IoPPN - King’s College London

Programme Structure 

The Programme is accredited on a full-time basis only and there are various competing demands. Attendance and active participation across all components is mandatory.

There is a minimum attendance requirement of 95% across all areas of the Programme and the practical, taught and research elements within the Programme run contemporaneously. It is not possible to compartmentalise aspects of the course to focus on another - all are of equal importance.

In each year, trainees spend three days a week on supervised clinical practice placements (Tuesdays to Thursdays) with Mondays and Fridays dedicated for teaching and research. Trainees are also expected to undertake their own independent learning. The nature of this training as an adult learner means that at times, the demands will go beyond a ‘9am to 5pm’ working pattern, so please think carefully about whether this will be manageable for you.

Academic teaching, research supervision and clinical supervision are mainly carried out by members of the Department of Psychology or other departments within the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), or by clinical psychologists working within King's Health Partners, giving the programme an overall cohesion and sense of community. The Programme also receives specialist contributions to its academic teaching from invited outside speakers and experts.

The length of the Programme cannot be reduced through the accreditation of prior learning or experience. All trainees are required to complete the full Programme of training in order to qualify and while on the Programme, all trainees take annual holiday entitlement within set time periods to fit in with teaching and placement attendance requirements.

The Core Purpose of the Programme is:

"To benefit service users, carers and wider society through training clinical psychologists who are skilled in evidence-based psychological assessment and intervention, who produce applied research of the highest quality and impact, and who will become leaders within the NHS, clinical academia and beyond."

This core purpose is achieved by training students to demonstrate all Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency and British Psychological Society (BPS) required competencies for practising clinical psychologists, thereby conferring eligibility to apply to join the HCPC register of applied psychologists and become a practising clinical psychologist.

The Programme aims in partnership with all stakeholders to train clinical psychologists who:

• Embody the reflective scientist-practitioner ideal;
• Are committed to understanding diversity and working in an inclusive way;
• Are skilled in evidence-based psychological assessment, formulation and therapy;
• Will become leaders within the NHS;
• Conduct high quality applied research to advance psychological knowledge and therapy;
• Are self-reflective and self-aware;
• Embody compassion, dignity and respect in all areas of their work;
• Use their overarching meta-competencies in a wide range of settings to respond creatively and flexibly to new challenges and to create positive change;
• Take responsibility for meeting all standards of professional proficiency and ethical conduct set out by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), British Psychological Society (BPS), British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) and the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (AFT).

The Academic Programme

We offer an inclusive taught curriculum that is delivered face-to-face and which promotes academic rigour. We actively encourage the expression of multiple theories and viewpoints. Trainees are expected to be able to recognise, tolerate and reflect on differences of opinion as part of their training.

The teaching on the Programme aims to train Clinical Psychologists who:

1. Uphold the NHS values of Working together for patients; Respect and dignity; Commitment to quality of care; Compassion; improving lives; Everyone counts.
2. Are committed to evidence-based practice
3. Are aware of the role of clinical psychology, while respectful of the contribution of other disciplines
4. Are capable of utilising knowledge and a variety of methodologies to inform decisions and provide leadership
5. Are thoughtful and sensitive to diverse client needs
6. Are committed to continued professional development

The teaching on the Programme aims to support trainees to develop and demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in the following key areas:

• Working effectively with all service users, carers and systems that affect clients
• Understand and critically evaluate the evidence base relevant to clinical psychology practice.
• Conduct research that develops the profession’s knowledge base and improves the effectiveness of clinical psychology practice.
• Represent a psychological perspective effectively in communication with service users, carers and other professionals, including through leadership.
• Understand and apply fundamental ethical principles, legal frameworks and professional standards across all areas of work.
• Think reflectively about clinical, academic and professional practice.
• Work in partnership with diverse service users, carers and stakeholders to design and deliver services.

The overall structure and curriculum of the programme are aligned with the requirements set out by the Health and Care Professions Council’s (HCPC) Standards of Education and Training, the criteria of the British Psychological Society and the expectations of NHS England who commission the programme. The curriculum content is also aligned with the core curriculum and accreditation requirements of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) and the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (AFSP).

The Curriculum comprises of teaching streams that are led by members of the Programme team in collaboration with our regional colleagues (typically NHS service-based specialist clinicians). This curriculum is revised through consultation processes with NHS specialists, trainees, service users and NHS commissioners. A foundational theme that sits across all the teaching streams is that of culture, diversity, equality, and inclusion. The specific teaching streams fall under the following headings:

• Additional Therapeutic Modalities
• Adult Psychosis
• Adult: Complex and Specialist
• Clinical Health Psychology
• Clinical Neuropsychology
• Clinical Skills and Reflective Practice
• Culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Infant, Child and Young People
• Intellectual Disabilities and Neurodevelopmental Conditions
• Older Adult and Dementia
• Professional, Ethical and Leadership Practice
• Research and Assessment Methodology
• Therapeutic Models and Processes: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Therapeutic Models and Processes: Family and Systemic Practice

The programme delivers teaching based on research, theoretical literature, practice-based experience and lived experience (expert by experience and carer) input. Teaching is provided in lectures, workshops and seminars, using a range of methods including discussions, polls, case examples/vignettes, role-plays and skills practice, videos, and didactic teaching. This is designed according to the material to be covered and the stage of training. Trainees are encouraged to contribute to the process; significant aspects of learning and development will come from each other. Reflective practice is supported through facilitated experiential groups.

In addition, we offer an interprofessional learning simulation session led by a patient educator where trainees work with trainees from other health disciplines as an MDT. Placements are conceptualised as key teaching and learning opportunities. This range of approaches is intended to fulfil the different learner needs and offer the trainees opportunities to reflect critically on theoretical issues and their application to their clinical practice with diverse communities and research.

Clinical Placements

Trainees undertake six 6-month placements. The four ‘core' areas of the Programme are Adult and Child mental health (year 1) and Older adults and Intellectual disability (year 2); the third year comprises two specialist or supplementary placements. The majority of placements are located within South London and are accessible via public transport links. Trainees prior experience and future career preferences are taken into consideration in placement allocation where possible. 

There is a wide, exciting range of specialist placement opportunities for trainees to choose from in the third year of training, at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (KCH), Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) and in other organisations.  SLaM provides the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK. 

In line with the goals of the NHS long term plan, placements offer trainees opportunities to work in local clinical pathways improving access to services for people from our diverse local communities. 

Placements are offered in a variety of specialisms and settings, including primary care, secondary care, inpatient, secure settings and non-statutory organisations. We are fortunate to have many national services across the Trusts, meaning that trainees have access to a number of specialist placements. Placements may be based in the community or hospital settings. 

There is a wealth of specialist and innovative neuropsychological placements available across the organisations enabling to gain neuropsychological competencies across the three years. Those trainees with career aspirations in neuropsychology are identified and supported throughout their three years on the course. 

In addition to the direct clinical work, a key emphasis is placed on trainees developing leadership competencies on placements and gaining experience of working collaboratively with service users and carers, as well as learning skills in working alongside allied health and social care workers in multidisciplinary settings.

Clinical supervisors are predominantly clinical psychologists but may also include clinical health psychologists, counselling psychologists, CBT therapists, forensic psychologists, systemic therapists and psychotherapists. A lead supervisor, who is a clinical psychologist, is identified for each placement.

The Programme’s minimum expectations in relation to the amount, frequency and nature of supervision that should be in place are guided by the BPS Guidance on Clinical Supervision. The total contact between the trainee and supervisors is expected to be at least three hours a week.

Clinical placements:

• Ensure trainees receive structured learning experiences that align with HCPC and BPS requirements.
• Provide trainees with opportunities to develop core competencies, including assessment, formulation, intervention, and ethical practice.
• Support trainees to develop skills in the application of evidence-based practice and service development, contributing to the innovation of high-quality services that meet the needs of local and diverse populations.
• Promote reflective practice, ethical decision-making, and culturally competent care to address health inequalities and improve outcomes for underserved populations.
• Embed principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion (CEDI) within training, ensuring trainees can deliver psychologically informed care that meets the needs of diverse communities.

Research 

By May of the final year, trainees are required to submit a doctoral level research thesis of between 25,000 to 55,000 words. 

The thesis is comprised of: 

• Service-Related Project
• Empirical Project
• Systematic Review

The Service-Related Project is completed in the first year, supervised by a clinical placement supervisor.  Trainees gain experience of conducting an NHS-related project that will inform service development.  Recent projects have directly investigated issues of equality and diversity in service provision.  

The Empirical Project and Systematic Literature Review are completed in the second and third year, supervised by a main and second supervisor.  Staff in the Department of Psychology and wider Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience offer research expertise and supervision in a wide range of clinical topics.  Most trainees are able to choose their research topic based on their interests and learning needs, and to co-create a research project with their supervisors.  Trainee research is supported by the rich research environment at King’s, including close links with the department of Biostatistics & Health Informatics.  The programme curriculum includes teaching on qualitative and quantitative research methods.  Projects are written up in a format ready for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.  Many trainees go on to publish their research in academic journals.  Advice and support is provided in the final year for trainees who may wish to pursue a clinical-academic career.  We have mentored a number of newly qualified graduates to secure competitive personal doctoral and post-doctoral fellowship awards to pursue clinical research.

Please see the Psychology Department website for details of staff research interests.  Further information on research at the IoPPN can be accessed via https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/research

The aim of the research stream is for trainees to develop the skills and knowledge needed to become active clinical researchers so that they can contribute to the development and leadership of the profession. Research learning opportunities are provided as part of the taught curriculum, while on clinical placement, and in dedicated research time from the second year onwards.

By the end of the Programme, trainees will have attained the following research competencies:

• Identifying, reviewing and critically appraising research evidence
• Understanding quantitative and qualitative methods as applied to clinical psychology
• Conducting service-related research (e.g. audits, quality improvement projects, and/or small N research)
• Conducting collaborative research
• Conceptualising, designing and conducting independent, original research of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication: including identifying research questions, demonstrating an understanding of ethical issues, choosing appropriate research methods and analysis, reporting outcomes and identifying appropriate pathways for dissemination.
• Understanding the need and value of undertaking clinical research and development post-qualification, contributing substantially to the development of theory and practice
   

Assessment

A developmental, competency-based approach is taken to assessment, combining formative and summative assessment methods.  Please note that a number of the summative assessments undertaken by trainees in the third of training will be dependent on their pathway.

The failure of two placements, or of an examination resit, or resubmitted/resat case studies, case conferences or assessments of clinical competence, or the viva examination, will constitute a Programme failure. No lesser exit award is available under the Programme.

Summative Assessments (all trainees)

• Qualifying examinations are held in June of the first year. The pass mark is 50% and trainees who fail are allowed to re-sit on one occasion in August.
• Case Presentations: At the end of the first year of training, trainees are asked to present a case that demonstrates their CBT knowledge and skills. In the second year of training, trainees are asked to present a case where they have worked with more than one person in the room, and to offer a systemic formulation and treatment plan to assess their knowledge and skills in systemic practice.
• Case Studies: In the second year of training trainees will need to submit a CBT case study that will demonstrate theory practice links and reflection on their learning and development as CBT therapists.
• All six practice placements are recommended as Pass/Fail by placement supervisors.
• The research thesis is assessed at a viva by two external examiners.
• Research Progress Report: Trainees submit a report on their research progress every 6 months, which is formally reviewed by their supervisor and a panel of research tutors; a satisfactory outcome of the review is required for progression.
• Further to the above, all trainees are also required to pass a number of assessments of clinical competence to qualify from the Programme – these are  based on in vivo assessment of clinical work.

Additional Assessments (Pathway dependent – 3rd Year of training)

• BABCP Level 2 Pathway. Those on the BABCP level 2 pathway will submit an additional CBT case study, carry out an additional CBT case presentation and a further assessment of clinical competence using the CTS-R or equivalent CBT rating scales.

Formative Assessments 

In addition to summative assessment, the Programme provides formative feedback and assessment in a variety of ways, including: 

• Statistics test in the first year of training
• Leadership project proposal in 3rd year of training
• Trainee led research showcase in 3rd year of training (presenting findings from their research thesis)