Salomons - CCCU

What we look for in application forms

We only use application forms to establish whether applicants meet our minimum selection criteria in terms of academic requirements, work experience, references, a full driving licence and GBC. 

Selection Tests

Test dates and Practicalities

All those who meet our minimum entry criteria are invited to sit two tests as the first stage of our selection process. Successful applicants will receive notification of invitation to sit the tests by Friday 2nd February 2024. (Please note there is a very short turnaround time between notification of invitation and test date).   

All communication to applicants about the test day and some of the subsequent information about interviews will take place by email. Therefore, applicants are asked to regularly check the email address used for their clearing house application (including their junk folder) throughout this period, to avoid missing any important communication from Salomons. 

Screening tests are conducted in collaboration with the University of East London.   The tests for both programmes will take place online on Saturday 10th February 2024.

Due to Salomons and UEL operating different minimum entry requirements, applicants applying to both programmes may be eligible to take the tests for one course but not another.  Both programmes work collaboratively over arrangements for completing the tests.  This means that applicants may be invited to sit the tests hosted by either of the programmes.  Successful applicants will be contacted directly by the programmes regarding the specific arrangements for sitting the tests. 

Applicants with disabilities will be given appropriate support to sit the tests.  Extra time will be given to those with dyslexia or other special considerations, in accordance with University guidance. Applicants requiring additional support owing to a disability or specific learning requirements will need to provide clear details of the appropriate support being requested, as well as sufficient supporting documentation from a registered professional (e.g., GP, medical consultant or educational psychologist). Please contact the Selection Administrator, Sophie Pattemore on 01227 927075 to discuss. 

What to expect from the testing

Applicants will be asked to sit two multiple choice tests:

• The Multiple Choice Question Test
• The Clinical Psychology Situational Judgement Test

The Multiple Choice Question Test (MCQ)

In this test you will be asked a number of research-based multiple-choice questions. Example questions will be made available on the Salomons website to help prepare for the test.  Applicants are advised that both the content and format of the multiple-choice question test may change from year to year, and may include a range of questions relating to, amongst others, statistical issues, qualitative and quantitative research methods, ethics and values. 

The Clinical Psychology Situational Judgement Test (CP SJT)

In this test, applicants are presented with a number of scenarios, representing dilemmas often faced by trainee clinical psychologists, while at university and/or on placement. Applicants then rank order how they would respond to the situation from the options provided.

Next Steps

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

Interview process

Interviews will be held in person at Salomons from Tuesday 19th – Friday 22nd March inclusive.

Our interview process is multi-faceted and seeks to assess academic, clinical, professional, and personal learning and aptitude alongside demonstrating NHS values.  Interview panellists consist of Programme staff, Clinical Psychologists from our region, service users and carers, and third year trainees.  A presentation about the Programme is also given by a member of academic staff to all applicants. In addition, during interview week, trainees from the Programme are available to answer questions.  These trainees do not participate in selection decisions.   

Following the interviews, candidates are informed of the outcome by email and are then invited, if they wish, to receive brief telephone feedback on their interview performance with a member of the interview panel. The Programme is unfortunately not able to offer feedback to applicants who are not short-listed for interview. 

Criminal Records Bureau and Health Checks

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

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

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 Programme. However, should any criminal record be disclosed, this would require further discussion, prior to possible acceptance on to the Programme. 

Equal opportunities

We currently use equal opportunities data (specifically ethnicity, gender and disability) to take Positive Action when applicants’ scores are tied after our online testing process and again after interview. 

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.

For entry in 2024, applicants will be eligible for consideration under a Contextualised Admissions Process if they endorse any of the following items in the Clearing House Survey (completed as part of 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.

OR

• Refugee: Individuals who have been given ‘Refugee’ status by the UK government or have been granted humanitarian protection by the UK government.

OR

• Free school meals AND income support: Individuals who were in receipt of free school means 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 or poverty during childhood.

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 .i.e. on the basis of ethnicity, disability and gender) and will be applied as follows:

1. In the event that applicants have tied scores on the online selection tests, those who are eligible for our Contextual Admissions Process could be ranked higher than applicants who did not meet the criteria for a Contextual Admission.
2. In the case of tied scores post-interview, an applicant who meets the criteria for a Contextual Admissions Process could be ranked higher than applicants not eligible for our Contextual Admissions Process.

Such considerations are undertaken on a strictly case-by-case basis.

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

If an offer of a place on the training programme 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.

We recognise the challenge, discomfort and broad range of emotions that can sometimes come from engaging with such processed (leading some of us to avoid sharing or applying at all). 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, as we continue to welcome diversity and differences on our programme.

Disability Confident / Applicants with disabilities 

We are not part of the disability confident scheme. However, in line with the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), the Programme makes every effort to meet the needs of trainees with a disability. There is an identified member of the Programme staff with responsibility for issues relating to support for trainees with a disability.

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