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: 2023/4

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 University of Reading, or it may be based elsewhere. Allocation 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 changedas a result of the placement, with reference to specific examples.

Additional outcomes:

Students will gain an understanding of clinical psychology as a career.  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. Content will depend on individual supervisors who will set specific tasks and will include relevant training and exposure to individuals from a clinical population. Students 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. Exceptionally, students may identify and arrangetheir own placements. All such arrangements will be at the discretion of the Programme Director and Module Convenor. 

Students may be expected to meet reasonable travel costs from their own pocket, particularly 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 arrangements (approved by the Module Convenor) are 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).  A small amount of University-based teaching is provided.  A total of 400 hours should be allocated to the module. This comprises 320 hours working for the supervisor (i.e., time on placement activities) plus 80 hours of independent study. The allowance o f 320 hours includes time in support of clinical activities, such as training time, preparatory reading, and observation, which will vary from placement to placement.  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 discretion, these hours can be undertaken remotely.

To pass the placement, in addition to other requirements, the student must accumulate the minimum number of hours and the supervisor must agree that these have been completed.  If 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 assessment 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.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	2
Seminars		1	1
Work-based learning	25	80	215
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	15	11	15
Preparation for presentations			15
Preparation of practical report			20
Total hours by term	42	92	266
Total hours for module	400

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	60
Oral assessment and presentation	40

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

This module is assessed by two assignments:

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


2. An oral presentation concerning an aspect of the placement (e.g., a case study).

The assignments will be due late in the academic year (Summer Term).

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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

 If a student fails the assignment, an alternative, equivalent assignment can be submitted.  It is rarely possible to assign students to a new placement or to extend a student’s enrolment in order to facilitate more hours spent on placement.  The assignment and date of submission will be by arrangement with the Module Convenor and/or Programme Director.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: None

2) Specialist equipment or materials: None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: None

4) Printing and binding: None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: There may be travel costs relating to placements away from campus that students could be expected to meet from their own pocket, given that placement providers may not reimburse travel costs

Last updated: 30 March 2023