Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The module aims to provide a small number of psychology students (following a selective process) with experience of applying psychological knowledge, for example within the NHS, within research laboratories, or within schools. Students will complete an approved year-long placement, and thus graduate having gained experience of working in a relevant profession. the module aims to promote a greater awareness in the field of psychology, and to allow students to develop skills and knowledge specific to psychology, such as being aware of the needs of clients or patients in an area of psychology in which they are based. In addition, the module also aims to allow students to develop transferable skills such as communication, planning, time management, and decision making.

Outline Of Syllabus

All students will spend a year working with the placement provider, according to guidelines unique for that specific placement. Placements may also vary each academic year, although it is hoped that placements will be available within the NHS working with clinical psychologists, within research laboratories, working with academic staff and within schools, working with teachers and educational psychologists. Students also have the opportunity to search for their own placement and seek approval from the module leader. All placements will enhance transferable skills such as communication, planning, time management, team working, decision making and initiative.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Learning objectives will be agreed upon by the student and supervisor at the start of the placement. The module will allow students to develop their knowledge about some or all of the following:

•       The role of psychologists within professional settings and within society
•       The needs of clients / patients in the service in which they are based
•       Theories and concepts relevant to the specific domain of psychology
•       The processes of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment that are used for a range of psychological disorders
•       The methodological approaches that are relevant to their placement domain
•       The laws, rules and regulations which govern practice in relevant applied settings

Intended Skill Outcomes

Some or all of the following skills will be enhanced by working in a professional setting:

•       The ability to undertake in-depth research in psychology and related disciplines
•       The ability to obtain, record, analyse, interpret, and report data from experiments in psychology
•       The ability to consider and comply with ethical principles for conducting research, and for working with atypical populations
•       The ability to administer and produce scores on standardised assessments that are widely used in psychology
•       The ability to communicate with professionals, as well as with individuals with a diverse range of abilities and needs
•       Transferable skills including communication, planning, time management, team working, decision making and initiative

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Knowledge and skills will be acquired throughout the placement, unique to the specific placement.



Final placement approval will be based on placement providers providing the university with sufficient information about how placements will run if there are ongoing requirements for remote working and/or social distancing, and this includes providing details on tasks that can be undertaken remotely. Both students and placement providers will be aware of these arrangements before placements commence. An individualized approach will be taken, with all students being contacted by the placement team every week by email and being invited to monthly zoom meetings, so that placements can be closely monitored. This will allow for any changes in placement activities because of the pandemic to be considered, and if necessary, the placement team can suggest additional activities to ensure that the knowledge and skill outcomes are still met. This might, for example, involve a student conducting a literature review relevant to their placement setting, or carrying out a piece of work related to the role of a psychologist in professional settings.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Both the poster and the reflective log will give students the opportunity to reflect upon their placement year, including upon the skills and knowledge acquired in relation to the discipline. They will encourage critical thinking, evaluation and psychological knowledge. Importantly, they allow for the demonstration of the intended knowledge and skills outcomes described above. The report from the placement supervisor will then provide an external evaluation of the student's performance whilst on placement. A pass must be obtained for the placement year in order for the degree title of BSc Psychology with Professional Placement (or JH equivalent) to be awarded upon successful completion of the final year of study. In the event of a fail, a BSc in Psychology can still be awarded if a student has met the criteria for the BSc Undergraduate degree without placement.

In order to pass the module, students need to pass each of the three pass/fail components of assessment; the poster, the reflective log, and the supervisor report. If the poster or reflective log is failed, it will have to be retaken and a pass mark obtained. However, no resit can be offered for the supervisor report. Thus if the supervisor report is failed, this will constitute a fail for the entire module.

General Notes

N/A