Assistant Psychologist

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Assistant Psychologist

• Sira Arshad
• and
• Joanne Robinson

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ASSISTANT PSYCHOLOGIST Overview

• Qualifications Experience
• Finding an Assistant Psychologist Post
• Agenda for Change
• Clinical training- the process of applying and
  the mystery of what you need
• Personal accounts of experiences relevant to
  psychology.

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Qualifications Experience

• Undergraduate dissertation in an area which is
  relevant to clinical psychology
• 3rd year options related to clinical psychology
• Degree classification 21 or a 22 Masters
• Voluntary work day centres, psychology
  departments
• Paid work as a care worker, banking, nursing
  assistant, mental health worker etc. Doesnt
  have to be in Psychology

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Finding an Assistant Post

• BPS Memorandum
• Local newspapers e.g. The Guardian - jobs on a
  Wednesday
• Internet sites e.g. Jobs.ac.uk,
  Psychminded.ac.uk, fish4jobs, Sector1, Health
  Jobs UK
• Internal jobs vacancies/ HR dep.
• Local Psychology Graduate groups e.g. Leeds
  Assistant Group, YGPG
• Contact local departments letters

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Applying for an Assistant Psychologist Post

• Eligibility for Membership to the BPS
• Application forms Relate to the core
  responsibilities duties of the post
• Include your experiences and what you have learnt
  from them ability to reflect and think
  psychologically
• Talk about key transferable skills e.g. rapport
  with clients
• Dont forget about statistics and computer
  skills, the jobs often require them

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Being an Assistant PsychologistOn Reflection..

• Flexibility May have to apply for jobs in an
  area different to where you live
• Ability to cope with job insecurity and
  uncertainty6-12 month contracts, sometimes these
  are extended
• Patience - may not get a job straight after
  graduation - be prepared for unpaid, voluntary
  work

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Post Graduate Training in Clinical Psychology

• Clearing House 31 courses
• Hertfordshire Course
• Queens University Belfast
• Trinity College Dublin
• New Keele Staffordshire Course

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Number of Places Clearing House

• The success rate in 2003 was 27.Between 1 in 3
  and 1 in 4 applicants got a place on a course.
• The number of places is rising e.g. it has more
  than doubled since 1995. However, the number of
  applicants has also increased e.g. by 32 from
  2001 to 2003.
• Clinical psychology is an expanding profession
  with good career prospects, and all the courses
  have excellent completion rates.

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Personal Experience

• Graduated 2000
• Day Care Worker Adult, Community Mental Health
• Voluntary, Audit Learning Disabilities
• Part time, voluntary research assistant NHS
• Learning mentor Teenage Pregnancy LEA
• 2.5 days research assistant Child
• 2.5 days assistant psychologist CPPP
• 2.5 days increased to full time assistant
  psychologist Clinical Health

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Personal Experience

• Publications x 3 including undergraduate
  dissertation
• First Application 2003 intake
• Applied to 4 courses, 1 interview
• Second Application 2004 intake
• Publications x 6
• Applied to 4 courses, 2 interviews
• ( on 1 reserve list)

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Personal Experience

• Graduated 2002 21
• Volunteer/care worker - York District Hospital
• Volunteer The Retreat, Mental Health services
  Therapeutic Community
• Assistant Psychologist Looked After Children
• Assistant Psychologist Audit Evaluation SJUH

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Personal Experience

• Research Undergraduate Project
• Publication - article in NCB newsletter re
  Training for LAC staff
• 1st Application 2003 intake, 4 courses - no
  interviews
• 2nd Application 2004 intake, 4 courses - 2
  interviews

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Some things to think about

• You need to be committed to a career in clinical
  psychology and very patient
• You may find yourself in the same clinical area
  in your assistant/care etc. jobs, but keep
  applying for different areas as your skills are
  transferable
• NHS experience is probably the most relevant to
  your application

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Thank You!

• Any Questions??