South Wales

We regularly review our selection process and therefore there could be some changes made for the coming year.

There are a number of stages to our selection process.

Stage 1 – Initial sift of applications

All applications are anonymised.

Each application is reviewed to ensure that:

• the minimum academic and clinical criteria are met
• all the documentation is included

Stage 2 – Short-listing

Applicants that fulfil the criteria at Stage 1 go on to the short-listing stage.

• Each application is read by at least two short-listers (usually including a member of the course team and a service representative).
• Applications are scored according to the criteria given in the “advice for your application” section above.

Top scoring applicants are offered an interview or put on a reserve list for interview.

Stage 3 – Written Task

All candidates invited for interview will sit an online written task prior to the interviews.

This is a 35 minute exercise asking candidates to critically review a piece of research. Individuals with a declared disability may have extra time for this task.

Stage 4 – Interview

Candidates sit one interview which includes a 10-minute role-play scenario followed by approximately 45-minutes of interview questions. 

Interview panels generally consist of:

• Panel Chair (member of the course team)
• Service Representative
• Service User or Carer Representative
• Trainee Clinical Psychologist

We aim to have interview panels that reflect a range of aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Scoring Process

Candidates are scored on all aspects of the interview process (written task, role-play and interview) and those with the highest overall score are offered a place on the programme or placed on the reserve list.

Stage 5 – After the interview

We welcome feedback from candidates on all aspects of the interview process so that we can improve our selection processes year on year.

Candidates who are offered a reserve list place or those who were unsuccessful at interview will receive written feedback.

Fitness to Practise Requirement

The offer of a place on the programme is subject to appropriate NHS and university fitness to practise checks and also to satisfactory clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (previously Criminal Records Bureau).

The offer of a place on the programme is also subject to satisfactory pre-employment health assessment. A health condition or disability will not necessarily preclude the offer of a place on the programme unless it impairs fitness to practise.

Applicants are expected to meet the HCPC recommendations with regards to fitness to practise (HCPC 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 a health condition or disability should take advice from their health practitioner about fitness to enter training and will be given an early opportunity to notify the programme so that reasonable adjustments can be made.

Applicants should note that acceptance on the programme and successful completion thereof is not a guarantee of registration with the HCPC, which has set standards for conduct, good character and fitness to practise (see HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics).

As part of this, training as a clinical psychologist involves working with children and vulnerable adults. Safeguarding is therefore taken very seriously, and the highest standards of behaviour are expected from trainee Clinical Psychologists. Throughout the selection process and the training programme we will ensure that the clients that the trainees work with are kept safe, and that trainees maintain fitness to practise.

Equal opportunities

The Programme is guided by the Equality Policies of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Cardiff University.

The programme is committed to the principle of equality of opportunity and to providing an environment where respect is shown to all and where individuals are valued and supported to achieve their full potential.

The programme aims to ensure equality of opportunity for everyone applying to the programme and to create conditions whereby applicants are considered solely on the basis of merit and that no individual is discriminated against.

Diversity of background among applicants is welcomed and the programme acknowledges the need to remove barriers to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of trainees from populations who are currently under-represented within the profession.

Our programme has not used equal opportunities data during the selection process.

Cefnogi Mentoring scheme

We facilitate a mentoring scheme (Cefnogi) for individuals who identify as being from an ethnic minority background who are interested in applying for clinical psychology training in Wales.

The scheme is open to those who have already completed a degree or conversion course conferring GBC with the BPS, and who meet the minimum academic requirements for the programme. We require Home Fees Status and can therefore only offer mentorship to individuals who already have this.

The scheme aims to help eligible candidates build their confidence and relevant skills/experience for the process of applying for clinical psychology training. This will involve a limited number of regular sessions with a mentor (such as a qualified or trainee clinical psychologist) to help them think about clinical training.  

If you think you might benefit from this scheme please complete the mentoring scheme form.

Please note that due to the amount of interest in this scheme, and the availability of mentors, we are unable to guarantee that everyone who expresses an interest will be matched with a mentor, however we do our very best to match as many people as possible.

Contextual admissions

We do not currently use contextual data in our admissions process.

Applicants with disabilities

We do not currently participate in the Disability Confident Employer Scheme.

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities who meet the entry requirements for the programme.