PYMFCP: Clinical Placement

Module code: PYMFCP

Module provider: Psychology; School of Psych and Clin Lang Sci

Credits: 40

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Dr Paul Jenkins, email: p.jenkins@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): This module is only available to MSc Theory and Practice in Clinical Psychology with Clinical Placement students. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: Mini placement

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

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. 

Some aims of the module include: 

• Developing an applied understanding of psychological principles within a practical setting; 
• Develop self-awareness and reflective abilities appropriate to those working in healthcare; 
• To gain experience work within and / or alongside multidisciplinary teams in an area of healthcare relevant to Psychology; 
• Furthering understanding of clinical work and applied Psychology. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students 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 application of skills relevant to applied psychology
4. Describe how their understanding and skills have changed as a result of the placement

Module content

• Placements are undertaken across the academic year in order to develop experience. Placements are available with a range of providers, although these can vary from year to year and students will typically work with one placement.
• 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 arrange their own placements. All such arrangements will be at the discretion of the Programme Director and Module Convenor.
• 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.

Structure

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 online guides as appropriate (e.g., Library guides or software manuals).  The relative proportions of in-person and remote working will vary from placement to placement.  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 with the supervisor (i.e., time on placement activities) plus 80 hours of independent study. 

The allowance of 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. 

Study hours

This module is a placement or study abroad module and therefore the teaching and learning activities will predominantly, or entirely, take place away from the University of Reading. Your host organisation will normally advise you of the associated hours of your placement or year abroad. If the module includes any in-person activities at the University of Reading, these will be confirmed to you before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

As determined by the supervisor. 

Reassessment

Additional costs