Child Clinical Placement 2#

Subject 512-922 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 37.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 95 placement days over the year. 1.5 hour conference per week for 24 weeks
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: PSYC00012 Clinical Placement 1
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

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

Contact

Dr Rowena Conway
Subject Overview:

The 95 day placement is comprised of three components: (i) 54 days of field placement, and (ii) 100 hours of patient contact + 50 hours of supervision in the Royal Children's Hospital Services, which is considered to be the equivalent of 40 days and (iii) a one day workshop to teach skills in administering special tests. In addition, students are required to participate in the Clinical Case Conference. Each of these components are described in further detail below:

Field Placements.

Students are required to successfully complete field placements of a total of 55 days, including a compulsory 15 day observational neuropsychology placement at the Austin Repat Medical Centre. These placements may occur in a variety of child and adolescent mental health agencies across Melbourne. There will be a wide range of clients, problems, assessments and outcomes across the age range as part of this experience. Some specialised experiences with particular disorders and setting will be available. The placements will provide students with an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the professional practice of clinical psychology in paediatric settings.

Students will be expected to see children, adolescents and families for individual treatment and to demonstrate that they possess the knowledge and skills to provide interventions for a variety of diagnostic problems. The integration of the placement experiential learning and the didactic content in seminars will provide students with the opportunities to evaluate the most appropriate interventions for a given disorder using evidence based treatment models.

Supervisors will be registered Clinical Psychologists. 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. Royal Children's Hospital Services Placement. Students are required to accrue 100 hours of patient contact, which will comprise of the assessment and treatment of patients referred to the Hospital services. For each 3 hours of patient contact, students receive 1.5 hours of individual and group supervision (equivalent to 40 placement days).

C. Clinical Case Conference

(Co-ordinator: Dr Nancy McMurray/Dr Elisabeth Northam).

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 (content and focus on 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
  • Discussion of broad professional and ethical issues
  • Implementation

Child specialization students will alternate between a Clinical Case Conference taken with Clinical and Neuropsychology students and a specialist Child Clinical Case Conference.

D. Assessment Skills Workshops. Students will participate in a 1-day workshop to be coordinated by the Stream Coordinators. It will be held prior to the start of classes in semester 1 and 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 their stream.

Objectives:

The subject aims to provide students with further opportunities to experience a range of clinical presentations across the life span and to begin functioning as a clinical psychologist, under the supervision of a field supervisor. Students will receive further experieince in history taking, conducting a mental state examination, arriving at a case formulation and making treatment plans. Under supervision, sutdnets will be give the opportunity to develop competency in the provision of psychological treatments to individuals and (where appropriate) groups.

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

Assessment: This subject is marked on a Pass/Fail only basis.

University and field supervisors will jointly determine whether the student has passed the placement. Both supervisors and the student will formally meet in the middle and end of each of the placements 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 rectify deficiencies, if necessary by requiring the student to undergo further training. Students who do not receive a satisfactory report from their placement supervisor may be required to complete a further placement before being passed in this component

Students will be required to write a 2-3 page report at the end of their placement detailing their experiences during the placement, as well as their perceived strengths and weaknesses. Field supervisors will be asked to complete a brief structured report on the student's progress.

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.

Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts:
  • Kendall, P. & Panichelli-Mindel, M. (1995). Cognitive-Behavioural treatments. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. 23, 107-124.
  • Spence, S. (1994) Practitioner Review: Cognitive therapy with children and adolescents: from theory to practice. Journal of Child Psychiatry and Psychology and Allied Disciplines. 35 (7), 1191-1228.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Students will be given the opportunity to become familiar with a range of child, adolescent and family problems and to begin to function as practitioners, although closely supervised by field supervisors. Students will be instructed on how to take a history, conduct assessments and develop a case formulation, present a report, make treatment recommendations, and conduct short-term treatment and manage cases under supervision.

Related Course(s): Master of Psychology (Clinical Child)
Master of Psychology/PhD (Clinical Child)

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