RPHLTPSY - Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology

This course will offer a Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology on completion of two years full-time supervised practice (or equivalent), attendance at workshops and completion of the Thesis Portfolio. The course offered here will have a strong practitioner focus with students taking part in at least one work placement equivalent to two years of full time placement learning. This placement should be suitable for demonstrating and developing health psychology skills. Completion of the course will be commensurate with demonstrating the competencies needed for achieving the Stage 2 qualification for Chartered Status. There will be a synthesis between taught workshops and the practical placements in achieving the qualification. Students will be required to demonstrate 50 core competencies in 5 core units to fulfil the requirements for Stage 2. In addition to this students will be required to complete D-level Research training by the end of the first year of the Thesis Stage. The course will be delivered by a combination of ½ or full-day professional workshops, supervised practice, research and peer supervision.

Professional body exemptions/accreditation: Eligibility to apply to the British Psychological Society for Chartered Psychology status and to Register with the Health & Care Professions Council as a Registered Health Psychologist

Preparatory stage: APL/AP(e)L - 180 Credits (via AP(e)L for MSc Health Psychology or Stage 1 qualification via the BPS

Thesis Stage: 360 Credits - Thesis Portfolio including:
D-level Research Training
Portfolio of Evidence

1. To produce competent, informed, reflective, ethically and professionally sound practitioners of health psychology who are able to work in different settings.
2. To enable students to develop consultancy skills in health psychology.
3. To ensure students are able to teach and train different groups in aspects of health and health psychology.
4. To provide students with the opportunity to plan and implement an original research project at doctoral level that is relevant to health psychology.
5. To provide an opportunity for students to acquire skills in developing, implementing, evaluating and reporting interventions of health psychology.
6. To satisfy the academic requirements for the core competencies specified by The British Psychological Society's Board of Examiners in Health Psychology.

Knowledge and understanding
On completing the course, students are expected to:
1. Understand how to carry out critical, well established and original research in an area of health psychology.
2. Have acquired sufficient knowledge to plan and deliver consultancy within health psychology.
3. Understand the ethical, legal and professional aspects of health psychology applied in practice.
4. Understand the techniques and methods used in teaching and training by health psychologists.
5. Demonstrate an advanced level of understanding on developing, implementing, evaluating and reporting of interventions.

Teaching /learning strategies and methods
1. Outcome 1 is promoted via professional workshops on advanced research methods, attendance at an ethics committee, supervision sessions, peer led supervision and self-directed learning carried out by students.
2. Outcome 2 is promoted via professional workshops on consultancy, supervision sessions, peer led supervision and self-directed learning carried out by students.
3. Outcome 3 is promoted via professional workshops on Professional competencies in health psychology, supervision sessions, placement learning, peer led supervision and self-directed learning carried out by students.
4. Outcome 4 is promoted via professional workshops on health psychology teaching and training, peer observed teaching, teaching sessions, supervision sessions, peer led supervision and self-directed learning carried out by students.
5. Outcome 5 is promoted via professional workshops on interventions in health psychology, supervision session, placement learning and self-directed learning carried out by students.

Assessment
1. Outcome 1 is evaluated primarily through summative and formative assessment of the systematic review and research dissertation.
2. Outcome 2 is evaluated from summative and formative assessment of the consultancy case study.
3. Outcome 3 is evaluated by summative and formative assessment of the reflective commentary and log book.
4. Outcome 4 is evaluated by summative and formative assessment of students log book, case study, teaching evaluation and reflective commentary including video.
5. Outcome 5 will be evaluated by summative and formative assessment of the student’s case study on interventions in health psychology.

Cognitive/intellectual skills
On completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Generate a doctoral level programme of research in health psychology which includes: conducting systematic review, designing a valid piece of research, implementing a research proposal, evaluating the findings of research in a systematic and informative way.
2. Critically review the literature on health psychology for application in professional and applied settings.
3. Demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills.

Teaching /learning strategies and methods
1. Intellectual and cognitive skills will be developed through the workshop activities, and by the application of information acquired in placements and during small group sessions.
2. Small group sessions will use discussion and problem solving techniques to address key competencies in practice. Students will use these sessions to reflect on ongoing placements. Feedback within these groups will be used to examine intellectual background to core competencies.

Assessment
1. Students will receive summative feedback and formative feedback on drafts of their dissertation and systematic review.
2. Feedback within small group sessions will be used to reflect on the role of research in applied health. Reflective commentary will demonstrate links between literature and professional practice. Elements of the teaching plan will need to be drawn from the educational literature on teaching delivery.
3. Case studies will involve students using problem solving and analytic skills to address the issues in both teaching and training, consultancy, and intervention work.

Practical skills
On completing the course, students are expected to:
1. Conduct a substantial empirical study to doctoral standard.
2. Use advanced qualitative and/or quantitative research techniques.
3. Reflect upon their learning and development as a chartered psychologist.
4. Communicate verbally and orally with different client groups.
5. Produce scientific writing to a publishable standard.

Teaching /learning strategies and methods
1. One-to-one supervision and the advanced research methods module will introduce students to outcomes 1 and 2 as well as considerable independent learning.
2. Placement learning and one-to-one supervision will enable students to reflect on personal aspects of the profession.
3. Verbal and oral communication will be implicit through workshop activities and discussions as well as one-to-one meeting with supervisors.
4. Self-directed learning and supervision meetings will enable students to develop writing skills of publishable standard. Writing skills will be taught implicitly through the use of scientific papers.

Assessment
1. Reflective logs will be used to evaluate personal reflection on development and learning as health psychologist.
2. Summative assessment of the video exercise as part of reflective commentary will be used to assess verbal skills. Written skills will be assessed through summative and formative assessment of all coursework.
3. Production of the dissertation will demonstrate skills in conducting empirical research and students writing to a publishable standard.

Key/transferable skills including employability and professional practice
On completing the course, students are expected to:
1. Have developed practitioner skills consistent with competencies needed to practice as a Chartered Psychologist/registered Health Psychologist.
2. Have developed skills that can be used in practice as a Chartered Psychologist/ Registered Health Psychologist.
3. Express themselves clearly and accurately, both orally and in writing in a context as a professional health psychologist.
4. Respond appropriately to the needs of clients from at least two different groups.

Teaching and learning strategies used.
1. Professional skills workshops will support students in developing employability skills. Placement learning will be where students develop their professional and key skills in communication and ability to respond to different groups. Sessions with supervisors will be used to discuss how these can be achieved.

Assessment
1. All assessment methods will demonstrate achievement of professional skills in students. In particular assessment methods of learning logs, reflective commentaries and case studies will demonstrate student’s abilities to apply such skills in practice. Supervision sessions with staff will be used to provide summative and formative feedback on all forms of assessment. Written coursework and video will be used to assess verbal and written skills. In addition peer group presentations will provide formative feedback. Production of case studies and optional area reports will demonstrate student’s ability to respond to different client groups.

Thesis Portfolio: 46000–52000 words in total (see components below)

D-level Research Training: Systematic review (6000 words)

Portfolio of Evidence:

Dissertation (25,000 – 30,000 words)

Professional competency portfolio (reflective commentary; 3000 words including log book)

Consultancy portfolio (case study) (3000 words)

Intervention portfolio (case study) (5000 words including reflective report)

Teaching and training portfolio (4500 words) Competency log book (to be provided for each competency logging relevant experience and learning throughout the course)

Viva voce (assesses entire Thesis Portfolio)

The programme includes compulsory work placement equivalent to 46 weeks full-time work for two years to be approved and supported by the Placement Tutor. Students will be required to have a work placement in place as a condition of acceptance on the course. Work placements should be organised by students themselves and be suitable to demonstrate relevant learning and practice for the course.

Students will be required to complete D-level research training by the end of the first year of the Thesis Stage.

The components that make up the Portfolio of Evidence can be undertaken in any order and submitted for assessment during the Thesis Stage. This flexibility is necessary so that the candidate may plan their doctoral work and ongoing professional activity in relation to the placement learning as appropriate.

Each year, candidates’ progress will be reviewed against agreed action plans and new action plans will be agreed in light of current circumstances.

Candidates must pass all assessments. Students are entitled to reassessment in line with the current academic regulations.

N/A

Graduates usually progress to careers within the health service, charity, business or academic sector in a professional capacity as Chartered Psychologists.

The course is recognised by the BPS (British Psychological Society) as providing the Stage 2 requirements for Chartered Psychologist status, and has been approved by the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) as a requirement for registration as a Registered Health Psychologist. Completion of the course enables you to apply for registration with these bodies.

Successful applicants are normally required to have:

• A Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• A good degree in psychology
• Completed an accredited MSc Health Psychology (60% average or above) or completed the Stage 1 qualification for Health Psychology with the BPS.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

For entry on to the course you must also have organised an appropriate work placement: A work placement that is equivalent to 46 weeks full-time work for two years that will be approved and supported by your lead supervisor.

Work placements should be organised by students themselves and be suitable to demonstrate relevant learning and practice for the course.

Please note that this course is not eligible for Tier 4 student sponsorship.