Course Catalogue

The programme aims are to: Train individuals to be eligible to apply for Registered Health Psychologist and Chartered Psychologist status Train individuals who are able to carry out safe independent practice* in health psychology Train individuals who are able to reflect on their practice and produce work at the forefront of health psychology *Practice is defined as demonstration of the following competences: research, teaching & training, consultancy, professional skills and behaviour change interventions.

Workshops, lectures, supervision, placement learning. A range of coursework assessments to include research papers, case studies and reflective commentaries. Viva voce examination. Each assessment is mapped onto learning outcomes attached to specific competences, given that the national curriculum is based upon a competency model. It will be possible for previously experienced trainees to submit a portfolio of evidence, including a mapping document and commentary, which can substitute for certain assessments/competences. This is limited to consultancy, research, teaching and training and behaviour change interventions, and no more than 50% of the assessments within 8002HEAPSY, the practice module, will be accepted via substitute evidence under any circumstances. In addition, work being submitted must relate to skills and knowledge acquired under the supervision of a Health Psychologist or equivalent specialist, and must have been acquired after the trainee obtained eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership from the British Psychological Society (BPS GBC).

The entire programme, and others of its ilk, is predicated upon work-based learning in placement/s supplemented by supervision and taught elements. The majority of time is spent in placement (employment or voluntary work) which is set up by the trainee rather than the course team (who assess each proposed placement against criteria as to their relevance and levelness). The university's policies on placement learning will apply except if professional body requirements are different. Normally professional body and competent authority requirements are more detailed. Placements are a prerequisite for being accepted onto the course, although candidates do not have to have a full, two-year placement established at the outset, rather a minimum of one year. This reflects the reality of the availability of longer-term posts. Placements can be in a variety of areas, including the NHS, university departments, the Department of Health, NICE, health-related charities, practices of individual practitioners, and so on. They must allow the trainee enough autonomy that they can develop elements of their workstream and provide evidence for the use of health psychology models and approaches and demonstrate that they have met the requirements for each of the national curriculum competences at the appropriate level. Trainees can have as many placements as necessary, although achieving the competences through one or two placements in strongly encouraged. In each placement there is a placement contact, usually the line manager, who works with the Programme Team to ensure that the work is being conducted satisfactorily. They have no part in the assessment, however. Lines of reporting are in place to ensure that if there are problems in the workplace the Programme Team is notified, since Fitness to Practise procedures might need to be invoked. Placement visits, usually on site, occur three times in the course of each individual's training. Trainees are registered on a programme that could bring them into contact with children and/or vulnerable adults. Therefore they are required to apply for a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service through the University. The Faculty has a Criminal Convictions Panel, with external members, at which any trainee whose check shows evidence of a Police record is considered in the context of their suitability to remain on their chosen course of study. Details of application will be made available to trainees during the interview process. The programme is built to follow the LJMU Code of Practice for Placement Learning with note of the following caveat from the code: In some schools, professional considerations and PSRB requirements may involve a set of requirements and/or procedures over and above those outlined in this Code. In such cases, the requirements of the PSRB must always be met. This Code of Practice provides the minimum requirements for LJMU management of placement learning.