PSY8089 : Professional Skills Portfolio
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Gavin Clark
- Owning School: Psychology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 3 Credit Value: | 50 |
| ECTS Credits: | 30.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The Professional Skills Portfolio involves the development, practice and demonstration of a variety of skills relevant to the profession of clinical psychology and is assessed through the submission of a substantive assignment, incorporating a systematic review of the literature, up to 10,000 words in length. Students enrolled on PSY8089 will be required to participate in a variety of clinical activities and compose a variety of clinical documentation and materials that they will undertake as part of simulated clinical placement activities.
The aims of this module are to:
1. Enable students to become confident in their ability to carry out and manage a range of clinical activities and author clinical materials such as clinical progress notes and letters
2. Develop students’ skills in conducting a systematic review of the literature
3. Provide a sound basis for future professional roles relevant to applied psychology
4. Enable students to develop skills in interacting with peers and academic and clinical psychologists in a way which will enhance their job prospects and future careers
5. Facilitate the development of a range of skills which will make students more attractive to future employers, including applied psychology roles (e.g., assistant psychologist) and professional training courses
Outline Of Syllabus
The syllabus will involve students taking part in seminars, clinical supervision and online reflective activities which will support students engaging in a number of clinical tasks and activities. Seminars and clinical supervision sessions will help students to develop and reflect upon a variety of skills and competencies relevant to the profession of clinical psychology and will support and prepare students to undertake related clinical activities and access recordings of a “virtual clinic” as part of a simulated clinical placement. Students will receive direct teaching on topics including (i) Reflective Practice, (2) Engaging effectively with clinical supervision and (3) Conducting a systematic review of the literature.
Work towards the Professional Skills Portfolio will be undertaken throughout the academic year, with the third Semester dedicated to the completion of the portfolio. Simulated placement activities will commence in Semester 2 and will continue into Semester 3, to support the completion of the Professional Skills Portfolio.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 5 | 2:00 | 10:00 | Small group clinical supervision activities |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Teaching on areas related to simulated placement and Professional Skills Portfolio. |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 1 | 525:00 | 525:00 | Students will author and compile a portfolio of clinical materials in relation to simulated clinical placement activities. They will also undertake a systematic review of the literature. |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Students will engage in skills practice role-play and peer supervision. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Scheduled on-line contact time | 40 | 1:00 | 40:00 | Scheduled online clinical activities combining accessing clinical recordings and interacting with simulated clinical materials |
| Total | 600:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The teaching methods outlined are designed to facilitate students’ understanding, abstract conceptualisation and application of a variety of skills and competencies relevant to the profession of clinical psychology and other applied psychology roles. Taught seminars will provide in-depth, experiential teaching necessary to plan and conduct a systematic review of the literature and how to approach the simulated placement activities. The simulated clinical placement activities, including clinical supervision , will aim to mirror a variety of clinical tasks and experiences that students would encounter when engaging in placements within NHS clinical settings as part of further professional training or in clinical roles such as that of an assistant clinical psychologist. Such experience will support the completion of the final Professional Skills Portfolio and, more importantly, allow students to develop, become aware of and conceptualise a variety of skills and competencies involved in psychological assessment and intervention.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 3 | M | 100 | A Professional Skills Portfolio up to 10,000 words excluding bibliography and appendices |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The Professional Skills Portfolio will be composed of a variety of specified clinical materials, including clinical documentation and will also include a detailed record of their experiences over the course of the simulated placement activities. The portfolio will therefore demonstrate students’ ability to produce written clinical documentation, to understand and conceptualise clinical information, to effectively summarise clinical information and to engage in reflective practice upon their experiences and skill development. The systematic review component of the portfolio will ensure students develop and demonstrate skills in conducting a rigorous review of the literature and a sound grasp of adhering to and reporting their methodology. The Professional Skills Portfolio will therefore serve as a capstone summary of students’ development of relevant skills and competencies and their development as scientist-practitioners. Students will receive formalised formative feedback from course staff on draft clinical materials and the proposed title of the literature review component of their portfolio. Students will also receive incidental formative feedback from peers and course staff throughout the relevant seminars and clinical supervision activities. The Professional Skills Portfolio will, therefore, assess each of the intended knowledge and skills outcomes.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PSY8089's Timetable