Department of Psychology
MSc Psychological Therapy in Primary Care
Course Outline
Course Requirements Course contact Course Information Course Structure and Content
See Department of Psychology Bursaries.
Background
A variety of studies by central government and professional bodies have identified the growing demand for psychological interventions for adults presenting with common mental health disorders (e.g. anxiety and depression) in NHS Primary care. There is also widespread recognition of the difficulties in meeting that demand. This Masters program, delivered jointly by the Universities of Stirling and Dundee has been designed by National Health Service (NHS) professionals and experienced academics to train people to deliver psychological therapies for common mental health disorders in adults in Primary Care. Whilst there may be some regional variation in day-to-day activities of trainees, they will all fall within the above description.
Applications are made simultaneously to the Universities and to the NHS for employment within a Primary Care setting in Scotland. Employment with the NHS carries with it the obligation to undertake and pass the MSc program. Studying involves attending one of the Universities for 3 days per month and carrying out independent study on site at the NHS workplace for approximately two days per week. The course fees are paid by the the NHS, as are travel and accommodation expenses. The NHS pays a salary while training.
Applicants should note that:
This course does not provide any automatic entitlement/progression rites to the clinical psychology doctorate training courses neither should this course be viewed merely as a ‘stepping stone’ to these courses. This training is designed to equip people to carry out what is a clearly defined role within its own rite. Negotiations are currently underway with the Scottish universities providing the clinical doctorate courses to see if some recognition of prior learning will be possible for people who have trained on the MSc and who at some future point decide to apply for clinical psychology training.
In the current year (2005), the NHS created 26 posts and we expect the number to be similar for 2006 entry.
Entrance Requirements
Applicants should hold an Honours degree in Psychology (normally 2:1 or above) conferring the Graduate Basis for Registration with the British Psychological Society. Applicants must also be eligible for, and have appropriate personal qualities suited to employment in the NHS. Recruitment will be jointly undertaken by representative senior academic and NHS staff.
Modes of Study
12 months full-time registered with the Universities of Stirling and Dundee. The course will comprise 50% academic study and 50% practical clinical placement work. A large proportion of the studying for this course is carried out via distance-learning procedures with the student being based on-site with their local NHS employer. There is a requirement to attend one or other of the universities for 3 days per month for 8 months of the year in addition to a two-week period during January.
Course Start Date
January
Course Directors
Dr Mike Dow (Dept of Psychology; Stirling) Dr Rob Durham (Dept of Psychiatry; Dundee)
Course contact
Further Information about the course can be obtained from:
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Dr W Goodall Course Manager C/O Dept of Psychology University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
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Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 466839 |
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Mob: + 44 (0) 7966802229 |
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Web : www.psychology.stir.ac.uk |
Course Start Date
January
Course Directors
Dr Mike Dow (Dept of Psychology; Stirling) Dr Rob Durham (Dept of Psychiatry; Dundee)
Application Forms
The Universities of Dundee and Stirling, jointly with the NHS, will place advertisements in printed media. These will most likely appear in the The Scotsman, The Herald and The Psychologist in August although this has yet to be decided. Application packs containing application forms to the universities and the NHS plus additional information will be obtained by responding to one of the advertisements. Note that the universities and the NHS reserve the right to advertise where and when they consider most appropriate so potential applicants should keep a watch on the media from June onwards.
Aims and Objectives
The overall aim of the proposed MSc is to extend the knowledge of the theoretical foundations of human behaviour and psychological disorders acquired during undergraduate training and to teach and develop the necessary skills to apply a range of psychological therapies to treat common mental health disorders in adults in a primary care setting whilst undergoing training and clinical supervision. The course will develop students knowledge of the prevalence, diagnostic criteria, presentation and current psychological theories of common mental health disorders. Cognitive-Behavioural models will be emphasised as a core framework but other theoretical models will be introduced.
Structure and Content
The course comprises five taught modules and a sixth research module and these are shown below. The first three modules are University of Dundee supervised and completed in the first half of the year and the second three are University of Stirling supervised and completed in the second half of the year. All modules are core and there are no optional modules.
1. Assessment, Diagnosis and Formulation:
This module provides an overview of the assessment process and aims to enable students to conduct clinical assessment and formulation of common mental health disorders in primary care.
2. Principles and Methods of Psychological Therapy:
This module aims to help the student develop and maintain collaborative working alliances and deliver a range of psychological interventions appropriate to common mental health disorders.
3. Common Mental Health Disorders in Primary Care:
This module develops understanding of use of theoretical and clinical knowledge of the presentation and evidence based treatment interventions for common mental health disorders.
4. Professional and Ethical Issues:
This module aims to develop understanding of the principles and practice of appropriate professional conduct in the NHS.
5. Research, Evaluation and Outcome:
This module aims to equip the student with knowledge and skills to conduct clinical research.
6. Research Project:
A supervised empirical investigation, including critical literature review, conducted and reported to publishable standard.
All students are allocated an NHS clinical supervisor who oversees and provides guidance on students’ clinical activity as well as an NHS tutor who oversees academic progress. Students are also allocated an academic supervisor who reviews clinical performance and a research supervisor. NHS employers provide appropriate study facilities including computers and internet connections to allow students to carry our academic work on-site at their workplace. In 2005 there were 26 posts created by the NHS and it is likely that the number will be similar for 2006.
Delivery and Assessment
Modules will be taught via a combination of clinical workshops, seminars and distance learning lectures delivered via the Internet. Clinical activities and delivery of therapeutic interventions will be supervised and guided by an NHS clinical supervisor in the NHS setting who will provide guidance on all aspects of clinical competence according to agreed guidelines. Ratings of clinical competence will be based on taped evidence of practice in the NHS setting.
Assessment will be by essays, case reports based on NHS clinical work and examinations. In addition, a necessary component for the successful completion of modules PCP1 and PCP 2 and PCP3 is the receipt of a satisfactory assessment of clinical competence from the student’s NHS Clinical Supervisor. An NHS site visit by academic staff will be made 3 months and 9 months into the course. At these points unsatisfactory clinical competence will be highlighted and a program of remedial action provided that must be undertaken successfully by the end of the modules.
Funding
Students on the course are funded employees of the NHS.
Career Opportunities
The course is designed to enable graduates to work as Primary Care Psychologists* in the NHS, under the supervision of a Chartered Clinical Psychologist. Discussions are currently underway with the British Psychological Society and the Health Professions Counsel to explore issues of regulation and accreditation of the training and the newly created grade of mental health worker in the Scottish National Health service for which this training is devised.
* Whether this will ultimately be the accepted title or not depends upon a range of professional guidelines and recommendations currently under consideration.
