The Core Competencies

The core competencies trainees are required to develop in order to qualify as clinical psychologists were set out by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and have been adopted by the Health Professions Council (HPC). They form criteria against which the Doctoral Programme is accredited, and therefore, opportunities and support for the development of the core and approach-specific competencies| are central to the practice learning curriculum. They underpin the rationale for the allocation of placements to trainees, placement contracts, training reviews with managers, placement visits, supervisor training and the assessment of trainees' practice learning with the Evaluation of Clinical Competence (ECC) Form |(see also Competency Assessment|)

The core competencies are:

  Client engagement and assessment

  Clinical formulation

  Clinical intervention

  Evaluation – clinical

  Evaluation – service quality work

  Communication & teaching

  Organisational and inter-professional working

  Professional and ethical practice

  Reflective practice

In addition, placements are designed to give trainees access to a range of learning opportunities and experiences reflecting the range of client groups that clinical psychologists work with across the life cycle, the diversity of psychological issues that can arise for them and the associated services, and the variety of psychological approaches and interventions.

Coordination between placements and the academic programme

Trainees are usually on placement on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with academic days being Thursdays and Fridays. Practice learning is coordinated with the academic programme into three year-long stages of training. 

In the first year, there is a focus in teaching on the working-age adult phase of the life cycle and associated psychological problems, individual-based approaches to psychological therapy and working in teams and groups. In parallel, placements are in adult services and reflect the wide range of generic and specialist services in the NHS for adults with mental health problems, including psychological therapies services, community mental health teams, assertive outreach teams, early intervention teams, eating disorders units and acute services. During the year, it is common for the lead supervisor of the placement to link up with other supervisors to provide variety of experience and opportunity for competency development for the trainee. The Quality Improvement Project (QIP) is conducted on this placement (but may be in any specialism), and a Professional Practice Report (PPR) about an intervention with an adult service user or other kind of psychological work carried out on this placement is also submitted at the end of the year.

In the second year, trainees' placements are organised in services for Children, Young People and Families, and for people with Disabilities (including learning disabilities and other long term disabilities that impact significantly on people's lives and well-being), usually taking the form of two six-month placements. Teaching covers these client groups and also focuses on systemic approaches to working with service users, their families and carers, multidisciplinary and inter-agency teams. Two PPRs, one derived from each placement, are required as assessed submissions.

In the third year, trainees move on to placements in Older People's services and to do a supplementary placement designed primarily to meet any outstanding training needs or consolidation of competencies, but also as far as possible, to meet particular interests. Supplementary placements may be with any client group. For instance, they can include placements with Looked After Children, specialist paediatric services, forensic or neuropsychology services, or involve more advanced training in a particular therapeutic modality. Third year placements may be organised as either two discrete placements or be woven together concurrently across the year. Once again, the focus of placements is mirrored in the academic syllabus. One PPR, from either a supplementary or Older People's placement is submitted during the final year.

A full and detailed description of all aspects of placements, including assessment and supporting documentation, is given in the Practice Learning Handbook|.

Placement geography andPartner NHS Trusts|

Trust Training Coordinators| (TTCs) are employed in every Trust to support placements. The following NHS Trusts provide placements:

  South London and Maudsley, Oxleas, Kent and Medway, Sussex Partnership (East), Guy's and St Thomas', East Kent Hospitals, Croydon Primary Care, Bromley Primary Care

Therefore, the area in which trainees may have placements is extensive, involving considerable travel by trainees, and includes both urban and rural environments. Trainees   (See Area Map|, and Travel and Overnight Stays|). Trust Training Coordinators (TTCs) and year team staff allocate available placements, according to the learning needs of trainees (see Placement Allocation)

Supervision

In accordance with HPC/BPS guidelines, trainees should expect their supervisors to be available for contact for three hours a week, two hours of which should be formal supervision. A minimum of one hour must be a scheduled personal meeting, the other hours may include group supervision, joint work, telephone call, informal contact etc. SeeClinical Supervision: BPS guidelines

Placement supervisorsattend three days of supervisor training, making them eligible for entry to the directory specialism for Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (see http://www.bps.org.uk/professional-development/directory-of-supervisors/directory-of-supervisors_home.cfm |)

Service user and carer involvement in placements

First year trainees on placement in Sussex Partnership Trust are part of a special Placement Advising Project. The project aims to facilitate the development of trainees' capabilities for working in partnership and to promote understanding of service use and carer perspectives and knowledge.

Practice Learning Handbook|

Competency Assessment|

Trust Training Coordinators and Partner NHS Trusts|

Area Map|

Placement Allocation|

Travel and Overnight Stays|

Supervision and Training|

Placement Advising Project - Service User and Carer Involvement|