Clinical Associate in Psychology Apprenticeship - Level 7 MSc
- Level(s) of Study: Postgraduate taught / Professional
- Start Date(s): September 2024
- Duration: 18 months taught, with up to 3 months EPA period
- Study Mode(s): Block release
- Campus: City Campus
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Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
This degree apprenticeship will allow psychology graduates to gain the core skills required to pursue a career as a Clinical Associate in Psychology. Applicants can choose one of the following pathways to specialise in a specific clinical area.
The pathways available (see below) will vary annually, depending on employer demand.
- Adult Mental Health
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- Older Adults
- Physical Health
- Intellectual Disabilities
This programme provides the formal apprenticeship training required as part of the student’s employment within healthcare.
Students will undertake training in the fundamentals of applied psychology, including the assessment, formulation, intervention and evaluation, according to the British Psychological Society (BPS) principles. Upon successful completion of the course, apprentices will be equipped to provide evidence-based psychological interventions tailored to service users’ individual needs.
Apprentices will also undertake training in research and evaluation as applied to local contexts, in order to enable meaningful local service development.
What you’ll study
You will learn the core skills required to pursue a career as a Clinical Associate in Psychology in your chosen clinical area. Throughout all elements of the course, there will be an emphasis on developing abilities to provide inclusive and antiracist practices, in order to meet the diverse needs of services and service users.
Psychological Assessment and Formulation (60 credits)
In this module, apprentices will develop the skills, knowledge (theories) and behaviours to tailor psychological assessment, formulation and practice relevant to their clinical specialism (e.g. adult mental health, child and adolescent mental health).
Ethics and Professional Practice (20 credits)
This module aims to develop your skills, knowledge and behaviours required to be an accountable professional acting in the best interests of service users. This will include learning about effective communication, maintaining effective clinical records and conducting risk management assessments.
Research and Evidence-Based Practice (20 credits)
In this module, you will develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to undertake service development activities that can inform change and improvements in your specialist clinical area of work.
Psychological Intervention (40 credits)
This module develops your abilities to provide a range of evidence-based psychological interventions, based on the assessment and formulation, to individuals and groups, appropriate to the needs of service users in your clinical specialism. You will also be able to develop skills, when working with multiple and chronic needs, in selecting and implementing clinically appropriate interventions where an established evidence-base is absent.
Research and Evidence-Based Practice (20 credits)
In this module, you will develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to undertake service development activities that can inform change and improvements in your specialist clinical area of work.
Clinical Leadership (20 credits)
This module develops your abilities to provide support, supervision, training and guidance as part of multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating an understanding of leadership and influence through collaboration with a range of colleagues on psychological practice.
Clinical Application
This is a work-based learning module in which you will compile a portfolio of your experience and learning.
End Point Assessment (20 credits)
Year Two is mainly work-based. You will have three teaching days in preparation for the EPA. If you pass your portfolio from the Clinical Application module, you will enter a gateway for the End Point Assessment, which will assess your academic and work-based knowledge, skills and behaviour as described in the Institute of Apprenticeship standards and the British Psychological Society Standard for Clinical Associate Psychologists.
How you’re taught
The overall aim of this apprenticeship is to develop Clinical Associates in Psychology who will be able to provide high quality, evidence-based psychological assessments and interventions for a specific population from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs.
You will be engaged in studying relevant psychological theory and practice through lectures, seminars, clinical skills workshops, presentations, reflective practice groups, and self-directed study, which will amount to at least 20% of the apprenticeship.
Through your employment, you will be engaged in work-based learning for the remaining working week. You will be allocated an Academic Supervisor for your studies and be supervised by a HCPC-registered practitioner psychologist in your workplace. You will have access to online course materials, the PebblePad e-portfolio tool, library resources and student support services.
You will attend teaching one day a week (Wednesday) during term time on our City Campus, with an additional two teaching blocks across the year.
Block one will be at the beginning of the course and will consist of three weeks. In each of those weeks you will be taught three days on campus. The second block consists of one week where you will be taught three days on campus.
In addition, you will have one study morning per week, which will be facilitated remotely by the course team on a Friday morning. Teaching will be provided by clinical psychologists who are experts in their area of clinical practice, as well as by the course team (all of whom are also experienced clinical psychologists in different areas of clinical practice).
How you’re assessed
You will be assessed throughout the course using both formative and summative assessments through a range of methods, including written academic essay, role plays, presentations, and case studies. You will also be required to submit a Portfolio describing your application of your learning across the academic course to your practice in your clinical specialism.
Following successful completion of the taught program of the course, Apprentices will go on to complete the End Point Assessment (EPA), which is assessed by two elements: a demonstration of your clinical skills across four different scenarios (Governance and Practice; Assessment and Risk; Formulation; and Evidence-Based Psychological Intervention) as assessed via role-play exercises; and a Professional Discussion, focussing on your knowledge, skills and behaviour competencies. The EPA is carried out by two external (to the course) assessors.
Campus and facilities
Entry requirements
To apply for this apprenticeship at NTU, you must be in full-time employment in a healthcare setting or hold a job offer from an employer where you will be starting employment by the time the course starts. You must have approval from your employer to undertake an apprenticeship.
Individual employers will have selection criteria for their apprentices, however you will also require:
- A Bachelor Degree in psychology eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a minimum 2.2 award.
- GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) by the end of the first year of study
Unfortunately English apprenticeships are not available for EU or international students.
Fees and funding
To undertake an apprenticeship you must be employed - as such, your employer will pay your tuition fees.
If you or your employer have any questions regarding the fees and funding available for this apprenticeship, please see our Apprenticeships pages, contact our Apprenticeships team at apprenticeships@ntu.ac.uk, or call +44 (0)115 848 2589.
Unfortunately English apprenticeships are not available for EU or international students.
How to apply
If you’re currently employed and have an agreement with your employer to study an apprenticeship at NTU – apply today! Apply through our Applicant Portal and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
If you are not currently employed but would like to undertake an apprenticeship at NTU, you can browse current opportunities available with employers on our Apprenticeship Vacancies page as well as sign up for notifications of new vacancies once released.
For more information on apprenticeships at NTU, contact our Apprenticeships team at apprenticeships@ntu.ac.uk or call +44 (0)115 848 2589.
Unfortunately English apprenticeships are not available for EU or international students.