University of Leicester

Trainee Support

The Leicester Course places considerable importance on trainee support, wellbeing and development, and offers a number of mechanisms for this:

• Each year cohort has an identified Academic Tutor, who together with their identified Line Manager act as Year Tutors with responsibility for communications and overseeing all aspects of training (clinical, professional, academic and personal). The Academic Tutor provides general guidance and support specifically for academic aspects of training. 
• You will also have a Clinical Tutor with specific responsibility for supporting you on clinical placements as you progress through training.
• As well as ongoing support/guidance, a developmental perspective is maintained through meeting once a year with an allocated Developmental Tutor
• The identified Line Manager ensures trainees are managed consistently according to NHS policies and procedures and, along with the clinical tutors, provide guidance and support for clinical aspects of training. 
• Trainees are encouraged to access a local clinician who can act as an independent and confidential Mentor, throughout training, who can provide an additional source of support. Alternatively, trainees may nominate a clinical psychologist they already have a relationship with to act as their mentor. 
• A "buddy system", in which each new trainee is allocated a second year trainee, also operates to provide an informal source of support on any issues or worries.
• There is a system of monthly Reflective Practice Seminars during term time, in which trainees discuss clinical cases and dilemmas in small groups.
• The Course structure includes several mechanisms whereby trainees are represented on operational and strategic committees, and there are monthly liaison meetings in term time for each cohort with their tutors. These provide an opportunity for trainees to feedback their experiences to the course team.
• We have three informal inter-year, peer support groups for trainees with intersectional identities which trainees are warmly invited to attend: trainees with disabilities, long term health conditions and neurodiversity; trainees who are also parents or carers; trainees who experience racism.
• Trainees can access free University and Trust wellbeing support services.

Training with us at Leicester

We are a relatively small course. This affords the course team the opportunity to get to know our trainees well over the course of their training and to offer more individualised support. Our relatively small cohort sizes (30 planned for 2025) allows for discussions and workshop formats within teaching.

Our course team have a diverse range of experience and expertise. Many of the team also hold clinical posts within the region.

We have a focus on equality, diversity and inclusion across all areas of the programme. We are also committed to anti racist practice, increasing access and widening diversity throughout the profession. 

What we offer:

• A varied and exciting curriculum across the three years of training with teaching delivered by course staff and local clinicians with expert knowledge in their field.
• Thesis and service evaluation publication support
• Critical thinking is both taught and encouraged
• Excellent varied and wide ranging placements across Leicestershire and Northamptonshire 
• Strong links with and support from NHS supervisors
• Many opportunities to collaborate with service users across all aspects of the programme
• The opportunity to work with professional actors for simulation throughout training to develop clinical skills

The Clinical Psychology programme at the University of Leicester is accommodated within the George Davies Building on main campus. Opened in 2016, the building houses staff and students from our Medical School, Department of Health Sciences and School of Psychology and Vision Sciences. It is a modern location 10-15 minutes’ walk from the railway station and 20-25 minutes’ walk to the city centre. It is also the largest non-residential Passivhaus building in the UK.

Leicester is a vibrant and multi-cultural city in the heart of the East Midlands with an excellent range of amenities all close at hand.