PYN038 Supervised Clinical Externship: Practicum 4
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | PYN038 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | PYN037 |
| Other requisite(s): | Course Coordinator must approve enrolment on the successful completion of the prerequisite unit's requirements. |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | The Commonwealth supported place student contribution amount for this unit depends upon the course of study. Find out more |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $2,976 |
| International unit fee | $4,152 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PYN038 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | PYN037 |
| Other Requisite: | Course Coordinator must approve enrolment on the successful completion of the prerequisite unit's requirements. |
| Coordinator: | Gino Medoro | gino.medoro@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This core unit of the Master of Clinical Psychology course is intended to provide you with an opportunity to further develop clinical assessment, diagnostic, intervention and professional skills prior to graduating. This unit builds on your learning from the PY18 coursework, internship units, and PYN037. The PYN038 placement will engage you in advanced level work integrated learning as a provisional psychologist within a professional agency that provides psychological services. The unit is designed to meet the relevant supervised practicum requirements of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA PsyBA), Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and the Australian Psychological Society's College of Clinical Psychologists (APS CCLIN). Enrolment in this unit requires liaison with Course Coordinator and Unit Coordinator based on the requirement that relevant prerequisites have been achieved.
This is a designated unit which is essential to your course progression. Designated units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills, and units requiring demonstration of certain personal qualities. If you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit, you may be excluded from enrolment or will be put on academic probation. If you fail a designated unit twice within your course, you may be excluded. Supplementary assessment is not available on designated units.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Articulate and demonstrate an advanced level of competence in clinical psychological assessment, formulation, intervention strategies and treatment planning; with a capacity to act with greater autonomy and independence.
- Adhere competently to all ethical, legal and professional matters including knowledge of and adherence to the APS Code of Ethics, Psychological procedures specific to the placement site and legal requirements and reporting procedures involved in clinical psychological practice;
- Possess a high level of professionalism inlcuding in communication and professional conduct, in meeting placement requirements, punctuality and organisational skill; managing professional activities; maintaining effective communication with clients, health professionals and other agencies; critically appraising psychological research and communicate information to wider audiences, where applicable in the during the externship;
- Effectively utilise the supervision process, deliver case presentations within a multidisciplinary or other professional team, where appropriate, discuss relevant theoretical and clinical issues, follow supervisor's directive, give and receive constructive feedback in peer review, and to comply with the supervision contract;
- Use clinical evaluation relevant to your externship, including the use of feedback systems to effectively evaluate outcomes.
Content
The Supervised Clinical Externship comprises a minimum number of hours of practice in a selected field of psychological practice to comply with AHPRA and APAC supervised practice requirements. The hours must include a minimum number of hours of direct client contact. The minimum number of hours of supervision (one hour per 7.5 hours of client contact) is also included in the hours of practice At least 50% of the supervision hours must be on an individual basis. You must allocate sufficient time for the undertaking of the supervised practicum; i.e., minimum two days a week (or 15 hrs). Note that some externships require students to attend three days a week. As the final practicum experience you are expected to operate at a higher degree of professional autonomy suited to a practitioner who is near qualification.
Specifics of each Practicum's requirements are detailed in the Placement Handbook provided on the Unit Canvas site.
Learning Approaches
PYN038 is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) unit. You will be expected to engage in clinical activities, participate in various learning opportunities specific to the externship, and participate in case presentations. You may also be required to partake in specific professional development activities provided by the placement site.
Throughout the externship you will regularly engage in clinical supervision with a PsyBA approved supervisor who will provide you with individualised feedback on your clinical work. Clinical supervision is not a passive process. You are expected to plan your supervision sessions and consult the literature to inform your decision making process, both within and outside the supervision session.
The objectives of the unit are focused on the development of advanced clinical skills relevant to effective practice within a 'real world', professional environment, with a view to preparing you for entry into the workforce as a professional psychologist. Your learning within the externship environment will be facilitated by various types of opportunities, including reflective practice in supervision, observation of other professionals' practice, supervisory instruction and process, supervisor feedback via direct observation of your work, attendance at professional development opportunities, liaison with other health professionals (medical, allied health), all of which are designed to broaden and deepen your clinical knowledge. You are expected to take significant responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to consult evidence-based literature and types of clinical information to inform your learning and development of professional skills.
PY18 course design is intentionally blended to purposefully integrate active face-to-face learning experiences with blended/online learning experiences across the course consistent with the course learning outcomes, cohort needs and discipline professional practices. Canvas is used within this unit to inform and enhance your learning. All unit material required for learning and completing assessment is included online through Canvas. Additional readings and resources such as web links and video material is also posted where appropriate to expand your ability to advance your knowledge in the unit's subject matter.
A key aim of the unit is to support (provisional) psychologists in developing their knowledge, skills and competencies so they are able to provide the best quality care for their clients. Underlying this aim, and in line with registration guidelines, is a focus on ensuring the public's safety.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
As psychologists enrolled in the Supervised Clinical Externship, you will be provided with feedback through supervision sessions and summative assessment. You will be required to meet with your supervisor to for a mid- placement review and an end-placement review of your work to discuss your progress and areas that may require further development. You are encouraged to be an active participant in your own learning and seek feedback from your supervisor when you identify areas for further development. In the case of identifying an area for development, a remediation will be planned to help you attain competency in this area. You will be provided opportunities for self and peer feedback through reflective components of the folio and facilitated group discussions of practicum experiences.
Assessment
Overview
Formative assessment is ongoing and is provided through regular sessions with your supervisor.
Whilst individual strengths and weaknesses, theoretical orientation, particular skills and interests and previous experience may vary, you are expected to demonstrate, and will be assessed on, certain generic skills throughout the course of your externship. Supervision sessions are an opportunity to gain valuable feedback across these areas. You will also complete a mid-placement and end-placement review. The mid-placement review will be an important milestone that allows you to seek feedback and prepare your final portfolio. You will be asked to provide, and be prepared to discuss, a number of aspects of you practicum in these sessions, including:
1. Hours of general psychological practice;
2. Hours of direct client contact;
3. Supervision;
4. Clinical work;
5. Case Summary;
6. Psychometric Testing, where applicable;
7. Case Study;
8. Case Files;
9. Logbooks;
10. Case presentations.
Satisfactory performance on each of these activities is required to attain a satisfactory grade for the unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory)
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Portfolio
Portfolio: At the end of your externship, you are required to submit a bound externship portfolio to the Externship Coordinator. The folio should first be submitted to your externship supervisor, who is to mark the folio to ensure all content is present and to ensure all contents are consistent with the standard required of the placement. All information in the portfolio must be de-identified and this must be checked by the supervisor. Once both the student and supervisor have signed the coversheet of the portfolio, it is to be submitted to the Externship Coordinator for marking. The portfolio should comprise the following:
1. Copy of signed Placement Agreement
2. Signed Mid- and End-placement reviews signed by you and your supervisor.
3. Student Evaluation of Placement signed by you and your supervisor.
4. Case Study, including brief literature review, discussing a case you treated during the externship. This Case Study should contain background information, case formulation, diagnosis, treatment plan, outcome and evidence of outcome evaluations, prognosis and recommendations.
5. Two psychometric reports. In the case of externships that do not conduct psychometric tests, other forms of documentation are acceptable substitutes. Please see the externship handbook for further details.
6. Logbooks of hours of professional practice, including direct client contact hours, client-related hours, supervision hours. These must be signed by you and your supervisor.
7. Records of individual supervision sessions signed by you and your supervisor.
8. Reflective essay on your experience at the externship.
The portfolio is assessed on a Pass/Fail basis. Please note that the grade is determined by the Externship Coordinator and not the externship supervisor. Even though the Supervisor may consider the portfolio satisfactory, the Externship Coordinator may required changes to comply with QUT standards.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Threshold Assessment:
This task requires students to provide evidence of their capacity to undertake the core competencies required of a registered psychologist and as such is both authentic and threshold.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
AHPRA registration
Resources
Risk Assessment Statement
There may be out of the ordinary risks associated with placements, eg. exposure to forensic populations, those with impaired judgment due to psychological disorders or intoxication. You will be provided with printed notes relating to safety issues at the beginning of the semester, and you will be reminded of safety guidelines and your related responsibilities at the beginning of each placement. Your supervision sessions will also be an opportunity to discuss your professional self-care practices. The QUT Student Counselling service is also available and free of charge to all QUT students.
Please note: students must make themselves aware of and abide by the occupational health and safety requirements of the workplace, and are expected to undergo any induction or other training provided for employees or visitors to the workplace, as appropriate. You will also be responsible for obtaining any relevant vaccinations, if applicable to your site.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PY18 Master of Clinical Psychology
- Apply advanced and specialised knowledge of Clinical Psychology to plan, assess, treat and manage clients with mental disorders and conditions, across the lifespan and from a range of backgrounds, including accessing, evaluating and utilising digital health information.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO5, Portfolio - Engage in the development and evaluation of evidence-based interventions, using advanced critical thinking and decision making skills, applying professional values and reflective practice to inform culturally safe and effective intra- and inter-professional collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Portfolio - Promote and practice effective written, oral and digital communication to analyse and convey complex information and build productive professional relationships.
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, ULO5, Portfolio - Deliver Clinical Psychology services with a high degree of professionalism and reflective practice.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Portfolio
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PYN038 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | PYN037 |
| Other Requisite: | Course Coordinator must approve enrolment on the successful completion of the prerequisite unit's requirements. |
| Coordinator: | Gino Medoro | gino.medoro@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This core unit of the Master of Clinical Psychology course is intended to provide you with an opportunity to further develop clinical assessment, diagnostic, intervention and professional skills prior to graduating. This unit builds on your learning from the PY18 coursework, internship units, and PYN037. The PYN038 placement will engage you in advanced level work integrated learning as a provisional psychologist within a professional agency that provides psychological services. The unit is designed to meet the relevant supervised practicum requirements of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA PsyBA), Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and the Australian Psychological Society's College of Clinical Psychologists (APS CCLIN). Enrolment in this unit requires liaison with Course Coordinator and Unit Coordinator based on the requirement that relevant prerequisites have been achieved.
This is a designated unit which is essential to your course progression. Designated units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills, and units requiring demonstration of certain personal qualities. If you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit, you may be excluded from enrolment or will be put on academic probation. If you fail a designated unit twice within your course, you may be excluded. Supplementary assessment is not available on designated units.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Articulate and demonstrate an advanced level of competence in clinical psychological assessment, formulation, intervention strategies and treatment planning; with a capacity to act with greater autonomy and independence.
- Adhere competently to all ethical, legal and professional matters including knowledge of and adherence to the APS Code of Ethics, Psychological procedures specific to the placement site and legal requirements and reporting procedures involved in clinical psychological practice;
- Possess a high level of professionalism inlcuding in communication and professional conduct, in meeting placement requirements, punctuality and organisational skill; managing professional activities; maintaining effective communication with clients, health professionals and other agencies; critically appraising psychological research and communicate information to wider audiences, where applicable in the during the externship;
- Effectively utilise the supervision process, deliver case presentations within a multidisciplinary or other professional team, where appropriate, discuss relevant theoretical and clinical issues, follow supervisor's directive, give and receive constructive feedback in peer review, and to comply with the supervision contract;
- Use clinical evaluation relevant to your externship, including the use of feedback systems to effectively evaluate outcomes.
Content
The Supervised Clinical Externship comprises a minimum number of hours of practice in a selected field of psychological practice to comply with AHPRA and APAC supervised practice requirements. The hours must include a minimum number of hours of direct client contact. The minimum number of hours of supervision (one hour per 7.5 hours of client contact) is also included in the hours of practice At least 50% of the supervision hours must be on an individual basis. You must allocate sufficient time for the undertaking of the supervised practicum; i.e., minimum two days a week (or 15 hrs). Note that some externships require students to attend three days a week. As the final practicum experience you are expected to operate at a higher degree of professional autonomy suited to a practitioner who is near qualification.
Specifics of each Practicum's requirements are detailed in the Placement Handbook provided on the Unit Canvas site.
Learning Approaches
PYN038 is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) unit. You will be expected to engage in clinical activities, participate in various learning opportunities specific to the externship, and participate in case presentations. You may also be required to partake in specific professional development activities provided by the placement site.
Throughout the externship you will regularly engage in clinical supervision with a PsyBA approved supervisor who will provide you with individualised feedback on your clinical work. Clinical supervision is not a passive process. You are expected to plan your supervision sessions and consult the literature to inform your decision making process, both within and outside the supervision session.
The objectives of the unit are focused on the development of advanced clinical skills relevant to effective practice within a 'real world', professional environment, with a view to preparing you for entry into the workforce as a professional psychologist. Your learning within the externship environment will be facilitated by various types of opportunities, including reflective practice in supervision, observation of other professionals' practice, supervisory instruction and process, supervisor feedback via direct observation of your work, attendance at professional development opportunities, liaison with other health professionals (medical, allied health), all of which are designed to broaden and deepen your clinical knowledge. You are expected to take significant responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to consult evidence-based literature and types of clinical information to inform your learning and development of professional skills.
PY18 course design is intentionally blended to purposefully integrate active face-to-face learning experiences with blended/online learning experiences across the course consistent with the course learning outcomes, cohort needs and discipline professional practices. Canvas is used within this unit to inform and enhance your learning. All unit material required for learning and completing assessment is included online through Canvas. Additional readings and resources such as web links and video material is also posted where appropriate to expand your ability to advance your knowledge in the unit's subject matter.
A key aim of the unit is to support (provisional) psychologists in developing their knowledge, skills and competencies so they are able to provide the best quality care for their clients. Underlying this aim, and in line with registration guidelines, is a focus on ensuring the public's safety.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
As psychologists enrolled in the Supervised Clinical Externship, you will be provided with feedback through supervision sessions and summative assessment. You will be required to meet with your supervisor to for a mid- placement review and an end-placement review of your work to discuss your progress and areas that may require further development. You are encouraged to be an active participant in your own learning and seek feedback from your supervisor when you identify areas for further development. In the case of identifying an area for development, a remediation will be planned to help you attain competency in this area. You will be provided opportunities for self and peer feedback through reflective components of the folio and facilitated group discussions of practicum experiences.
Assessment
Overview
Formative assessment is ongoing and is provided through regular sessions with your supervisor.
Whilst individual strengths and weaknesses, theoretical orientation, particular skills and interests and previous experience may vary, you are expected to demonstrate, and will be assessed on, certain generic skills throughout the course of your externship. Supervision sessions are an opportunity to gain valuable feedback across these areas. You will also complete a mid-placement and end-placement review. The mid-placement review will be an important milestone that allows you to seek feedback and prepare your final portfolio. You will be asked to provide, and be prepared to discuss, a number of aspects of you practicum in these sessions, including:
1. Hours of general psychological practice;
2. Hours of direct client contact;
3. Supervision;
4. Clinical work;
5. Case Summary;
6. Psychometric Testing, where applicable;
7. Case Study;
8. Case Files;
9. Logbooks;
10. Case presentations.
Satisfactory performance on each of these activities is required to attain a satisfactory grade for the unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory)
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Portfolio
Portfolio: At the end of your externship, you are required to submit a bound externship portfolio to the Externship Coordinator. The folio should first be submitted to your externship supervisor, who is to mark the folio to ensure all content is present and to ensure all contents are consistent with the standard required of the placement. All information in the portfolio must be de-identified and this must be checked by the supervisor. Once both the student and supervisor have signed the coversheet of the portfolio, it is to be submitted to the Externship Coordinator for marking. The portfolio should comprise the following:
1. Copy of signed Placement Agreement
2. Signed Mid- and End-placement reviews signed by you and your supervisor.
3. Student Evaluation of Placement signed by you and your supervisor.
4. Case Study, including brief literature review, discussing a case you treated during the externship. This Case Study should contain background information, case formulation, diagnosis, treatment plan, outcome and evidence of outcome evaluations, prognosis and recommendations.
5. Two psychometric reports. In the case of externships that do not conduct psychometric tests, other forms of documentation are acceptable substitutes. Please see the externship handbook for further details.
6. Logbooks of hours of professional practice, including direct client contact hours, client-related hours, supervision hours. These must be signed by you and your supervisor.
7. Records of individual supervision sessions signed by you and your supervisor.
8. Reflective essay on your experience at the externship.
The portfolio is assessed on a Pass/Fail basis. Please note that the grade is determined by the Externship Coordinator and not the externship supervisor. Even though the Supervisor may consider the portfolio satisfactory, the Externship Coordinator may required changes to comply with QUT standards.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Threshold Assessment:
This task requires students to provide evidence of their capacity to undertake the core competencies required of a registered psychologist and as such is both authentic and threshold.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
AHPRA registration
Resources
Risk Assessment Statement
There may be out of the ordinary risks associated with placements, eg. exposure to forensic populations, those with impaired judgment due to psychological disorders or intoxication. You will be provided with printed notes relating to safety issues at the beginning of the semester, and you will be reminded of safety guidelines and your related responsibilities at the beginning of each placement. Your supervision sessions will also be an opportunity to discuss your professional self-care practices. The QUT Student Counselling service is also available and free of charge to all QUT students.
Please note: students must make themselves aware of and abide by the occupational health and safety requirements of the workplace, and are expected to undergo any induction or other training provided for employees or visitors to the workplace, as appropriate. You will also be responsible for obtaining any relevant vaccinations, if applicable to your site.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PY18 Master of Clinical Psychology
- Apply advanced and specialised knowledge of Clinical Psychology to plan, assess, treat and manage clients with mental disorders and conditions, across the lifespan and from a range of backgrounds, including accessing, evaluating and utilising digital health information.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO5, Portfolio - Engage in the development and evaluation of evidence-based interventions, using advanced critical thinking and decision making skills, applying professional values and reflective practice to inform culturally safe and effective intra- and inter-professional collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Portfolio - Promote and practice effective written, oral and digital communication to analyse and convey complex information and build productive professional relationships.
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, ULO5, Portfolio - Deliver Clinical Psychology services with a high degree of professionalism and reflective practice.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Portfolio