- Academic Registry
Programme & Unit Catalogues


PS50182: Fundamentals of clinical psychology practice

[Page last updated: 02 August 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Psychology
Credits: 18 [equivalent to 36 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 360
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CW 60%, OR 40%
Assessment Detail:
  • Oral Presentation (OR 40%)
  • Clinical Report (CW 60%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
* Understand the theoretical underpinnings and practical skills involved in Clinical Psychology assessment
* Understand the governance and practice issues relevant to psychological research in health contexts
* Understand a range of assessment skills relevant to clinical psychology practice including behavioural assessment, clinical interviewing and psychometric assessment
* Understand the nature of formulation in clinical psychology practice
* Understand the mechanisms involved in therapeutic change, with particular relevance to cognitive behavioural interventions
* Understand the professional and personal skills relevant to Clinical Psychology practice including the use of supervision
* Access information guiding professional practice of the clinical psychologist
* Understand the need for professional and ethical standards and codes of conduct for clinical psychologists
* To introduce the guidelines governing the conduct and practice of clinical psychologists.

Aims: The aims of this unit are
* To familiarise students with the discipline of Clinical Psychology Practice in context.

Skills: Intellectual Skills
* To communicate an argument (TFA)
* To evaluate others arguments and research (TFA)
* To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information. (TFA)
* To communicate an argument to other health professionals (TFA)
Professional and Personal Skills
* To effectively and efficiently apply principles of clinical psychology within a variety of health contexts. (TFA)
* To be able to identify and deploy appropriate assessment strategies in the clinical setting (TFA)
* To have a sound knowledge of the principles and practice of psychological assessment (TFA)
* To develop writing skills for clinical and research reports (TFA)
* To have a sound knowledge of methods of clinical case study design (TFA)
* To develop sensitivity to the values and interests of others (TF)
* To be able to use supervision effectively (TF)
Transferable Skills
* Study and learning skills.(F)
* Basic information and computing technology skills.(F)
* To be aware of ethical issues in carrying out research. (TFA)
* Inter-personal and communication skills.(F)
* Essay, research, preparation and writing skills. (TFA)
* Presentation skills and verbal communication. (TFA)
* To prioritise workloads.(F)
* Independent and group working skills (F)
* To understand career opportunities and challenges ahead.(F)

Content: The unit provides an overview of the theoretical underpinnings and practical skills involved in Clinical Psychology assessment
It introduces the governance and practice issues relevant to psychological research in health contexts
Students will develop a range of assessment skills relevant to clinical psychology practice including behavioural assessment, clinical interviewing and psychometric assessment
They will be introduced to the nature of formulation in clinical psychology practice
Mechanisms involved in therapeutic change, with particular relevance to cognitive behavioural intervention, will be introuced
The professional and personal skills relevant to Clinical Psychology practice including the use of supervision will be introduced.

Programme availability:

PS50182 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Psychology

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.