Course overview
You develop as an autonomous and skilled clinician, with an emphasis on the scientist practitioner and reflective practitioner roles, and will be a critical consumer of research and independent decision maker.
You complete training across the lifespan of children and adolescents, working-age adults and older adults, intellectual disability, neurodiversity and acquired brain injury as well as working within specialist services offering a range of psychological models, including cognitive behavioural, cognitive analytic, psychodynamic and systemic approaches. Indirect interventions are encouraged and opportunities to undertake our innovative organisational placements can be provided. Successful completion of this programme leads to the award of Doctor of Clinical Psychology.
The course is delivered in close partnership with your employer: Tees, Esk and Wear Valley's NHS Foundation Trust (spanning County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby). Other local NHS Trusts are also important partners and stakeholders in your training. You have placement opportunities in community and inpatient services and in different specialisms, including peri-natal and forensic services, for example. You may be placed anywhere within the North East and Yorkshire region and may need to travel.
The neuropsychology teaching at Teesside is designed to help trainees gain a knowledge base and experience in neuropsychology which may also form a good basis if you are interested in further specialising in clinical neuropsychology after the completing the doctorate. This knowledge and experience may help with partial accreditation towards a post-qualification Diploma in Neuropsychology delivered by the University of Bristol, and/or potentially the Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology (QiCN) route.
Top reasons to study this course
> Strong links with stakeholders, service users and carer representatives help ensure the delivery and development of the programme is authentic, evidence-based and contemporary.
> You will be skilled in offering one-to-one therapy with clients from a variety of psychological approaches, as well as providing detailed assessment and psychological formulation to guide multidisciplinary care.
> You are supported to be the clinical psychologist you would like to be, through facilitating choice in your thesis topic, your third year elective placements and specialist therapeutic approach.
> The course is not founded on one theoretical position but adopts an open stance through the presentation of a breadth of theories.
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Develop the knowledge, skills and values to work effectively with clients across the lifespan. You undertake two placements in either adult mental health, older adult, child and family or intellectual disability, neurodiversity and acquired brain injury services. Placements run consecutively. Work patterns and client needs vary depending on your placement setting.
Personal Professional Development 1
This module introduces you to personal and professional development. It aims to develop your professional competence relating to personal and professional development, as well as developing your awareness of the clinical, professional and social context within which your work is undertaken. During the module emphasis is on the development of self awareness, and the ability to think and work critically and reflectively. Theoretical input introduces models of reflection, self care and working within an ethical framework. You gain a critical awareness of difference and diversity, and are enabled to work with clients with different ethnic and cultural beliefs and values. Consideration is given to the impact of socio-cultural factors on health.
Psychological Theory and Practice 1
Study the fundamental theories, models, and principles to work with service users from diverse backgrounds across the full lifespan, including those with a learning disability or neurodiversity. You cover development across the lifespan, risk assessment and common presentations as well as the main theoretical models and therapeutic approaches on which clinical psychology interventions are based. A range of theoretical models and therapeutic approaches are introduced, including psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive analytic therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and systemic therapy.
Develop your knowledge, skills and understanding of advanced research methodology used in psychological research.
You study quantitative and qualitative methods, critical reviews of established literature, research with diverse populations, project design, project management, and data analysis. You are allocated a research supervision team for your advanced independent work.
Year 2 core modules
Develop the knowledge, skills and values to work effectively with clients across the lifespan. You undertake practice placements in two of the areas not experienced in Year 1, including adult mental health, older adult, child and family or intellectual disability, neurodiversity and acquired brain injury services. Placements run consecutively. Work patterns and client needs vary depending on your placement setting.
Personal and Professional Development 2
This module introduces you to the knowledge and skills necessary to work collaboratively with other health professionals and with services relevant to clients. Theoretical input includes organisational theories, the structure and function of the NHS, voluntary and other services available for client support, management skills and working with multi-disciplinary groups and teams.
Psychological Theory and Practice 2
Study the application of psychological theory to clinical skills. You learn how to apply the cycle of assessment, formulation, intervention, and evaluation, and how to transfer this knowledge and these skills to service users in specialist services including neuropsychology, physical health, forensic, addiction, eating disorders, and psychosis.
Theory, evidence and skills in specialist assessments and therapeutic approaches is considered in relation to these service user groups. You learn to apply knowledge and skills in accordance with considerations of ethics, equality, diversity and inclusion, good practice guidelines, and appropriate legislation.
Study the theories and strategies of advanced design and analysis concepts in psychology. You gain knowledge, experience, and develop an understanding of the relationship between theory and practice of both quantitative and qualitative approaches to psychological research.
Year 3 core modules
You complete a piece of independent, self-managed original empirical research. You consolidate your learning experiences both from the previous research modules, and other academic modules and clinical placements throughout the programme.
Clinical Placements: Two Placements (specialist therapy and elective)
Develop the knowledge, skills and values to work effectively with clients in a service setting. Your placement may involve revisiting an area of work, defined by a client group or a model of intervention, or working in an area not covered by previous placements.
There is an option for you to gain experience of long-term case work by spending half a day a week in a specialist service. In the half day, you see a long-term client or are involved in running a long-term group. You receive one hour of supervision devoted to the case and complete all administration and associated reading. The long-term case spans both of your third-year placements.
Where available, there is also the option to choose an organisational placement. You apply your psychological expertise to organisational issues and systems of care. You also undertake projects aimed at service improvement and audit existing service arrangements.
Explore complex psychological theory and advanced clinical practice to work with service users at several conceptual levels and further develop and deepen your knowledge and understanding of advanced and specialised therapeutic approaches.
You prepare to work as an autonomous health professional and transition into qualified life. You learn about complex cultural and ethical dilemmas that arise throughout the course of your training and develop your understanding of the relationship between who you are and your role as a psychologist, recognising the impact of context and identity.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
There is an emphasis upon developing your learning goals and pathways of experiences, and you are encouraged to consider and develop your own learning style. You attend a series of formal academic teaching sessions as well as taking part in individual and group tutorials. Reflective practice is an essential part of the training and the programme provides you with a range of activities and support systems to help promote both your professional and personal learning and development.
How you are assessed
You are continually assessed in various ways, completing both formative and summative work, throughout your training. You complete written pieces of work (including a large scale piece of research) as well as oral presentations regarding academic topics and clinical cases. You are expected to acquire a range of clinical competencies within your clinical practice modules which are assessed on placement by your placement supervisors. Progression from one year to another is dependent upon the successful completion of the set modules.
Entry requirements
All UK/EU applicants must apply through the Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology (link below). Screening criteria used in the first stage of the application process includes:
- being eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society
- a minimum academic attainment of a 2.1 (or equivalent level for degrees from countries where a different classification system is used) at undergraduate psychology degree level (or a 2.2 with a successfully completed master's degree or higher in psychology)
- a minimum of 12 months' full-time relevant clinical experience (not necessarily consecutive)
- those who are still undergraduates at the time of application will not be considered.
- an understanding of the importance and contribution research plays within the profession
- a clear commitment and motivation to train as a clinical psychologist
- a good understanding of the role of a clinical psychologist and why you are choosing the profession
- experience of different psychological models and clinical settings
- evidence of personal awareness and a recognition and understanding of the importance of self reflection
- the ability to communicate and relate well to others
- references.
Criteria used within the shortlisting for interview process includes:
All applicants applying under the Disability Confident Scheme will be discussed at a Moderation Meeting with the employing Trust. We may not be able to offer an interview to all of those who apply under the Scheme.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. The interview process includes one 50 minute panel comprising of academic/ research and clinical questions.
The public places high expectations and levels of trust on clinical psychologists, and the course develops practitioners who can meet these expectations. It is hard work and challenging. To work within the healthcare sector it is essential that you are able to demonstrate the core values embedded within the NHS Constitution (DOH, 2013):
- working together for patients
- respect and dignity
- commitment to quality of care
- compassion
- improving lives
- everyone counts.
Currently trainees are full-time employees of the NHS and have annual leave and other benefits in line with usual NHS entitlements. On entry to the programme all trainees are paid on the first spine point of Band 6 of the Agenda for Change pay scales.
The local employing Trust ensures that all individuals accepting a place on the course undergo a Satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health screening checks prior to starting the course.
Candidates must be able to communicate in English to the standard equivalent to Level 7 of the IELTS, with no element below 6.5.
We have a clinical psychology page on the Clearing House website.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
Employability
Career opportunities
The programme provides the relevant doctorate qualification for graduates to practise as clinical psychologists in the NHS and wider health and social care system, within both privately and publicly funded positions.