Salomons - CCCU

What we look for in applications

We only use application forms to establish whether applicants meet our minimum selection criteria:

• Academic requirements
• Relevant clinical work experience
• A full driving licence valid in UK (unless waived on disability grounds)
• Eligibility for GBC
• Proficiency in English
• Suitable references/suitability statements

Selection Tests

All those who meet our minimum entry criteria will be invited to sit our short-listing tests.

Our selection test process for 2027 entry is currently being reviewed and therefore we cannot share further information at this stage.  However, successful applicants will be emailed by the end of February 2027 with an invitation to sit the tests and with further information about the testing process.

Next Steps

Following completion of the screening tests, an interview short-list is compiled by the Course team, based on the test scores. Where candidates have tied scores, Positive Action Provisions will be taken under the Equality Act on the grounds of ethnicity, disability and sex (currently under-represented groups in the profession) and Contextual Admissions Factors will be considered.

Interview process

Interviews will be held from Tuesday 27th April to Friday 30th April 2027.

Our interview process is multi-faceted and seeks to assess academic, clinical, professional, and personal learning and aptitude alongside demonstrating NHS values.

An online presentation about the Course is also offered to all applicants to provide an opportunity to learn more about the course. In addition, during interview week, trainees from the course are available to answer questions. These trainees do not participate in selection decisions. 

Outcomes and feedback

Following the interviews, candidates are informed of the outcome by email and are invited, if they wish, to receive brief feedback on their interview performance from a member of the interview panel.

The Course is unfortunately not able to offer individual feedback to applicants who are not short-listed for interview due to the large number of applications received.

Communication

All communication about our selection tests and interviews is via email. Therefore, please regularly check the email address you used for your Clearing House application (including your junk folder) throughout this period, to avoid missing any important communication from Salomons.

Criminal Records Bureau and Health Checks

All offers of a place on the Course are made subject to Occupational Health screening and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.  These procedures are undertaken by our employing Trust, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Health checks

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and have a strong record of working with trainees with disabilities who have successfully completed the course.

The purpose of the occupational health assessment is to screen candidates in line with Department of Health guidance for healthcare workers, to assess current health status and to identify any additional reasonable support individual candidates may need to assist them throughout the programme.

Criminal record checks

Enhanced DBS checks are a compulsory requirement and will disclose any convictions - spent or unspent - and police cautions, reprimands, or warnings, whenever they occurred. Those candidates who are offered a place are also required to complete a University criminal records disclosure form, which asks for details of any convictions, cautions, or bind overs, “spent” or otherwise.

Disclosure of such information does not automatically act as a bar to enrolment on the course. However, should any criminal record be disclosed, this would require further discussion, prior to possible acceptance on to the Course. 

Equal opportunities

Widening access to the profession of clinical psychology is important to us. In line with the Equality Act of 2010 we currently use equal opportunities data provided by applicants (specifically ethnicity, sex and disability) to take Positive Action when applicants' scores are tied after our testing process and again after interview.

We recognise the challenge, discomfort and broad range of emotions that can sometimes come from engaging with such processes (leading some of us to avoid sharing).We are respectful of those that trust us with their life experiences and hope that applicants can have faith that we receive these experiences purely in service of our drive to widen access to the Clinical Psychology profession.

Contextual admissions

As part of our commitment to increasing the representation of socially disadvantaged and marginalised groups within the profession of clinical psychology, and our awareness of the additional challenges that may be experienced in accessing training, we are passionate about doing all that we can to mitigate against this experience. As part of our efforts around this we incorporate the use of a Contextualised Admissions process alongside our use of Positive Action Provisions in line with the Equality Act.

Items we consider

Applicants will be eligible for consideration under a Contextualised Admissions Process if they endorse ANY of the following items in their application.

Care Leaver

Individuals who were in Foster Care, formally Adopted or spent time under the care of the local authority prior to the age of 18 years.

Refugee

Individuals who have been given "Refugee" status by the UK government or have been granted humanitarian protection by the UK government.

Free school meals together with income support

Individuals who were in receipt of free school meals AND whose parents/caregivers were in receipt of income support whilst the applicant was of compulsory school age.

Applicants would need to endorse both of these items, which are understood to be factors associated with the experience of social deprivation during childhood.

Our process

Our Contextual Admissions Process is activated at two stages of the application process (in the same way that we are currently using Positive Action Provisions in line with the Equality Act for other under-represented groups) and will be applied when applicants’ scores are tied after our testing process and again after interview.

Recognition under our Contextual Admissions Process is given the same weighting as a Protected Characteristic under the Equality Act (i.e., disability, ethnicity and sex). This means that in the case of the further ties, those who meet more of the criteria would be ranked higher than applicants meeting fewer criteria.

If an offer of a place on the training course is made using a Contextual Admissions Process, applicants may be asked to provide relevant evidence (e.g. of their refugee status and/or care leaver status) as part of their pre-employment checks.

Disability Confident / Applicants with disabilities 

We are not part of the disability confident scheme. However, applicants with disabilities can request reasonable adjustments at key stages of the selection process, including the short-listing tests and at interview, upon provision of relevant documentation.

The Course has experience of supporting trainees with a wide range of disabilities to successfully complete their clinical psychology training.