PY2PCP-Professional and Clinical Practice

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites: PY1IPR Introduction to Psychological Research
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Placement opportunity: Micro placement
Current from: 2023/4

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

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module will introduce students to a range of professional skills that are required of professional psychologists, and desirable within the workplace.  Students will undertake skills workshops and complete a placement in an area related to a career from Psychology; providing experience, professional and transferable skills and boosting employability.  This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia. UoRM Lead is Rekha Kumarasuriar (v.kumarasuriar@reading.edu.my)

Aims:

This module will introduce students to a range of professional skills that are required of professional psychologists, and desirable within the workplace.  Students will undertake skills workshops and complete a placement in an area related to a career from Psychology; providing experience, professional and transferable skills and boosting employability.    

In addition, students will continue to explore their skills, values and work preferences in the context of developing the professional skills and competencies that are required to become a psychologist.   

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module, students will be able to:  

• Critically reflect upon experiences, knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes gained and developed through engagement with the module. 


• Apply and reflect upon skills associated with professional psychology, for example: conducting interviews and focus groups, psychometric testing and clinical skills.   

Additional outcomes:

In addition, students will gain a range of skills for psychologists, for example: conducting interviews and focus groups, administering and scoring psychometric tests, engaging with and assessing clinical populations.   

• Skills that will be developed include: 


• The ability to balance competing demands 


• Career management skills including job search and effective applications 


• Career-relevant technical skills and competencies 


• Commercial awareness and an appreciation of internal and external factors that impact on the running of an organisation, department or team 


• Ethical sensitivity and empathy 


• Self-awareness, and an ability to articulate skills and achievements 


• Time management and prioritisation 


• Written and oral communication skills  

Underpinning the module will be the BPS code of ethics and conduct 

Outline content:

Students will attend introductory lectures in skills for psychologists, such as conducting focus groups, presentation skills, psychometric testing and clinical skills. These are followed by interactive workshops, that students will be expected to prepare for in advance.   

Students will undertake a work placement of two or more weeks (70 + hours) in a field related to a career from Psychology.  This will be supported by bookable drop-in appointments, and personal and professional development (PDP) activities.  

Global context:

Students will gain experience of diverse populations through their work placement; in addition, those undertaking an international placement will gain an understanding of how psychology can be applied in different contexts and cultures.   

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module comprises lectures, interactive workshops, personal and professional development and a placement in an area related to a career from Psychology.   

• Students will attend introductory lectures in skills for psychologists, such as conducting focus groups, presentation skills, psychometric testing and clinical skills. These are followed by interactive workshops, that students will be expected to prepare in advance for.   


• Students will source and attend at least five hours of personal and/or professional development (PDP).   


• Students will undertake a work placement of two or more weeks (70 + hours) in a field related to the students’ career choice.  This will be supported by bookable drop-in appointments.  

Students at branch campuses must complete at least 100 hours on placement. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	4	3
Tutorials	2
Practicals classes and workshops	8	9	1
Work-based learning	35	35
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	19	10
Wider reading (directed)	8	8
Advance preparation for classes	9	9
Preparation for tutorials	1
Preparation for presentations			10
Preparation of practical report	7	13	5
Completion of formative assessment tasks	4
Total hours by term	97	87	16
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	30
Oral assessment and presentation	40
Practical skills assessment	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:

This module is assessed via 100% coursework. 

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

This module is assessed by coursework (100%).  Coursework components include: 

1. Oral assessment and Presentation (40%):  Students will present on their placement experience, reflecting critically upon how their time was spent and the knowledge, skills and abilities gained and applied.   


2. Practical Skills Assessment (30%): An hour’s log evidencing achievement of the required 70 + hours, signed by the placement provider  


3. Report (30%): A reflective journal, summarising and reflecting on the skills gained within the module, their applicability to the workplace and a Personal Development log, evidencing achievement of 5+ hours of personal and/or professional development (PDP).   

Formative assessment methods:

Students will receive: 

• Group level verbal feedback and peer feedback on the first reflective journal entry, to inform subsequent entries which will be summative. 


• Verbal feedback on skill use within workshops 


• Contextually relevant feedback on tasks and activities within the work-placement setting.   

Penalties for late submission:

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:

A mark of 40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment is via a written report in the University resit period. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 17 October 2023