Clinical Placement B1

Overview

The aim of this first external placement is to further develop competencies across the range of clinical psychology practice areas, including assessment; intervention; ethical; legal and professional practice; research and evaluation; and communication and interprofessional learning.

Unit learning outcomes

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Assessment

Content

• Placements are designed to provide supervised professional training in the practice of clinical psychology within specific clinical settings. Students will be given opportunities to practice their skills while being supervised in a supportive and constructively critical environment. The skill development targets of placements B1 will include demonstrated higher level competence in the skills initially developed in placements A1 and A2. The particular form of these advanced professional skills will differ for each student because the setting and professional role will differ in accordance with each trainee’s skill, experience level, and professional interests. This placement is undertaken in an external field setting and can only commence after placements A1 and A2 are successfully completed and passed. Trainees will typically be under the direct daily supervision of an on-site psychologist who meets supervisor registration standards as set out by AHPRA.
• Clinical Placement B1 can occur at a variety of settings, depending upon the trainee's experience, skill and interests, and the availability of appropriate on-site supervision and a useful training role in the organisation. Placement choices must be planned well in advance and trainees must demonstrate flexibility in relation to placement opportunities and travel. This includes availability to undertake placement during working hours for at least 2 days per week. It is essential to start the placement planning process early to ensure you secure a position on time. 
• In discussion with the placement coordinator, trainees must consider the requirement for breadth of experience as well as their own skill development needs. It is a requirement of the course that trainees have experience with a wide range of client problems (e.g., acute as well as chronic presentations) across the lifespan (i.e., child, adolescent, adult, older adult) and in different settings (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, day patient, community). Trainees are also expected to employ a variety of clinical skills (e.g., assessment, treatment, professionalism).