Final award:
- IfATE Level 7 Clinical Associate in Psychology degree apprenticeship
- MSc Clinical Associate in Psychology
| Duration | 18 months |
|---|---|
| Entry point(s) | Spring, Autumn - enquire for more details |
| Application deadline | Dependent on employer, see How to apply |
| Campus | Streatham Campus, Exeter |
|---|---|
| Contact |
Overview
- Designed to upskill healthcare professionals to become competent and skilled in the assessment, formulation and delivery of psychological treatment interventions in a range of clinical settings
- A unique opportunity to gain advanced level clinical skills and training to become a skilled professional clinical associate in psychology
- Apprentices will be trained in core competency models of applied psychology practice which are relevant to their role
- Develops skills for effective communication with service-users, families and professionals and how to function in a multi-disciplinary setting
- A day a week “off the job” training and a further day a week on average for independent study related to the academic demands of the programme
Competency-based training, delivered according to the latest evidence-informed clinical pedagogic approaches
Dedicated training facilities equipped with video and audio recording
Taught under direct supervision of Clinical Psychologists
An employment-based route into the profession of Clinical Psychology
Entry requirements
A minimum 2:2 first degree in Psychology, or an equivalent conversion course accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Applicants should be eligible for BPS Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) and will need to have or applied for Graduate Membership for entry to the programme. Read more about Graduate Membership of BPS.
It is also a requirement of the programme that all applicants have some relevant clinical experience in a mental health setting and must be able to provide certificates showing GCSE or equivalent passes in Level 2 Maths and English.
Individual employers may set additional selection criteria in discussion with the University.
The apprentice must have a valid and eligible residency status to gain entry onto the apprenticeship – please see the ESFA guidance for further information.
How to apply
Applications to this programme may only be made through NHS services or an NHS Talking Therapies service (formerly named IAPT [Improving Access to Psychological Therapies]) service in the community, who are recruiting apprentice CAPs, not directly through the University. Recruitment and selection is led by employers, in collaboration with the University. Posts are typically advertised by services on NHS jobs websites or equivalent.
Once applicants hold the offer of a post, employers will notify the University. Applicants will then be required to undertake an application to the University. If successful, they will be offered a position. A place will be confirmed by us, and we will send further information about how to enrol as an apprentice.
For prospective apprentices applying for this course:
If an applicant is already working as an assistant psychologist in England within an NHS or IAPT service and would like to apply for the course, we advise that in the first instance, they speak to a manager about whether the programme would be suitable.
Prospective apprentices should ask a manager if their employer pays the Apprenticeship Levy and we can then discuss options for joining the programme with a manager/ the employer.
Funding
Full programme cost: £16,000
The employer fully covers the cost of the apprenticeship; apprentices do not pay for any of the eligible training costs. The apprentice will be an employee of the organisation, gaining a University of Exeter award alongside working and earning a salary.
Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy will pay for the apprenticeship fees directly through that contribution. See further information on the Apprenticeship Levy funding.
Employers who do not pay the Levy will be able to claim 95 per cent of the cost of the apprenticeship from the Government. Up to 100 per cent Government contribution may be available if the employer has fewer than 50 employees and:
- Recruits an apprentice aged 16-18
- OR an apprentice aged 19-24 who has previously been in care or who has a local authority education, health and care plan
Employers must pay their apprentices a salary at least consistent with national legislation.
Funding eligibility criteria
- To be eligible for funding apprentices must meet the criteria listed in the ESFA guidance.
- The apprentice must have a valid and eligible residency status to gain entry onto the apprenticeship – please see the ESFA guidance for further information.
Course content
Throughout the course apprentices will:
- Learn skills related to the practical application of research and evaluation within services, as well as making the most of evidence-based working with a range of colleagues to promote psychologically-informed assessment and intervention using a formulation-based approach
- Gain practical intervention skills which will be largely CBT-based whilst also developing their capacity for critical thinking and adapting their work in response to complexity and changing circumstances
- Cover topics including core skills in relationships for clinical work, professional understanding and reflective practice, as well as skills in assessment, formulation and intervention
- Gain practical experience under the close supervision of qualified clinical psychologists supporting on the job training, specific teaching will also develop and refine research skills and evaluation
We strongly encourage the use of Routine Outcome Measures with a critical perspective, as well as developing skills in multi-disciplinary working in the context of service-user participation and awareness of issues related to equality, diversity and inclusion.
The programme contains five key modules. These run concurrently over the first 15 months of the apprenticeship. The final three months of the apprenticeship involve preparing for the sixth module ‘End Point Assessment’.
Learning
Approximately 20 per cent of an apprentice's contractual working time will be given over to study. Our model is designed to be flexible around the needs of apprentices and workloads.
Clinical Associate in Psychology is delivered either through a blended learning model or fully online. The learning format incorporates:
- One day a week 'off-the-job' training
- One day a week of independent studying
- Three days per week of direct clinical work
- Teaching involves: class-based activities, self-reflective learning, work-based study and guided independent study
Support available:
Our dedicated Degree Apprenticeship partnerships team liaise closely with the NHS throughout the programme, we can assist employers with recruiting, education support and administration. Each apprentice is allocated an academic mentor to ensure their successful completion of the programme.
Apprenticeship Standard
Alongside studying for their level 7 apprenticeship, gained after completing the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the apprenticeship standard(s), apprentices will also work towards an MSc Clinical Associate in Pyschology.
It is an 18 month programme including the End Point Assessment (Funding £16,000)
Careers
This programme is designed to upskill people already in a career within the NHS or an IAPT service. It will provides apprentices with an outstanding opportunity to develop their competencies and knowledge associated with practice.
A strong emphasis throughout the programme is placed upon personal and professional development.
Developing skills and career prospects
Apprentices will study within a vibrant, stimulating and internationally-recognised research environment, where members of the teaching team have first-hand experience within the clinical setting.
The learning experience will be enriched by nationally-recognised, innovative, clinical teaching approaches, designed to develop apprentices within their terms.
Employer information
This programme is ideal if you are looking to upskill your healthcare professionals to champion research-driven and evidence-based approaches including reflective practice, and assessment, formulation and intervention. We can work closely with you to tailor the delivery of each cohort to fit in with your needs.
Apprentices develop a flexible, sensitive approach to care by covering key topics (core skills in relationships for clinical work, research and evidence-based Practice, skills in assessment, formulation and intervention, professional understanding and reflective practice) and integrating the theory they learn in the classroom to the workplace.
