Course description
This new and unique one-year training course in applied psychology aims to give its graduates the knowledge, competencies and skills to provide psychological healthcare for children and young people in universal as well as specialised service settings.
It offers the basic training elements for applied psychologists, eg assessment and formulation, evaluation and research, and CAMH (Child and Adolescent Mental Health) professionals, eg child protection. There will be a particular focus on early intervention in terms of helping vulnerable families to foster positive relationships and positive parenting. The early recognition and management of emotional and behavioural childhood difficulties such as developmental problems will also be covered, and there will be a focus on promoting resilience by using behavioural and cognitive approaches to promote mental health and wellbeing as well as intervention early in a problem cycle.
Trainees will be placed throughout the year in one main Child and/or Adolescent Clinical Psychology Service or CAMHS within the NHS in Scotland under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist and will be involved in delivering services immediately. The trainee will attend the University of Edinburgh and NHS partnership sites in Glasgow and elsewhere for teaching blocks and days throughout the year.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of training, students will be qualified as Clinical Associates in Applied Psychology (Children and Young People) and, therefore, for employment in the NHS or other organisations. Graduates from this programme will be competent to work clinically with children, young people and their families in a variety of mental-health and primary-care settings.
How You Will Be Taught
Academic teaching is by lectures, seminars, and clinical-practice workshops. Students will be assessed through coursework and clinical competency on placement. The student is allocated a postgraduate supervisor who is a source of guidance and support and will provide academic supervision.
This one year training programme in applied psychology has arisen from the need to increase the number of child and adolescent mental health practitioners in Scotland. In line with the Scottish Needs Assessment Report on Child and Adolescent Mental Health (2003) and the Mental Health of Children and Young People: A Framework for Promotion, Prevention and Care (2005); this development aims to boost the provision of psychological healthcare for children and young people in universal as well as specialised service settings.
The programme has been developed by members of the NHS partnership with the University of Edinburgh under the auspices of NHS Education Scotland (NES). The programme will lead to the qualification Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology (Children and Young People). In addition to training in the essential elements for psychologists (e.g., assessment and formulation, evaluation and research) and CAMH professionals (e.g. Child Protection) there will be a particular focus on Early Intervention in two main areas.
Children playing in the mudThe core purpose and philosophy for the University of Edinburgh / NHS (Scotland) Masters in Applied Psychology for Children & Young People is to impart the range of skills essential for the graduates from this programme to deliver primary care based psychological assessments and interventions in services for children, young people and their families. The academic basis for the programme will be governed by current models of developmental psychology and developmental psychopathology in order to establish a solid theoretical foundation and genuine theory practice links. This one year programme will place an emphasis on evidence based practice and effective treatment models for this client group.
