The DClinPsy Psychology at Lincoln is referred to as the Trent Programme, a multi-agency collaboration between Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust, Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, and the Universities of Lincoln and Nottingham.
The programme is designed to train students from diverse backgrounds to become resourceful clinicians capable of drawing on a broad range of psychological models and theories, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), to inform their practice as Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered and British Psychological Society (BPS) Chartered clinical psychologists. Upon successful completion, the programme leads to the award of a DClinPsy doctoral degree.
The programme aims to develop the strengths of both scientist-practitioner and reflective-practitioner stances; skills in a variety of assessment, formulation, and intervention techniques; confidence in using research methods to answer clinical questions; organisational and service evaluation skills; and awareness of priority groups within the NHS. Students can develop the confidence required to perform as highly effective individual clinicians, and in the leadership and consultancy roles expected of the clinical psychologists of the future.
Accredited by the British Psychological Society
Opportunities to contextualise learning through a variety of placements
Supervision and support from expert academic staff
Present at talks and seminars to showcase your work
Get and provide peer support through mentor schemes
The overall purpose and philosophy of the programme is designed to meet the changing clinical, organisational, and training needs of the NHS.
The course begins with a focus on working with individuals, progresses to working with groups and families, before finally focusing on working at a societal level and on systems and in organisations.
In accordance with the current Health and Care Professions Council Standards for Education and Training, and with current British Psychological Society accreditation criteria, teaching is based on HCPC Standards of Proficiency and BPS core competences. The academic programme has been designed to mirror the planned acquisition of competences on placements.
Year One
During the first year, the emphasis is on acquiring basic clinical skills and practising them in one-to-one settings.
During the second term, the Individual Client Interventions module is taught at the University of Nottingham on a day release basis, alongside the second research module in which trainees produce a systematic literature review. Throughout most of the programme trainees have one day per week for independent study, and during certain parts of the programme students also have a day per week for research.
Year Two
In the second year, students can consolidate their skills and begin to develop the competences required to work with people with disabilities, children and adolescents, and older adults. During the second year, trainees also work towards completion of a research portfolio for submission early in the third year.
Year Three
The final year of the programme focuses on developing the skills needed to work with small groups and families, before shifting towards working with systems and at an organisational level.
Students also undertake two more placements and may have the opportunity to choose one of these placements in a specialised area. The main purpose of theses placements is to ensure that any client groups, areas of work, standards of proficiency, and competences not addressed by the previous placements, but required by the HCPC and the BPS, have been achieved.
On Placement:
While on a placement, students receive one and a half hours per week of formal supervision and one and a half hours of informal contact with a supervisor. There is also a minimum of three meetings per placement with a clinical tutor. More meetings are available depending on individual student needs.
Academic:
There is a thirteen-week intense block of teaching at start of the course, followed by teaching one day per week for most of the first six months of the academic year. There is also a minimum of two meetings per term with a personal tutor (one individual and one group).
Research:
Students are able to meet with their research tutor a minimum of ten times per year. More meetings are available depending on individual student needs.
Independent Study:
Students are generally expected to spend one day per week in independent study. Larger blocks of independent study and 'study days' are expected around the thesis and other submissions. The amount of independent study required will vary depending on the individual needs of each student.
This programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), and leads to a professional qualification in Clinical Psychology (Doctor of Clinical Psychology - DClinPsy).
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
These one-year placements aim to help students feel part of a team, establish a secure base, identify with a service, develop effective working relationships, and work with longer-term cases. Foundation placements are usually in adult mental health services with an emphasis on cognitive behavioural therapy based formulations and interventions. Other evidence-based practice models are also introduced to encourage students to make critical comparisons and develop expertise in their preferred approaches.
The programme operates buddy and mentor schemes to support trainees. The buddy scheme aims to pair up first year students with those who have already progressed on the course to provide informal support and help build relationships between different year groups. The mentor scheme is designed to enable trainees to make contact with a qualified clinical psychologist in the Trent region for support throughout the programme.
As BPS-accredited training, this programme offers experience in cognitive behavioural therapy and other evidence-based practice models. During the first term of the second year, there are flexible options which allow students to study complementary and alternative evidence-based practice approaches. During the third year, there is the opportunity to consolidate special interest through the choice of the third year specialist placement.
We conduct a wide range of research across the School of Psychology, and encourage our postgraduate students to engage with the number of research groups which are running.
The programme makes use of practice-based learning and associated assessments during the first and third years. Students are assessed using a combination of assessed role-play interviews and presentations, as well as written exercises. The programme also uses case studies, essays, oral presentations, and vivas to assess progress throughout the programme.
Assessment Feedback
Students will receive assignment feedback via email consisting of a provisional grade, detailed formative feedback (containing the comments of at least two markers), and a summary statement.
First Submissions
For anything other than the thesis, we aim to return marks and feedback on the Friday morning six weeks post-submission. If delayed, feedback will be returned the following Friday.
Extensions and Resubmissions
Normal turnaround time cannot be guaranteed for students who receive extensions or resubmissions of work.
Postgraduate Research Application Support
Find out more about the application process for research degrees and what you'll need to complete on our How to Apply page, which also features contact details for dedicated support with your application.
How to Apply
First or upper second class honours degree (or international equivalent) in Psychology recognised by the British Psychological Society as conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, and a minimum of one year of relevant experience. Candidates with a lower second class degree (or international equivalent) may be considered if they EITHER have a postgraduate degree at masters level or higher OR meet specific contextual admissions indicators. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the contextual admissions questionnaire.
Applicants should have previous supervised practical experience relevant to clinical training which demonstrates that they have the personal and intellectual ability, including writing skills, to pursue a challenging and demanding postgraduate training course.
Postgraduate research experience can be an advantage, and the capacity to be critical and analytical, to work in a self-motivated independent way, and to set personal priorities is essential. Innovative and entrepreneurial potential is also highly desirable. Candidates should have a long-standing interest in clinical psychology and a strong understanding and commitment to the positive and unique contribution psychologists can make to the NHS.
Excellent interpersonal skills at a level appropriate for dealing with people in distress and the ability to collaborate with colleagues from other disciplines are expected. Candidates should note that with the Clearing House application the Relevant Experience Reference must be from your current employer.
The programme covers a large geographical area and teaching is provided at both the University of Lincoln and the University of Nottingham. A current driving licence or other means of being independently mobile is essential. Trainees should expect to travel for at least two and a half hours per day (between both universities and from base to placement).
Trainees whose first language is not English will be required to have a recognised English language qualification achieved no more than two years prior to admission:
- A British Council IELTS overall minimum score of 7.5 with no element below 7.0, achieved no more than two years prior to admission.
- Pearson Test of English Academic: 73 (minimum 67).
- Centre for English Language Education pre-sessional course final assessment of "Pass with High Distinction".
The selection procedure operates within the equal opportunities policies of the two universities and the NHS partners, and no applicant will be discriminated against on grounds of race, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Groups currently under-represented in clinical psychology are encouraged to apply, including individuals from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
The programme currently only accepts trainees who are funded through NHS training commissions, and successful candidates will be employed by one of the three partner trusts. All applicants are subject to the same selection process and criteria regardless of which NHS Trust employs them.
Entry to the programme is through the Clearing House application and subsequent selection procedure. All trainees must undertake the full programme. APL or APEL does not apply.
This programme currently only accepts trainees who are funded through NHS training commissions, and successful candidates will be employed by one of the three partner trusts. All applicants are subject to the same selection process and criteria regardless of which NHS Trust employs them.
For more information about this course, please contact the Programme Leader.
Mark Gresswell
mgresswell@lincoln.ac.uk
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