Psychological Therapy in Primary Care

Snapshot

Overview

The growing demand for psychological interventions for adults presenting with common mental health disorders (e.g. anxiety and depression) in NHS Primary care has been identified in a variety of studies by central government and professional bodies. Following consultation with NHS stakeholders, NES has supported the development of a new role for psychology graduates in NHS Scotland as Clinical Associates in Applied Psychology. The Masters level training for this new role is designed to equip psychology graduates with the competence required to deliver the evidence-based psychological interventions required in circumscribed areas of practice defined by service need. The delivery of training involves a partnership, brokered by NES, between the Universities providing the academic components of the training programmes, the Universities of Stirling and Dundee, and the NHS which supports trainees in supervised clinical practice in the workplace.

The 12-month course has a strong but not exclusive emphasis on cognitive behavioural therapy and on the application of scientific methods to health care and assessment. Students attend one or other of the universities for 3/4 days each month.

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Aims of the Programme

On completion of the course, and following agreed and appropriate supervision and continuing professional development, graduates will be competent in the assessment and treatment of adult patients suffering from a range of common mental health disorders typically presenting in primary care settings. Thereafter it is expected that trainees will continue in supervised clinical practice in order to consolidate and develop further their clinical skills.

Specifically the course aims:

• to create knowledge of the prevalence, diagnostic criteria, presentation and current psychological theories of common mental health disorders in adults
• to create the ability to assess common mental health disorders by means of standardised scales, interviews techniques and observation
• to foster the ability to develop clinical formulation based on information obtained from case notes, interviews, standardised scales and observation
• to foster the therapeutic skills to deliver appropriate psychological treatments for common mental health disorders in Primary Care and evaluate progress and outcome of treatment

Methods of Assessment

Academic and clinical competence is assessed through a combination of case reports, examinations, clinical supervision, and a dissertation. There is a strong emphasis on practice-based evidence assessed via audio recordings of therapy sessions.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must have the Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society and an Honours degree in Psychology (2:1 or above) and should have appropriate personal qualities suited to employment in the NHS. Some experience of working in a caring or clinical setting is desirable but not essential. Recruitment is jointly undertaken by representative senior academic and NHS staff.

English Language Requirement: IELTS of 6.5, with minimum of 6.0 in the Writing component and a preferred 6.0 in the other three components (no component below 5.5) (or equivalent), if your first language is not English. Please check our Language Requirements page for details of equivalent grades from other test providers, and information about the University of Dundee English Language courses.

Sources of Funding

The School of Medicine is not currently offering any school scholarships.

Other sources of funding for postgraduate students can be found on our Scholarships webpage.

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