PYMFCP-Clinical Placement

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Only available to students on MSc Theory & Practice in Clinical Psychology with Clinical Placement
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Mini placement
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Paul Jenkins
Email: p.jenkins@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module provides students with an opportunity to work with an established clinical team. The team may be based at the 51ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, or it may be based elsewhere.ÌýAllocation to any particular placement is the decision of the Module Convenor.

Students will be exposed to practical issues in an area of clinical relevance. They will work on practical problems and write a report about their activities, the skills they have acquired, and what they have learned about the particular field in which they have been embedded.

Acceptance onto the module is by interview during the programme application process.

Aims:

The aims of the module are that the student should further their understanding of clinical work and applied psychology, gaining experience of working in an environment concerned with some aspect of clinical psychology.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module the student will be able to:

1. Show understanding of practical considerations pertaining to their placement.


2. Have reflected on feedback received from their placement supervisor(s) and generated an effective response (or plan of how to respond).


3. Demonstrate they have completed the requisite hours (including hours undertaken remotely).


4. Describe how their understanding and skills have changed as a result of the placement.

Additional outcomes:

Students will gain an understanding of clinical psychology as a career.Ìý Students will likely develop a range of transferable skills, the precise nature of which depend on the placement undertaken.

Outline content:

Placements are available with a range of providers, although these can vary from year to year.ÌýContent will depend on individual supervisors who will set specific tasks and will include relevant training and exposureÌýto individuals from a clinical population.ÌýStudents are strongly advised to use paperwork provided (e.g., a template learning agreement) to agree these objectives as soon as possible after the placement starts.ÌýExceptionally, students may identify and arrange their own placements. All such arrangements will be at the discretion of the Programme Director and Module Convenor.Ìý

Students may be expected to meet reasonable travel costs from their own pocket,Ìýparticularly for placements that are away from campus as placement providers cannot typically provide funds for this.

Assessment requirements mean placements must be completed by the end of July, unless specific arrangementsÌý(approved by the Modul e Convenor)Ìýare made to the contrary.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Teaching will be by hands-on instruction by supervisors and others in the clinical work environment (remotely or in-person), as well as by consulting relevant on-line guides as appropriate (e.g. Library guides or software manuals).Ìý A small amount of University-based teaching is provided.Ìý A total of 400 hours should be allocated to the module.ÌýThis comprisesÌý320 hours working forÌýthe supervisor (i.e., time on placement activities) plus 80 hours independent study. The Ìýallowance of 320 hours includes time in support of clinical activities, such as training time, preparatory reading, and observation, which will vary from placement to placement.Ìý Additional hours undertaking these activities must not be accumulated. The exact number of placement hours that a student undertakes in in each term will be arranged as required by the supervisor in discussion with the student, although a rough guide is given below. At the placement supervisor’s discret ion, these hours can be undertaken remotely.Ìý

To pass the placement, the student must accumulate the minimum number of hours and the supervisor must agree that these have been completed. ÌýIf the supervisor does not credit the student with the minimum number of hours the student will fail the module.

As part of the placement, students will be asked to complete a Learning Agreement with their supervisor as well as an Interim Report.As part of the a ssessment for the module, supervisors will be asked to provide an Exit Report describing the extent to which students have achieved the aims of the placement.

NB:ÌýThe contact hours specified below are illustrative and may vary.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

This module is assessed by a single piece of written work comprising:

1. a report on the objectives of the placement, activities undertaken, and theoretical understanding gained (e.g. application of psychological models to clinical populations)


2. a reflective piece in which students assess the skills needed for/acquired in the placement which includes explicit reference to the Learning Agreement

The Exit Report will also form part of the module assessment in that it will be used to judge if the requirements of the placement have been met.

Formative assessment methods:

As determined by the supervisor.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 􀀓Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes􀀔, which can be found here: