PYN046 Supervised Psychology Practicum: Internship 2

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit provides you with the opportunity to further develop your skills in assessment, formulation, treatment planning, delivering interventions, and feedback to stakeholders. You will build on your learning from PYN035 as you undertake supervised psychological practice in the QUT Psychology Clinic and/or alternative settings. You will further develop  knowledge and skills in the practice of professional psychology, awareness of ethical guidelines, paying due regard to public safety, and a high standard of professional conduct. The unit is designed to partially meet the relevant supervised practicum requirements of APAC and the Psychology Board of Australia.

As a designated unit in the Master of Clinical Psychology and Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental), it is a requirement that you pass this unit in order to successfully complete the course. 

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:

1. Attain developed skills in administration of assessment, diagnosis, formulation, treatment planning, and therapeutic communication in psychological practice, with an emphasis on evaluating the outcomes of psychological services.
2. Apply ethical and legal frameworks to practice as a psychologist, complying with the professional code of ethics, the Psychology Clinic procedures and policies, and other legal obligations associated with psychological practice.
3. Demonstrate professional, effective and culturally sensitive written and oral communication with clients, Clinic staff, supervisors, external agencies and wider audiences.
4. Practice effectively in a multidisciplinary, interprofessional context, demonstrating professional conduct as a psychologist, undertaking appropriate professional activities, following supervisors’ directives, ensuring punctuality and well-developed organisational skills, maintaining accurate records of practice, and promoting the Clinic’s psychological services to the public and other professions.
5. Undertake research and evaluation relevant to your placement including competently identifying and defining research problems and evaluating research outcomes, and successfully presenting this information to peers, supervisors and stakeholders.

Content

Learning Approaches

PYN046 is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) unit. You will be expected to engage in professional practice activities, to participate in practical exercises which will inform learning, and participate in regular case presentations. You will also engage in professional supervision throughout the placement which will provide you with individualised feedback on your practice.

The unit has particular objectives focused on the development of practice skills relevant to effective psychological practice. The unit employs reflective practice-based learnings drawing upon case presentations with the intention of facilitating effective practice. Content and process can be adapted to the pace and needs of the class participants with case presentations used throughout the unit to accommodate diverse learning styles and promote depth of learning. You are expected to take responsibility for your own learning and are also encouraged to contribute your experiential knowledge and current learning in class activities.

PY18 and PY19 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 and course 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 and organisations. Underlying this aim, and in line with registration guidelines, is a focus on ensuring the public's safety and encouraging self-care practices to contribute to a healthy workforce.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Ongoing feedback is provided by your supervisor through your regular supervision meetings with them and may occur through case presentations. Remediation may be planned to help you improve your skills and professional competencies as required. If a need is identified for you to receive mediation to improve one or more skills or professional competencies (e.g., in your client work, folio, or in your performance on the OSCE), a Competency Development Support Plan may be developed for you.

Assessment

Overview

Formative assessment in the unit is ongoing. 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 placement, consistent with the competencies expected at Level 3 and 4 of the APAC Standards.

You will receive a S/U grade for each assessment item in PYN046. Feedback will be provided according to the criteria and standards provided. You must receive an 'S' on all assessment pieces to successfully complete the unit.

Note that prior to release of grades, the unit coordinator undertakes a moderation process to ensure that criteria and standards have been applied consistently and fairly. Final grades are not confirmed until reviewed by the relevant Faculty Assessment Committee and approved by the Executive Dean at the completion of each teaching period.

Unit Grading Scheme

S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory)

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Assessment Competency

You will demonstrate competency in administering a non-verbal cognitive assessment designed for the assessment of diverse populations.  You will produce evidence of competency via a recorded simulation of the administration of a non-verbal assessment tool and evidence of a correctly scored administration proforma.

Threshold Assessment:

If your administration is deemed not yet competent you will be provided with feedback and you will be given the opportunity to resubmit.

Assessment: Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

As a part of this OSCE, you will be provided information about a case. Subsequently, you will then be asked questions about the diagnosis, assessment, treatment and management of this case. You will be assessed on a Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory basis. You will also discuss one of your own cases from the work you have been doing in the clinic during the year.  

If your performance is deemed unsatisfactory, feedback will be provided and you will be able to re-sit the exam once more. Your early supervision sessions will provide you with opportunities to practice and see the necessary skills modelled by your supervisor. You will be given feedback through the supervisory process to help you prepare for this task.

Threshold Assessment:

In order to satisfactorily complete this unit, in addition to obtaining the requisite hours of practice you  submit all necessary supporting documentation, you must also demonstrate your skills, therefore this assessment is a threshold task.

Assessment: Scientist-Practitioner Case Seminar

You will be required to undertake the oral presentation of a deidentified case from your practice where you show evidence of undertaking relevant research, applying this to your case, and communicating the outcome to your peers and teaching staff for discussion. You will receive feedback on your presentation of the case information and capacity to present succinctly.

Threshold Assessment:

In order to satisfactorily complete this unit, in addition to obtaining the requisite hours of practice and submit all necessary supporting documentation, you must also demonstrate the results of your practice working with various client presentations, therefore this assessment is a threshold task.

Assessment: Professional Practice Portfolio

You are required to submit a portfolio of documentation relevant to your practicum work as a provisional psychologist. Specific details of what is to be included in your portfolio will be communicated in Week 1 and on the unit's Canvas page.

Your portfolio will be assessed on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Threshold Assessment:

In order to satisfactorily complete this unit, in addition to obtaining the requisite hours of practice you are required to submit all necessary supporting documentation, therefore this assessment is a threshold task.

The unit coordinator may contact you if components of the portfolio are missing or do not meet the required professional standards, and request a resubmission of the identified components. No resubmission/reevaluation is available for the supervisor evaluation. 

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

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Teyber, E. (2017) Interpersonal Process in Therapy: An Integrative Model (7th ed.). USA: Brooks Cole.

Recommended text(s)

Contemporary intellectual assessment : theories, tests, and issues. (2018).

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 semester, and you will be reminded of safety guidelines at the beginning of each placement.

Course Learning Outcomes

PY18 Master of Clinical Psychology

1. 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, ULO2, ULO4
2. 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
3. Plan, undertake and disseminate research in complex real world situations from diverse perspectives, demonstrating a high level of personal autonomy and accountability relevant to professional practice.
   Relates to: ULO5
4. Promote and practice effective written, oral and digital communication to analyse and convey complex information and build productive professional relationships.
   Relates to: ULO3
5. Deliver Clinical Psychology services with a high degree of professionalism and reflective practice.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4

PY19 Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental)

1. Critically evaluate and apply theories of psychology and evidence-based knowledge and skills applicable to the professional practice of educational and developmental psychology, adhering to contemporary professional practice standards.
   Relates to: ULO1
2. Formulate approaches for engaging in critical thinking. decision making and reflective practice, drawing on cognitive, technical and creative skills, to identify and implement contemporary evidence-based intervention and assessment strategies in varied contexts that reflect culturally safe and responsive practice.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO2
3. Plan, undertake and disseminate research in complex real world situations from diverse perspectives, demonstrating a high level of personal autonomy and accountability relevant to professional practice, .
   Relates to: ULO5
4. Access, evaluate, and utilise relevant psychological information that informs and assists in intra- and inter-professional collaboration with a range of audiences and contexts that demonstrates creativity and initiative as an educational and developmental psychologist.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4
5. Promote and practise effective written, oral and digital communication to analyse and convey complex information and build productive professional relationships across diverse stakeholders.
   Relates to: ULO3, ULO4