School of Psychology DOCTORATE in CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Selection Procedures: A Guide for Applicants Closing date 8th February 2013 by 4:00pm ************** 1
School of Psychology DOCTORATE IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Applications for September 2013 The Doctorate in Clinical Psychology is a three year (36 month) postgraduate professional training course, accredited by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for chartered status and approved by the Health and Care Professions Council as conferring eligibility to apply for registration as a clinical psychologist. The course is based in the School of Psychology at The and placements are undertaken in a variety of clinical settings throughout Northern Ireland. While approximately 50% of our available placements are in the Greater Belfast Area, 50% are in other towns and cities throughout Northern Ireland with travel times from 30 120 minutes from base. Travel expenses are paid for all placement activity. On some occasions placements may be approved outside of Northern Ireland at the request of the trainee. However, there is a cap on expenses funding for such placements (current one return flight plus up to 40 per week towards subsistence). Details on course content and structure are summarised in the current programme specification available on our web page. The following document provides information and guidance for applicants. The application form is available on the School of Psychology web page: www.qub.ac.uk/schools/psy/ 1. ENTRY REQUIRMENTS AND SELECTION CRITERIA 1.1 Entry Requirements: 1.1.1 All applicants to the course must have, or expect to have before enrolling for the D.Clin.Psych. course, at least an upper second class (2:1) honours degree in psychology, or the equivalent. Candidates who have obtained a 2:2 or lower in their primary degree may apply if they can show evidence of higher academic qualifications (e.g. masters or PhD degree) related to Psychology. 2
1.1.2 The degree qualification must be such that the applicant is, or will be, eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS). Candidates with qualifications from overseas etc., or where GBC is uncertain, should have received a decision from the BPS as to whether their degree confers GBC by the time of interview (April 2013). Documentary evidence will be requested in such cases. 1.1.3 As trainees are employees of the NHS (unless self-funded) we require that applicants have the right to work in the UK without restriction. Non-EEA (European Economic Area) applicants are therefore not considered unless they have a pre-existing right to work in the UK for the duration of the course and the required two years after completion. We do not act as a sponsor for any such application to work in the UK. Queries regarding your right to work in the UK without restriction should be made to your local British Embassy. While it is unusual, we occasionally consider self-funding applications if our capacity is above the number of commissions from the NHS (see Section 2.4). Under these circumstances a student visa would be sufficient. 1.1.4 Applicants whose first language is not English or whose previous education and examination qualifications have not been in the English language will need to provide evidence of English language proficiency (an IELTS overall score of 7.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all 4 elements of the test or a TOEFL ibt (internet based test) with a minimum score of 95 and minimum marks as follows: Listening-17; Reading-18; Speaking-20; Writing-17). 1.2 Additional Criteria: Successful applicants will typically be funded by DHSS public monies if they undertake to work in the Northern Ireland statutory services for at least two years following qualification. Applicants applying for such monies must do so on this basis. In addition, the requirement to travel throughout the region for placements and other activities, means that applicants are normally expected to have, or to obtain before enrolment, a full driving licence, unless prevented for health or disability reasons. 3
Most applicants will possess the above minimum entry requirements. Consequently, shortlisting and offers are largely determined by the extent to which applicants can demonstrate that they meet additional desirable criteria. The following competencies are rated on the basis of the evidence presented in the application form and later at interview and practical assessments. Shortlisting, and later offers of places, are determined by the selection panel, largely on the basis of ratings awarded. 1.2.1 Academic Ability: this is a judgement of the applicant s ability to cope with the intellectual demands of training. Whilst the quality of previous academic qualifications and training play a large part in forming judgements here, other competencies inform. These include critical reflection and reasoning skills, ability to synthesise information succinctly, ability to draw inferences and implications from information, psychological knowledge, ability to apply psychological theories and research to clinical scenarios, research skills etc. 1.2.2 Psychological Knowledge and Skills: this is a rating based on the applicant s knowledge and understanding of major theories and approaches relevant to clinical psychology and its practice. It is also a judgement on the applicant s ability to apply psychological knowledge and to make theorypractice links. Also relevant is the applicant s ability to understand ethical issues in practice and their awareness of current issues in the profession. 1.2.3 Personal Development and Personal Competencies: This is based on evidence (shown through experience and/or personal accounts) which suggests attributes relevant to clinical psychology. These include, for example, empathy, initiative, capacity for insight and personal awareness and reflection, efficiency, time management, presentation skills, proactivity, resilience and capacity for growth and development. 1.2.4 Research Competencies: this is a judgement based on the applicant s ability to cope with the research demands of clinical psychology training and beyond. It includes issues such as knowledge of design and analysis, ability to critically 4
evaluate research, capacity to formulate a research question as well as awareness of ethical issues in research. 1.2.5 Interpersonal Skills: This is a rating more relevant to interview. It involves the applicant s ability to listen and communicate effectively, their ability to work in a team, to take a leadership role, the clarity and coherence of presentation etc. 1.3 References: At present references are only taken up for shortlisted applicants. They are considered by the selection panel only after ratings have been awarded at interview. Applicants with unsatisfactory references are unlikely to be offered a place on the course. The panel reserve the right to seek additional references (e.g. from current employer if not submitted). Such requests will be made through the applicant. In addition, verbal clarification may sometimes be sought on unsatisfactory or ambiguous references. 1.4 Equal Opportunities: Applications are invited from all sections of the community. An equal opportunities policy is adopted in relation to selection. Applications are invited from candidates regardless of gender, marital status, dependency, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, perceived religious affiliation or political opinion. Every effort will be made to make reasonable adjustments to training requirements for those successful applicants who have a disability which may impact on training. A copy of the Equality and Diversity policy operated in Queen s University Belfast is available at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/humanresources/equalopportu nitiesunit/equalityanddiversitypolicy/ 1.5 Convictions We ask all applicants to complete Insert 1 and declare any convictions. An enhanced police check will be carried out by Access NI on successful applicants. A discrepancy between what has been declared on Insert 1 and the subsequent police check could be grounds for non-appointment. When an applicant declares a conviction this does not automatically mean that they will not be 5
appointed. A judgment, taking into account the nature and context of the offense and our duty to protect the public, will be made by the selection panel. In general, we would not consider an applicant suitable if they have a conviction or caution for any crime against children or vulnerable adults. The following list of cautions or offenses may also be grounds for non-appointment: a. violence b. abuse c. sexual misconduct d. supplying drugs illegally e. child pornography f. offenses involving dishonesty g. offenses for which a prison sentence is received This is not an exhaustive list and all convictions and cautions would be carefully considered by the panel and risks to the public considered. Applicants with convictions should also note that it is a requirement of HCPC that they declare all convictions when applying to join the register of clinical psychologists (after completion of the course). HCPC make an independent judgement regarding an applicant s suitability. 2. FUNDING 2.1 We expect to have at least eleven new places on the course for 2013. These are centrally funded by the Northern Ireland Health & Social Services. ONE APPLICATION covers both the application for a place on the course and application for central funding. 2.2 Selected applicants are recommended to the Business Services Organisation of the Health Service for appointment as trainee clinical psychologists, onto Band 6 of Agenda for Change payscales. The minimum salary is 25,528 pa (Band 6 - April 2012 figures). They are appointed for one calendar year in the first instance, with contracts renewable each year, conditional on satisfactory progress in training. As placements can be throughout 6
Northern Ireland travel costs are paid from the Queen s University base or from home (whichever is nearer) to the placement locations. Currently, car mileage costs are paid at the rate of 47 pence per mile (for cars with engine size between 1 and 1.5 litres) and 58 pence per mile (for cars with engine sizes over 1.5 litres). The actual cost of any public transport is paid. In addition, accommodation costs (decided on an individual basis) can be paid if the placement is so far from home that commuting is not possible. This would be unusual, given the size of Northern Ireland. 2.3 In accepting places funded by the Northern Ireland Health & Social Services, trainees are required to sign an undertaking that, on successful completion of training, they will make themselves available to work within the Northern Ireland Health & Personal Social Services statutory sector for two years (subject to the availability of clinical psychologist posts). 2.4 An applicant may wish to be considered for a place on the course with funding from other sources, including self-funding. Such a candidate must: i ii go through the same selection process as other candidates and be placed on a reserve list if not selected for one of the places funded by the Northern Ireland Health and Social Services. also satisfy the selectors that sufficient funds are available to meet the high costs involved in the three years of training. If funds are insufficient, financial difficulties would make the successful completion of the course unlikely. It should be emphasised that there is no guarantee that the course will be able to accommodate candidates with alternative sources of funding. Decisions are made on this possibility based on resources just before interview dates. We only consider self-funding applicants if our commissions from the NHS fall below our capacity. We would not invite applicants (whose only option is self-funding) to interview if no self-funding places are available. Details of post-graduate fees are available at: 7
http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/tuitionfeesandstudentsu pportarrangements201213/ 3. SHORTLISTING 3.1 Applications are first judged on whether the candidate meets the minimal entry requirements as described above (1.1). Those who do not, will not be shortlisted. They are then rated by individual panel members on the additional desirable criteria as described above (1.2). On the basis of the combined panel ratings, a shortlist of candidates for interview is drawn up. 3.2 Late and incomplete applications will be discarded as invalid, and do not go to the shortlisting panel. 3.3 The shortlisting panel is made up of three or four psychologists, each of whom independently scrutinises all valid applications. 3.4 Approximately 200 applications are received each year. This year we intend to shortlist approximately 48 applicants for interview based on the essential and desirable criteria described in sections 1.1-1.2 above. 4 SECOND STAGE SELECTION PROCEDURES 4.1 Shortlisted candidates at this stage are invited to spend up to A DAY at the university, being interviewed, undertaking a range of practical assessment exercises and meeting some of the current trainees on the course. Shortlisted candidates with a disability can contact the course if they require any special arrangements during the interview process. For half of those shortlisted, a Clinical and Academic Panel Interview and a Personal and Professional Panel Interview will take place in the morning, followed by the Group Assessment in the afternoon. For the other half, the reverse sequence will take place. Although some adjustments may be made for those with disabilities, these three components will involve the following: The Clinical and Academic Panel Interview will involve the applicant giving a presentation on a research 8
scenario/task, which they will have been given 30 minutes prior to this interview. This will be followed by other questions designed to assist this panel in rating elements of competencies as described above. Typically these will involve questions related to psychological knowledge and applications, clinical skills and competencies and research competencies etc. The Personal and Professional Panel Interview will involve the candidate being asked questions related to personal development and personal competencies, and to a lesser degree, interpersonal skills in order to assist this panel in rating elements of competencies as described above. The candidate may be asked questions relating to their application form. The Group Assessment will have two components: A 45 minute group task or simulation exercise (approximately 6 candidates in each group). This will involve engaging in a group problem-solving or decision-making exercise, during which time, selection team members will observe the group and rate individual contributions and performance. A 45 minute group discussion, facilitated by selection team members. The Group Assessment will assist selection team members in rating interpersonal skills, and to a lesser degree, personal development and personal competencies as described above. 4.2 The Clinical and Academic Panel Interview contributes 50%, the Personal and Professional Panel Interview 25% and the Group Assessment 25% to the overall total rating. Ratings are combined and typically those with the highest overall ratings, and who have reached a minimal threshold rating in each section, are offered places on the course, subject to appointment by the Health and Social Services. Additional conditions are attached to some offers (e.g. submission of a PhD cited as in completion on application form). 9
4.3 A reserve list is drawn up of other applicants who have not been offered places funded by the Health & Social Services, but who are nevertheless deemed suitable for the course. A reserve candidate may be offered a place if one of the original offers is turned down, if the number of funded places is increased, or if the reserve candidate can produce satisfactory evidence of funding from other sources and the course is able to accommodate this. 4.4 Unsuccessful and reserve placed candidates will be offered a time for feedback after interview. This will largely be restricted to summarising ratings across the three dimensions outlined above. Additional, but limited, qualitative feedback may be offered. However, the selection panel is unable to enter into written or protracted correspondence with unsuccessful applicants. 5. INTERVIEW TIMES 2013 Interviews will take place on 16 th, 17 th, 23 rd and 24 th of April 2013. Applicants will be informed of short-listing status 3-4 weeks after the application deadline. 6 THIRD STAGE OF SELECTION PROCEDURES 6.1 Successful candidates will be then subject to appointment and secondment by the Business Services Organisation (BSO) as a trainee clinical psychologist. 6.2 It is a condition of the contract with BSO that you sign an undertaking to be available for two years following qualification to work as a qualified clinical psychologist in the Northern Ireland statutory sector. 6.3 An enhanced police check will be carried out by Access NI on successful applicants. The cost of this check is born by the applicants ( 30). This currently lasts for the entire 3 years of the course. Occasionally, organisations outside the NHS in Northern Ireland may request a further check be carried out before the start of any placement. The cost of these checks is born by the organisation or by the course. 10
6.4 Successful applicants will also have to undertake a pre-employment medical assessment organised by BSO prior to appointment. This is to ensure that successful applicants are medically capable of the role of a trainee clinical psychologist. This medical judgement is based on numerous factors such as present mental and physical state and health history. This health assessment includes an examination by a member of occupational health staff and a health questionnaire to be completed by the applicant. Applicants with disabilities should note that the course is committed to making any reasonable adjustments that are possible in order to facilitate the employment of those applicants. Occupational Health may consider that further investigations are necessary before an applicant starts the course. Depending on the time needed for these investigations we cannot guarantee that the individual can meet course requirements during the 3 year funded period. 6.5 Prior to commencing any placement, successful candidates are required to purchase their own professional indemnity insurance. We require this to be renewed annually. While the cost of this insurance varies between companies and fluctuates from year to year it is approximately 50-60. The trainee is responsible for this cost. 7. COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION FORM 7.1 Applicants should read the following notes carefully before completing their forms. Applicants with incomplete application forms or inserts will not be shortlisted 7.2 Make sure to include in your forms all the information you wish the shortlisting panel to take into consideration. Bear in mind the selection criteria as described above. No other information will be sought on candidates prior to shortlisting. 7.3 All information must be typed. Forms downloaded from the web page should be typed in Times font, size 12, and MUST NOT exceed 5 pages. 7.4 Do not use continuation sheets. Your responses must be confined to the spaces provided in the application form. 11
7.5 Normally, the only material to be returned with your application form should be the insert forms, application fee and, if relevant, proof of GBC, certificates and course transcripts for qualifications from other than UK or Irish universities, evidence of proficiency in English, evidence of right to work unrestricted in the UK and/or information about alternative funding. 7.6 You should pay particular attention to the following: i Driving Licence. This question must be answered accurately or your application will be invalid. Applicants currently without full driving licences may be offered places but these will normally be subject to having full licences before beginning the course (unless prevented for health or disability reasons). Given the geographical spread of clinical placements, psychologists in clinical training who do not drive encounter significant difficulties in carrying out their duties. ii iii Qualifications. If available, information on module marks or grades should be included as well as degree class, particularly for your primary degree in psychology and/or any qualification which is not yet complete. (Such information will be obtained from referees only for shortlisted candidates at stage 2). If the number of qualifications obtained prohibits recording all module marks in the space provided, you should record your average module mark and the range. You may also wish to include those specific module marks you deem most relevant to this application. If you have a qualification from outside the UK or Ireland (with which the selectors would probably not be familiar), you should enclose copies of your certificate and, if possible, course transcripts. Overseas candidates (for whom English is not their first language) should also provide evidence of proficiency in written and spoken English, unless you obtained your degree through English. GBC. In order to be eligible to become a chartered psychologist on completing the D.Clin.Psych., all candidates must have a primary qualification in psychology which is recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as 12
conferring the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). If your primary qualification in psychology is unusual in any respect or comes from outside the UK or Ireland, then you should provide evidence that it confers GBC. Queries regarding GBC status should be directed to the BPS, St Andrew s House, 48 Princess Road East, Leicester LE1 7DR. Tel. 0116 254 9568. iv v vi vii Referees. Give the name, address, telephone, email and fax numbers for three referees who can comment on your academic and/or professional suitability for clinical psychology training. These should normally include someone familiar with your first degree in psychology and someone who has known you in a work setting (that is relevant). Where possible, you should name psychologists or others familiar with the demands of clinical psychology training. You should provide a referee for your current or most recent post, if this post is clinically relevant. The selectors reserve the right to contact your current or most recent employer if you do not provide a referee. People who have known you only personally (e.g. family friends), or in the distant past (e.g. schoolteachers), are not usually suitable. The selectors reserve the right to seek references, if necessary, from other than those you have named. Alternative funding. You may wish to provide information about funding available to you other than central funding from the Northern Ireland Health & Social Services. Relevant experience. In this section, you should describe your relevant experience, with dates of employment. Give the name of your employer, outline your main activities and you may wish to specify how you perceive your experiences are related to training for clinical psychology. Use and Understanding of Psychological Knowledge and Skill. Here, you should outline what psychological knowledge and skills you have gained that are relevant to clinical psychology training. It is important that you refer to previously outlined academic and vocational experience to evidence your claims regarding the psychological knowledge and skills you have. 13
viii ix Research Understanding and Skill. In this section, you should describe your research understanding and skills that are relevant to clinical psychology training. Refer to your previously outlined experience to evidence this. Personal Development. In this section you should demonstrate evidence of your capacity to critically reflect on you as a person, the experiences, values and life events which have shaped you, on your motivation to undertake clinical training, as well as the personal qualities you would bring to this career. Evidence personal competencies by drawing from your experiences in any area of your life. However you choose to use the space, your entry should focus on your personal development, and complement, rather than duplicate, the information given in the previous sections. 7.7 This application is for consideration for both a place on the course and funding. To make it complete and valid, you MUST return: i FOUR COPIES OF THE COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM (the original, signed, and THREE photocopies). Please staple each of your four copies separately. ii THREE APPLICATION INSERT FORMS (no additional copies). Completion of these inserts is necessary to comply with DHSSPS and university regulations. They are separated from your application form and are not seen by the shortlisting panel when they are rating your application. Please do not staple your three insert forms together. iii CHEQUE OR POSTAL ORDER. We accept cheques for 25.00 sterling or for 30 Euros, payable to Clinical Psychology, QUB, to cover administrative and other costs. WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT STERLING POSTAL ORDERS i.e. no euro postal orders 7.8 Please DO NOT ENCLOSE any continuation sheets or documentation (e.g. curriculum vitae) other than that requested. 7.9 is registered as a data controller with the Office of the Information Commissioner. As such, it is 14
entitled to hold personal information on those who enquire about admission, on applicants and on current and former students. These data are held in electronic and paper format. By signing the application form, applicants are consenting to the processing of the data by the University for administrative purposes, including consideration of their applications, but only insofar as it is permitted to do so within the constraints of the Data Protection Act 1998. Full information can be found in the University s official notification. 7.10 When you sign and date your application you are confirming that the information you give is correct and complete. If the selection panel believe that you or any other person has given false information in your application or references, or has made any misrepresentation in the information given, we reserve the right to take whatever steps necessary to check the authenticity of the application. The panel also reserve the right to ask you to give further details on any aspect of the application (e.g. proof of academic qualifications, status etc.). Fraud is a very serious offence and where detected the panel reserve the right to disclose such details to outside agencies (e.g. the police). 7.11 There is currently no discretion for deferred entry except under very exceptional circumstances (e.g. illness). If you are offered a place for September 2013 and do not take it up, you will normally be expected to re-apply the following year. 7.12 Applications must be sent to D.Clin.Psych. Applications, School of Psychology, Queen s University Belfast, David Keir Building, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5BN, to be received by 4PM on FRIDAY 8 th FEBRUARY 2013. Late applications will not be accepted. 8. COMPLAINTS The University s appeals/complaints procedures related to any aspect of our selection can be accessed at: www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/academicstudentaffairs/filestore/file toupload,53576,en.pdf 15
Informal queries can also be addressed to the D.Clin.Psych. Course Director. 9. FURTHER ENQUIRIES Please contact the Course Administrator on 028 90975447 (telephone) or c.sinclair@qub.ac.uk (e-mail) if you have any additional queries or questions. 16