, South and Mid Wales and maintains these through close partnership working with Health and Social Care colleagues. The Programme also enjoys an excellent relationship with the School of Psychology at Cardiff University and receives valued support from its commissioners, the Welsh Assembly Government which has devolved powers and a forward-looking approach to health and social care provision throughout Wales.
The Programme is three years full-time and leads to the award of Doctor of Clinical Psychology validated by Cardiff University. This qualification confers eligibility to apply for registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC) and Chartered Clinical Psychologist status with the British Psychological Society (BPS). Trainees are full-time employees of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) and registered postgraduate students of Cardiff University.
The Programme aims to produce trainees who are reflective scientist-practitioners capable of working within a range of health and social care settings and in diverse social and cultural contexts. It prepares trainees for the development and redesign of professional roles within health and social care services. Thus increasing emphasis is placed on work within multi-professional/multi-agency contexts, working psychologically within teams and taking on leadership roles.
Emphasis is placed on the development of trainee competence through the implementation of individualised training plans devised in collaboration with trainees. This individualised approach to training is one of the Programme's particular strengths. The Programme is generic in nature and underpinned by a life-span developmental approach. About half of the Programme time is spent on clinical placement with the rest divided between academic course work, research and personal study. Against a firm background of core training delivered within adult mental health, older adult, learning disabilities, and children and young people modules, trainees are then able to consolidate and further develop competence through an extended elective module. Core psychological models covered are cognitive-behavioural and systemic. Opportunities for developing competence in working with cognitive-analytic, psychodynamic and person-centred models are also available.
Trainees are able to gain experience in working within a variety of clinical contexts through the completion of five clinical placements encompassing the required range of proficiencies and core competences. Supervised clinical experience is provided by Clinical Psychologists working in Health and Social Care services across West, East, South and Mid Wales.
The Programme's staffing consists of a Programme Director, Academic Director, Clinical Director, Research Director, Principal Leads for each year cohort and Senior Clinical Tutors. Tutors also undertake clinical work within Health and Social Care Services and hold honorary positions with Cardiff University. The tutor team receives excellent administrative support from the Programme Administration Manager and two Programme Secretaries.
The Training Programme is currently located at Archway House in North Cardiff but is likely to relocate within the Cardiff area in the summer of 2012. Archway House has excellent public transport links and offers office space, lecture/seminar rooms, good library and IT facilities, work areas for trainees and excellent kitchen/dining facilities. Trainees also have access to the resources of the School of Psychology and Graduate Centre at Cardiff University which is located in central Cardiff. Cardiff offers many attractions as a backdrop for studying. There are international sports facilities encompassing rugby, cricket, football, athletics, swimming, sailing and kayaking in three new international stadia, the international sports village and the recent Cardiff Bay development. There are three national-standard concert venues and many other entertainment and cultural facilities such as art galleries, museums and cultural centres. First-rate rock climbing, inland kayaking, mountain biking and hill walking are available locally.
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The essential and desirable requirements for the role of trainee clinical psychologist are outlined in the Employee Specification for the post which is available on our website. At the time of application, all candidates must be eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society and as a consequence the Programme is unable to accept applications from undergraduates. A 2.1 Honours Degree (or equivalent) in Psychology or a 2.2 degree and further completed postgraduate study in a field related to Clinical Psychology is normally required. Relevant experience of paid or voluntary work in a clinical, community or clinical-academic setting with client groups and service settings directly relevant to clinical psychology is also an essential requirement. This experience can be gained in a range of contexts including Health and Social Care or University settings, the voluntary sector or organisations affiliated to the NHS. It is difficult to specify what counts as relevant experience as suitable posts vary enormously. However candidates are normally required to have experience which provides an idea of what clinical psychologists actually do, some direct clinical contact with the sort of clients psychologists work with, an idea of what work with clients actually entails and a sense of the organisational context in which clinical psychology usually operates.
Where university level qualifications are not taught and examined in English, English language ability to the standard equivalent to level 7 of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), taken no more than three years before the proposed date of entry to the University is required. The Programme is able to accept applications only from individuals who are current citizens of either EU Member States or EU Economic Area States. Eligibility to work in the UK is essential. The ability to reflect on and learn from personal and professional experience and to use this to inform professional development and practice is very much valued. Funding for the Programme is provided by the Welsh Assembly Government. A commitment to working in Wales on qualification is regarded as a definite advantage.
Cardiff and Vale UHB is an equal opportunities employer and the Programme welcomes applications from all sectors of the community and from candidates from diverse backgrounds and with varied experience. As a two ticks disability symbol user, the Programme commits to guarantee to interview all candidates with a declared disability defined by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 who meet the minimum entry requirements. Candidates with disabilities short-listed for interview are asked to notify the Programme in advance of any access or facility requests that they have.
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Trainees are recruited annually to the funded posts commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government and in 2011, nine trainees were funded. However, workforce data for Wales indicates a need for expansion in Clinical Psychology training and the Welsh Assembly Government has recently invested significantly in the infrastructure of the Training Programme. Training commissions for 2012 will be agreed in the autumn of 2011.
The process of selection is undertaken by experienced clinical psychologists, service users and carers, third year trainees and members of the Programme team. All applications are assessed by rating panels and short-listed applicants are invited for interview. The half-day interview process involves a brief written exercise and two interviews focusing on academic/clinical and personal/professional issues. Applicants are able to meet informally with current trainees who are not involved in selection. Following interview, applicants are notified of the outcome in writing. Unsuccessful candidates can contact a named member of the selection panel for feedback on their overall interview performance should they feel that this would be useful. The Programme is unable to provide individual feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful in gaining an interview.
The programme may adopt the national short-listing screening procedure should this be in place for the 2012 intake of trainees.
The South Wales Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology aims to create an environment that respects the diversity of staff, trainees and key Programme stakeholders and enables them to achieve their full potential, to contribute fully, and to derive maximum benefit and enjoyment from their involvement with the Programme. It also aims to ensure that no prospective or current trainee is treated less favourably on the grounds of gender, race, disability, age, religion, belief or sexual orientation. The Programme is committed to the principle of equality of opportunity for all staff and trainees and to providing an environment where respect is shown to all and where individuals are valued and supported in achieving their full potential.
The Programme aims to ensure equality of opportunity for all candidates applying to the Programme and to create conditions whereby candidates are considered solely on the basis of merit. Diversity of background among applicants is encouraged and the Programme acknowledges the need to remove barriers to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of trainees from historically excluded populations who are currently under-represented.
The Programme is bound by the Equality Policies of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (the employing body), Cardiff University (the validating body) and the British Psychological Society Human Rights Policy Statement (the professional body).
The offer of a place on the Programme is subject to appropriate clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). We follow the Employer's policy with regard to whether applicants with offences or cautions can be offered a training place. You should note that acceptance on the Programme and successful completion is not a guarantee of registration with the HPC, which has set standards for conduct, good character and fitness to practice (see HPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics P9-10).
The offer of a place on the Programme is also subject to satisfactory pre-employment health assessment. A history of serious ill health will not necessarily preclude the offer of a place on the Programme unless the condition impinges on professional fitness to practice. Applicants will be expected to meet the HPC's recommendations with regard to fitness to practice (HPC Guidance on Health and Character, 2009). These recommendations include the requirement that students' health should enable them to complete training "safely and effectively".
Applicants with serious chronic or recurring health conditions should take advice from health practitioners about their fitness to enter training. Successful applicants will be given an opportunity to notify the Programme so that reasonable adjustments can be made.
The Programme has set eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society as a prerequisite for entry. This may be obtained by completing an approved first degree or by undertaking a conversion course. This guarantees that all entrants have a sound prior knowledge of theory, principles, research methods as well as an appreciation of the important substantive aspects and domains of psychology.
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Successful applicants are employed by Cardiff and Vale UHB as Band 6 Trainee Clinical Psychologists. Training contracts are for a period of three years and are offered on the strict understanding that candidates will submit themselves for assessments linked to the Doctorate of Clinical Psychology and maintain their registration for the Doctorate. The Programme has no self-funding places.
University Registration and Examination fees are paid by the Programme. Reimbursement of travel expenses is currently via regular car user status. Funding is available for temporary accommodation on clinical placements deemed to be non-commutable. Financial support is available for attendance at approved courses and conferences and/or personal therapy up to an individual limit.
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The three year programme of training will commence on 1 October 2012.
Training is co-ordinated within a set of five modules over the three years.
| Module | Area | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Module 1/2 | Older Adult/Adult Mental Health | Year 1 |
| Module 3/4 | Children and Young People/Learning Disabilities | Year 2 |
| Module 5 | Elective (eg forensic and health) | Year 3 |
Academic teaching is organised around the modular scheme. Content relates to clinical placement experience in order to facilitate integration of theory and practice. The Programme adheres to the core competency framework of the British Psychological Society which forms the basis for the HPC's standards of proficiency for clinical psychologists. There are sessions on theory and skills development to equip trainees with the required knowledge, skills and values for clinical practice.
Academic teaching is delivered in teaching blocks at the beginning and end of each module and individual teaching days throughout the module. Trainees are currently allocated one day a week for private study.
The Programme is supported by experienced psychologists from across the West, East, South and Mid Wales region. In Years 1 and 2, supervised clinical experience is provided via five-month clinical placements in the four core areas of adult mental health, older adult, learning disabilities, and children and young people. During the third year, trainees undertake an extended 11-month elective placement in an area determined by trainee competence development needs and areas of interest.
Clinical placements are allocated after taking into account a range of factors including trainee competence development needs, supervisor availability and exceptional personal circumstances such as a disability or responsibility for dependent children. In order to maximise the clinical placement resource available to the Programme, placements across West, East, South and Mid Wales are utilised. Exceptionally, a placement outside of Wales may be approved.
Research skills are essential to the role of the clinical psychologist and the Programme places a high value on the integration of research and clinical practice.
Research teaching continues throughout the three years with dedicated blocks of research study time at strategic points in Years 2 and 3. Central teaching includes practical sessions and theoretical teaching on research methods, and is responsive to the needs of trainees. Trainee research activities are supported by Programme staff, clinical psychologists within the region and academic psychologists from Cardiff University School of Psychology. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies are supported.
Trainees conduct a small service review project linked with their placement experience which has a focus on clinical governance, professional practice and/or evidence-based practice issues. Doctoral regulations also require submission of a substantial research thesis in the third year. The research thesis is supervised by both an academic and a clinical research supervisor. Academic research supervisors are usually Programme staff or psychologists from the School of Psychology. Clinical research supervisors are usually local NHS clinical psychologists with an interest in the proposed field of study.
Computing facilities are available at the Programme base and the Graduate Centre at Cardiff University. The Programme has a supply of laptop computers for loan.
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The Programme has a system of continuous assessment of clinical, academic, research and professional competence. Competence on each clinical placement is assessed via clinical placement supervisor and appraisal tutor evaluation in the context of the trainee log of clinical experience. The assessment portfolio is designed to support competence development in making theory practice links and includes five integrated assignments based on clinical material from each of the modules and two academic assignments. Research competence is assessed via one small service review project and a dissertation submitted in the final year. The Programme does not use examinations.
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The Programme team is committed to supporting trainee personal and professional development and a range of systems are in place to facilitate this process. Trainees are allocated an appraisal tutor from the Programme team who remains with them for the three years. It is the appraisal tutor's responsibility to monitor and support trainee competence development throughout training. Trainees are allocated a Professional Mentor who is a clinical psychologist independent of the Programme team and not normally involved in the assessment process. Professional Mentors remain with trainees throughout the three years of training and provide an opportunity for trainees to reflect on their experience of training and personal professional issues. Trainees attend regular reflective practice groups facilitated by clinical psychologists who have an interest in this area of work. This aspect of training is not currently assessed. A buddy system is in operation whereby more experienced trainees support trainees new to the Programme and this is co-ordinated by the trainees themselves. Trainees have access to a personal development allowance, a proportion of which can be used to support the cost of approved personal therapy. Cardiff and Vale UHB operate Employee Well-being and Occupational Health Services, and Cardiff University has a student counselling service and a disability support service. Trainee involvement in the Programme is highly valued and trainees have representation on key Programme committees. Regular trainee meetings are also supported.
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Professor Reg Morris - Programme Director
Dr Jennifer Moses - Academic Director
Dr Jane Onyett - Clinical Director
Professor Neil Frude - Research Director
Dr Andrew Vidgen - Principal Lead (Year 1)
Dr Jenny Hunt - Principal Lead (Year 2)
Dr Rosemary Jenkins - Principal Lead (Year 3)
Dr Louise Waddington - Senior Clinical Tutor
Dr Sara Davies - Senior Clinical Tutor
Ms Debbie Robinson - Programme Administration Manager
Mrs Andrea Osborne - Programme Secretary
Miss Rhiain Casseldine - Programme Secretary
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