South Wales

Online Open Event

Our programme will be holding an online Programme Open Event at:

5:00pm on Tuesday 10th September 2024

At the event you can find out more about us and meet some of the programme team. To register your interest for this event, please follow the link above and complete the form.

Course Structure

Research and Neuropsychology competency development runs across the three years.

Year 1

The focus is on developing competence in:

• Direct work with clients
• Professional and ethical practice
• Awareness of social, cultural and developmental context
• Building relationships
• The clinical cycle
• Developing skill in direct therapeutic work

Clinical experience

The South Wales Clinical Psychology Programme takes a Competency-Based approach to training. In Year 1, as noted above, the focus is on developing Direct clinical competencies, that includes CBT experiences.

Placements can be for either 6 months or 12 months, with the majority of placements currently offered as 12-month placements.

Placements can be in a range of settings in Year 1, including:

• Older adult services
• Adult mental health services
• Health Psychology services
• Forensic settings

The Clinical Stream reviews the placement availability in each Health Board every year, alongside the needs of the trainees. Therefore, other placements may be offered.

Year 2

Builds on Year 1 and has a focus on developing competence in:

• Working indirectly including working with carers
• Professional teams and statutory services
• Systemic practice
• Positive behaviour support

Clinical experience

As part of the competency-based approach to training; placements focus on settings where indirect experiences can be obtained. This can include Systemic approaches as well as other forms of indirect work.

As with Year 1, placements may be offered on a 6-month or 12-month basis. This is based upon Trainee competency-development needs as well as placement availability.

Placements can be within a range of settings in Year 2, including:

• Children and Young People
• Learning Disabilities
• Health Settings

Other placement options may be considered based upon trainee competency development needs and placement availability.
 

Year 3

Builds on Years 1 and 2 and has a focus on:

• Organisational working
• Leadership
• Applications of clinical psychology and wider therapeutic approaches
• Working in specialist settings

This year may include the opportunity to address outstanding clinical experience and/or take an elective placement.

Research

Trainees choose from a range of large-scale research project (LSRP) topics that reflect staff expertise across key research themes. These are:

• Child and adolescent mental health
• Intervention development and service improvement
• Mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan
• Clinical health psychology

Staff profiles and research interests are available to view on the Cardiff University website.