University of Staffordshire

The course is full-time for three years and attendance at all course components is mandatory. The length of the course cannot be reduced through the accreditation of prior learning or experience: all trainees are required to complete the full course of training in order to qualify.

Time on the course is divided between clinical experience, academic work, research and individual study time.

The first two academic years begin with a mandatory teaching block, plus mandatory NHS Trust training in Year 1, to prepare trainees for safe and effective practice in their supervised clinical work. Planned leave may not be authorised during the Induction Block.

In Year 1, the first week of training comprises of a Welcome/Induction week where trainees are introduced to all elements of the training experience and the values and ethos of the programme. This is followed by a 4-week teaching block. During this period trainees also have an induction with their NHS Trust line manager. Annual leave is not allowed during this 5-week period other than for exceptional circumstances.

Programme delivery is organised in modules, typically following a 20/40 credit structure. 

Current modules

• Assessment, Formulation, Intervention and Evaluation 1, 2 & 3
• Leadership, Organisational and Systemic Influence
• Personal and Professional Values and Skills 1 & 2
• Placement 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
• Professional Research 1, 2 & 3

Academic Teaching

Academic teaching consists of workshops, lectures, seminars, group work and online learning. It covers a broad range of topics in clinical psychology, providing the knowledge base for practice and training in clinical, professional, therapeutic, and research skills.

Attendance at all teaching sessions is compulsory. Teaching is provided face-toface at the Stoke-on-Trent campus. We do not support hybrid delivery of teaching. Occasional online access is permitted for trainees with inclusion support plans.

Teaching is provided by DClinPsy programme staff, and by Practitioner Psychologists, mental health professionals and Service Users from the course area and beyond.

The timetable is organised such that trainees attend the University of Staffordshire for teaching on one day per week, in addition to teaching blocks at the beginning and mid-point of the academic year in Years 1 and 2 of training. Outside of teaching blocks, there is teaching most weeks on Fridays in Year 1 and on Thursday in Years 2 and 3 of training.

Trainees also have one study day allocated most weeks. Outside of the initial induction/teaching block, study days are timetabled on a Wednesday. For trainees who are on placement on Wednesdays, they will need to agree an alternative day to take as study time with their clinical supervisor. Once monthly on Wednesday’s trainees are required to engage in a reflective practice group at the University, which is mandatory. Groups are facilitated by experienced practitioner psychologists and/or psychotherapists external to the programme team and trainees typical remain in the same group throughout the three years of their training. Trainees have the remainder of the time for study, or for placement activity if their study day allocation is not on a Wednesday. There are also currently study blocks around the mid-point of the academic year in Year 2 and at the start and mid-point of the academic year in Year 3 to support with assessment deadlines and thesis progression in Year 3.

Clinical Experience

Clinical placements start after induction/teaching blocks in Years 1 and 2 and take place in a wide range of settings: hospitals, clinics, community services, and independent sector agencies.

Trainees complete two placements each year lasting 5-6 months, 3-4 days per week, working under the supervision of a main clinical supervisor.  Specific pieces of work may also be undertaken with other supervisors.

Each trainee maintains an Individual Learning Portfolio and is assessed by the main supervisor in line with the BPS competencies. Trainees also complete an evidence-based practice project on each placement which can take a range of forms (e.g., presentation, literature review of a clinical topic) and is aimed at strengthening theory-practice links and research competencies.

Trainees are likely to have most clinical placements within their employing NHS Trust geographical area, although at times they should anticipate having to travel to placements within the other Trust area. Clinical placements will almost always be in Staffordshire and Shropshire, especially during years 1 and 2. Trainees remain employed by their host Trust irrespective of where they go on placement. Trainees may elect out-of-area placements in their final year of training, but these are not guaranteed, and are subject to agreement with DClinPsy programmes within those geographical boundaries.

Some teams in which trainees attend placement do not allow for any remote working, some operate a hybrid model, and a small minority are entirely remote. Trainees are expected to attend placement activities in accordance with the placement service delivery model and standard practice. Trainees should anticipate having to travel to their placement base most of the time, and trainees are expected to access placements in an effective manner, which may be through the use of a car. There may be significant travel requirements during training due to the large geographical area and use of community-based placements.

Research

The research component of the course encompasses research methods training (qualitative and quantitative methods) and the process of conducting clinically relevant and ethical research.

Assessed research activities include:

• critical appraisal of literature (seen examination)
• a research proposal
• a research methods examination (unseen)
• a service evaluation project
• a single-n case study
• a thesis portfolio incorporating a literature review, an empirical paper, and an executive summary report

The literature review and empirical paper should be of publishable standard and at least one paper must be submitted to a nominated journal.

The thesis is initiated early in Year 1 with a literature review paper submitted in Year 2, and empirical paper and executive summary submitted in Year 3.

There is scope for choice of research topic and methodologies, provided that they are in line with national and/or local research priorities and in keeping with course staff interests and methodological expertise.

Research supervision is provided by academics from University of Staffordshire (usually DClinPsy programme staff) and local clinicians, and there is a wide range of University and NHS library and online resources to support research activity.

Assessment

The assessment strategy comprises a system of continuous assessment and examinations designed to sample fully and equally academic, clinical, and research work. 

In addition to the research assignments listed above, trainees will complete across the three years:

• a formulation case study
• a process focused case study
• reflective reports
• Enquiry-Based Learning (EBL) group presentations

Different types of developmental formative feedback are available for trainees.

The degree of Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is awarded by the University of Staffordshire after successful completion of the course.

There is no Aegrotat award.