Study information

Programme Specification for the 2023/4 academic year

MSc Clinical Associate in Psychology - Children and Young People (CYP) (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship)

1. Programme Details

Programme nameMSc Clinical Associate in Psychology - Children and Young People (CYP) (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship) Programme codePAS2PSYPSY04
Study mode(s)Full Time
 Academic year2023/4
Campus(es)Streatham (Exeter)
 NQF Level of the Final Award7 (Masters)

2. Description of the Programme

This Apprenticeship Master’s degree is an employment based programme that will ensure you have the knowledge and skills required to successfully embark on a career as an Associate Psychologist in the application of psychological theory in practice under the direct supervision of a Clinical Psychologist. You will learn how to apply and develop your knowledge in order to become competent and skilled in the assessment, formulation, delivery and evaluation of psychological treatment interventions in a range of clinical settings a range of clinical populations with significant mental health difficulties. The training model exposes you to a specific clinical population (Children and Young People – CYP) to afford you the development of clinical knowledge, skills and competencies.

Your tuition fees for this degree will be paid for by your employer whilst you will be earning a salary. Upon graduation, you will receive a University of Exeter Master’s degree and be eligible to work in the NHS and related health and social care organisations as a Clinical Associate in Psychology under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist.

3. Educational Aims of the Programme

The general aims of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, in accord with those of the University as a whole, are:

  • To provide you with an education intended to give you competence in your chosen discipline, and to encourage you to develop your intellectual capabilities within an institution that is committed to advancing research, scholarship and learning, and to disseminating knowledge.

More specifically, the educational aims of the Department of Psychology are:

  • To provide an education of high quality across a range of areas of psychology in a stimulating and supportive environment that is enriched by research and/or current practice in the discipline where appropriate.
  • To provide training in scientific skills of problem analysis, research design, evaluation of empirical evidence and dissemination in the context of psychology.
  • To provide a range of academic and key skills that will prepare you confidently for employment, future study, or training for professional practice.

Additional aims which are specific to the MCAP programme are:

  • To develop Clinical Associates in Psychology who will go on to work in the NHS or related health and social care organisations, making a meaningful contribution to service users, the services themselves and the applied psychology profession.

4. Programme Structure

The MSc Clinical Associate in Psychology – CYP (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship) programme is a full-time Master’s Degree Apprenticeship programme of study at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)  Level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ), lasting a maximum of 18 months. 

5. Programme Modules

The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.

http://cedar.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/

Stage 1

180 credits of compulsory and non-condonable modules.

Compulsory Modules

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
PYCM070DA Fundamentals of Professional Practice and Ethics 20Yes
PYCM097DA Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions in Clinical Practice 30Yes
PYCM139DA Clinical Research and Evidence-Based Practice 30Yes
PYCM140DA Assessment, Diagnosis and Formulation in Clinical Practice 30Yes
PYCM101DA Clinical Practice 50Yes
PYCM102DA Degree Apprenticeship End Point Assessment 20Yes

6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods

Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:		Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

1. Reduce psychological distress and enhance and promote psychological wellbeing through the systematic application of knowledge derived from psychological theory and evidence.
2. Practise under clinical supervision to develop working alliances with clients, including individuals, carers and/or services, in order to carry out psychological assessment, develop a formulation based on psychological theories and knowledge, carry out psychological interventions, evaluate your work and communicate effectively with clients, referrers and others, orally, electronically and in writing.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of psychological (and other relevant) theory and evidence, related to specific client groups, presentations, psychological therapies, psychological testing, assessment, intervention and secondary prevention required to underpin supervised clinical practice.
4. Work effectively under supervision with clients from a diverse range of backgrounds, understanding and respecting the impact of difference and diversity upon their lives, whilst being aware of the clinical, professional and social contexts within which work is undertaken and impact therein.

Clinical skills workshop
PBL group
Reflective weblog
Applied psychology internship

Professional practice reflective log (ILO 1, 4)
Clinical practice reports (ILO 2-4)
Practice portfolio (ILO 2-4)
End point assessment (ILO 1-11)

Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:		Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

5. Demonstrate clinical and research skills in supervised work with clients and systems based on a reflective scientist-practitioner model that incorporates a cycle of assessment, formulation, intervention and evaluation and that draws from theory and therapy evidence bases as appropriate.
6. Work effectively under supervision with systems relevant to clients, including for example statutory and voluntary services, self-help and advocacy groups, user-led systems and other elements of the wider community.
7. Work under supervision in a range of indirect ways to improve psychological aspects of health and healthcare. This includes competencies in consultancy, supervision, teaching and training, working collaboratively and influencing psychological mindedness and practices of teams.
8. Conduct clinical research and reflect upon outcomes in a way that enables the profession to develop its knowledge base and to monitor and improve the effectiveness of its work.

Micro-teaching presentation
Online clinical research methods resources
Clinical effectiveness and evaluation tutorials
Applied psychology internship

PBL group research presentation (ILO 5, 8)
Micro-teaching presentation (ILO 7)
Clinical research proposal report (ILO 5, 8)
Clinical practice report (ILO 5-7)
Practice Portfolio (ILO 6-7)
End point assessment (ILO 1-11)

Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:		Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

9. Practise reflectively within a professional and ethical value base.
10. Demonstrate high level skills in managing a personal learning agenda and self-care, in critical reflection and self-awareness that enable transfer of knowledge and skills to new settings and problems and professional standards of behaviour as might be expected by the public, employers and colleagues.
11. Communicate complex and contentious information clearly and effectively to specialists and non-specialists.

Reflective weblog
Micro-teaching presentation
Applied psychology internship

Professional practice reflective log (ILO 9-10)
Clinical practice reports (ILO 9, 11)
Practice portfolio (ILO 9-10)
End point assessment (ILO 1-11)

7. Programme Regulations

Programme-specific Progression Rules

You must pass all the modules in the table above. The pass mark for these modules is 50% with an additional requirement to pass all individual assessments within individual modules. If you fail any modules you will not be permitted to continue with the programme and your registration as a student will be terminated with immediate effect.

Programme failure due to serious professional misconduct:

The Programme Lead, Director of Education and Student Experience and Director of Doctoral Clinical Postgraduate Research Programmes will normally recommend to the Faculty Board that a student fails the programme if, following investigation, the student has been found to have engaged in serious professional misconduct – that is, conduct that seriously infringes the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct, or the Division of Clinical Psychology Professional Practice Guidelines. Any actions taken would be carried out in consultation with the employing NHS trust or organisation where applicable.

Classification

Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.

8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning

A range of services is available to support your study from within Psychology. These include:

  • Team development programme.
  • Personal and professional development planning.
  • Student handbooks and programme guides.
  • Range of specialist advisors, including for: women students, non-school leavers, and overseas students.
  • Computing and Statistics Help Desk.
  • Virtual Resource Room and other web-based learning materials.
  • Clinically focused seminars, the ‘Think Tank’, provided by the Mood Disorders Centre.

9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning

Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.

10. Admissions Criteria

Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.

Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.

Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.

11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.

The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.

(Quality Review Framework.

14. Awarding Institution

University of Exeter

15. Lead College / Teaching Institution

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

16. Partner College / Institution

Partner College(s)

Not applicable to this programme

Partner Institution

Not applicable to this programme.

17. Programme Accredited / Validated by

0

18. Final Award

MSc Clinical Associate in Psychology - Children and Young People (CYP) (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship)

19. UCAS Code

Not applicable to this programme.

20. NQF Level of Final Award

7 (Masters)

21. Credit

CATS credits

180

 ECTS credits

90

22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group

23. Dates

Origin Date

28/08/2020

 Date of last revision

04/01/2023