Clinical Placement 2#

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

PSYC00013 Clinical Placement 1

PSYC00029 Graduate Research Methods

PSYC00030 Psychological Assessment across the Lifespan

PSYC00031 Introduction to Psychopathology

PSYC00011 Advanced Psychological Assessment & Diagnosis

PSYC00015 Advanced Psychopathology

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The 95 day placement comprises three components: (i) 54 days of field placement, and (ii) a second placement deemed equivalent to 40 days comprising contact with patients across the lifespan and supervision. This casework will be conducted in the University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and at the Royal Children's Hospital. The delivery of training [in two hour seminars] to health and welfare professionals will also be counted towards the 40 hour component.; and (iii) students are required to participate in the Clinical Case Conference as instructed by the Stream Convenor

A. Field Placements. Students are required to successfully complete field placements of a total of 54 days. Students will typically be assigned to one placement context and, depending on availability, this may include adult and child, acute and rehabilitation, and specialist services. It should be noted that over the course of the Masters and Doctoral programs, students are expected to experience a range of placements (eg adult, child, older age, specialist placements)

Supervisors will be registered psychologists and will also normally be members (or eligible for membership) of the College of Clinical Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society. The field supervisors will be responsible for ensuring that students are adequately introduced to the field setting and for day-to-day supervision of the student's placement. Field Supervisors will ensure that students are exposed to a range of clinical work, as far as possible allowing the student to function as a clinical psychologist within the facility.

B. Psychology Department Clinic Placement. Students are required to complete 40 days placement in the University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and at the Royal Children's Hospital. The placement will combine patient contact, supervision and the optional delivery of training. Over the 40 days, students are required to accrue 100 hours of face-to-face contact with patients. Students are required to spend 20 hours within the Royal Children's Hospital and 80 hours within the Royal Melbourne Hospital site. Patient contact comprises the assessment and treatment of adults and children. Treatment will comprise around 80% of case hours. It is expected that most treatment hours will comprise individual treatment, although there may also be scope for family or group treatment. Individual supervision may be augmented with group supervision.

C. Clinical Case Conference (Co-ordinator: Assoc Prof Mike Kyrios). There are two major purposes for the clinical case conference. The first is to provide the opportunity (structure, feedback) for students to gain skills in presenting case material in an effective, professional manner, with emphases on the following:

• Selection of material (clinical content and focus of presentation)
• Organisation of the material (format; use of overheads, etc)
• Personal presentation skills
• Physical environment
• Timing of presentations
• Evaluation/feedback

The second is to provide the opportunity for students to discuss selected clinical issues in a large group format, with emphases on the following:

• Focus/purpose for formal case presentations
• Integration of clinical and research material within scientist-practitioner framework of professional practice.
• Discussion of broad professional and ethical issues
• Implementation of professional skills

D. Assessment Skills Workshops. Students will participate in a 1-day workshop which will be an extension of the workshop conducted within the first year placement. Students will be instructed in the administration of specialist tests related to the stream.

The subject aims to provide students with further opportunities to experience a range of clinical presentations across the lifespan and to begin functioning as a clinical psychologist, under the supervision of a field supervisor. Studnets will recevied further experience in hsitory-taking, conducting a mental state examination, arriving at a case forumalation and making treatment plans. Under supervision, studnets will be given the opportunity to develop competency in the provision of psychological treatments to individuals and (where appropriate) groups.

The subject also aims to give the studnet experience of professional psychology practice, including professional presentation, report writing and record keeping, managing a clinical caseload and liaison with other professional practitioners.

University and field supervisors will jointly determine whether the student has passed the placement. Both supervisors and the student will formally meet at least once during the placement to determine progress and outcome. Feedback will be given regularly to the student.

If it becomes apparent during placement that the student's performance is inadequate in some respect, then the supervisors will attempt to help the student to rectify deficiencies, if necessary by requiring the student to undergo additional training. Students who do not receive a satisfactory report from placement supervisor/s may be required to complete further placement experience before being passed in this component.

Students will be required to write a brief report at the end of their placement detailing the work undertaken, and their learning experiences. Field supervisors will be asked to complete a structured report on the student's progress.

Satisfactory attendance and participation at case conference is also required. Attendance criteria for case conference will be equivalent to those for coursework.

Students are required to satisfactorily complete all administrative duties relating to their clinical work and placements.

Assessment Skills Workshop. Assessment will be in the form of a hurdle requirement. It will consist of meeting adequate standards of test administration and report writing.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Written, oral and interpersonal communication skills

Analytic and informaiton synthesing skills.