Staffordshire University

Course staff, clinical psychologists from within Shropshire and Staffordshire, and service users/carers all participate in all aspects of the selection process.

We recruit to the values of the NHS Constitution. This influences our selection criteria and especially the values we are seeking to be demonstrated in both your application and interview, which we view as essential in any individual involved in working with service users.

Screening test

• Applicants who meet the minimum GBC, reference/suitability statement, academic and experience criteria for entry will be invited to undertake screening during February. Please see our Entry Requirements page if you need more details.
• We will provide candidates with details of the online screening test once all applications have been received.
• We rank scores and select the top scoring candidates for interview.
• Individual scores and rankings are not provided to candidates after the screening task has been completed.

Interview

The second stage of selection is an in-person interview in May.

• This involves a single panel interview incorporating a values-based role-play element.
• The interview broadly assesses applied academic, research and clinical knowledge as well as personal suitability for training.
• Panel members include course staff, local clinical psychology clinicians and service user/carer representatives.
• We interview on a ratio of three people for each place we can offer.

You will be required to provide both proof of identity (passport or photo driving licence) and eligibility to work in the UK without a work permit at interview.

Following this stage, offers will be made to the most suitable candidates, subject to satisfactory Occupational Health screening and Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Feedback

Following interview, we provide brief, constructive feedback to unsuccessful candidates.

We do not provide individual feedback for those not invited for interview due to the large number of applicants.

Equal opportunities

Staffordshire University is committed to equality, inclusion, and diversity to ensure we promote a positive culture where everyone is able to be themselves.

We focus on equal opportunities for all our people and demonstrating our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Human Rights in everything we do.

Our equality framework, objectives, and reports showing how we're performing can be viewed on the Staffordshire University website.

We do not currently use equal opportunities data for positive action in our selection processes.

Contextual admissions

Our programme is considering developing contextual recruitment processes.

This is based on evidence that contextualising individuals' achievements using additional information about their educational, social and economic background can lead to fairer and more inclusive selection processes. In particular, this information could help us to recognise individuals with strong potential for success at doctoral level and within the profession, who otherwise might not have been identified.

We will in due course provide further details on our website about how we will use the Contextual Admissions data from applications e.g.:

• as part of our selection processes
• for audit/research purposes to consider developments to selection processes in future years
• to create reports for external agencies such as NHS England (which commissions many of the training programmes); etc.

Applicants with disabilities

We do not use Disability Confident, however we do make reasonable adjustments in the selection process for applicants with disabilities.