Teesside University

Support

The course prides itself in providing supportive learning environments.

Trainees have numerous areas from which they can access support throughout their training.  These include:

• Personal and Professional Development Tutor: a member of the course team who will support the trainee in areas of academic, clinical, research and personal issues throughout the duration of their training.
• Clinical Tutor: a member of the course team who will support the trainee through their placements.
• Clinical Supervisor: the trainee’s placement supervisor who will provide clinical support on placement for the duration of training.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Leads: the dedicated EDI Leads for the course provide confidential space and steering groups for trainees in relation to EDI issues.
• Mentor: the trainee will have access to a confidential space with an NHS clinician who will not be involved in their training.
• Academic Supervisor: a member of the course team will support the trainee in their thesis project from a research perspective.
• Field Supervisor: a clinician from the clinical area in which the trainee’s thesis is being completed will support the trainee from a research perspective.
• Buddy: the trainee will be linked to a trainee from the year above who can answer any questions throughout training.
• Employee Psychological Service: trainees have access to the psychological service for staff, dealing with work related stress and mental health issues, within the employing trust.
• University Counselling and Support Services: Student Services offer a wide range of professional and advisory services to help trainees make the most of their time at the University.
• Occupational Health: as employees, trainees have access to the NHS Trust Occupational Health Service for assessment, where reasonable adjustments can be discussed and made for those who require them.

Feedback

Trainees’ input into the development of the course is paramount, and therefore we have numerous arenas in which trainees can provide feedback, such as:

• To individual course team members
• At the end of every teaching session
• Formal module evaluations
• Module reviews at the end of the teaching year
• Through being representatives of our working groups including: Academic, Clinical, Service User and Carer, and Recruitment and Marketing
• Within our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group
• To the Course Board
• In quality reviews (such as accreditation processes)

Comments

What our trainees say about the course:

Year 2 trainee

"Best thing about the course are the staff. Very supportive and attentive to individual needs.
I was scared about getting into academic assessments again, but staff do everything they can to ease you in."

Year 3 trainee

"Good balance of depth/breadth of psychological models - having CBT + 3 core models (systemic, psychodynamic, CAT).
Very kind, approachable, supportive, and responsive staff team.
Invested in making non “tokenisation” change to the course in terms of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
Good work life balance (not extra assignments for the sake of it).
Takes into consideration (where possible) where you live for placement locations.
No exams."

Year 3 trainee

"The Teesside course offers flexibility through exploration of multiple therapeutic models, enabling an integrative approach in clinical practice. This allows clients’ presenting difficulties to be viewed through numerous psychological lenses. Ultimately, I think this is what training to be a Clinical Psychologist is and should be about: utilising whichever model best serves the client’s needs. Teesside fosters this clinical eclecticism for the benefit of its trainees and the clients they see across the lifespan. For these reasons, and the fantastic support on offer, I would wholeheartedly recommend Teesside."

Year 1 trainee

"The course team foster a really safe and open environment amongst staff and trainees. I have felt comfortable to approach any staff member or fellow trainee for support or guidance during my time here. The course also offers lots of opportunities to practice different therapeutic approaches. I felt really lucky to be placed with a CAT supervisor in my first placement and try something new with my clients. Now, on my second placement, I am learning more about ACT and CBT. I have loved the variety that teaching and placements have offered. I would recommend this course to anybody looking for a supportive and varied journey to qualification."

Year 1 trainee

"I like how the Teesside course encourages choice amongst trainees which really supports you to be the clinical psychologist you aspire to be."

Year 3 trainee

"The Teesside Doctorate course values trainees with eclectic experience, acknowledging and looking to develop the position they bring to training. The course focuses on a wide range of approaches and opportunities to build trainees into individuals that don't just fit the mould. The course looks to foster the passions trainees already have whilst opening doors to new ones, through teaching, practice and supporting you to balance the different demands of your training career."

Year 3 trainee

"Throughout my three years of DClinPsy training I have felt fully supported by the Academic Tutors on the course and have had the opportunity to learn and work using different models (e.g. psychodynamic, system and CAT) alongside CBT. The recent addition of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strand of the course is an example of how the course evolves to meet the needs of Trainees (and service users). I would certainly recommend Teesside to everyone thinking of applying to DClinPsy training."

About Us

The University and its achievements can be found at: Achievements & awards | About us | Teesside University

Teesside University is based in the North-East of England within the town of Middlesbrough.

• It is well located with good road and rail networks to the North, South and West of the British Isles. 
• The region has its own international airport, with others in easy reach. 
• The location provides easy access to the North Yorkshire Moors, the Yorkshire Dales and the beautiful North Yorkshire Coastline. 
• It has the additional advantage of providing a good but inexpensive quality of life with accommodation within easy reach of the University.