Work based learning
Student learning also takes place predominantly in their employing organisation, where students engage in practice-based learning, such as role plays, observing live clinical sessions and conducting assessments and interventions under supervision. This involves clinical skill development, practice and feedback.
Students spend three to four days each week in their place of employment (depending on the balance of their teaching) in an NHS adult mental health service, working under supervision to conduct case assessment and formulation as well as delivery of psychologically informed wellbeing interventions. Supervision lasts for the full 12 months of the course and will consist of weekly case-based supervision to ensure patient safety, as well as fortnightly skills supervision from an NHS-employed Practitioner Psychologist or British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies-accredited practitioner in the service. Students are employed within the NHS service and remain there for the duration of their programme. The Placement Support Team co-ordinate and manage the work-based learning. Enhanced work-based learning days, typically half a day per week, take place in clinical practice and provide opportunities to consolidate learning, reflect on experience, and engage in inter-professional learning opportunities with support to promote inclusive learning in the practice setting.
All NHS-based supervisors will undergo one day, or the equivalent, of 'Supervisor Induction' delivered by ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Worcester course lead. This will orientate supervisors to the training programme and equip them with information needed to support MHWP trainees in practice. Supervisors will then meet with course staff on a quarterly basis to ensure a consistent alignment between course delivery, work-based learning activities and assessments. Student competency development will be monitored by the Personal Academic Tutor in close liaison with their NHS-based clinical supervisor.
In order to pass the programme, a minimum of 80 clinical contact hours must be completed in their NHS employment, of which 40 clinical hours must have involved the delivery of the specified psychologically-informed interventions. Students must also demonstrate a minimum of 40 supervision hours (including 20 hours of case management supervision and 20 hours of clinical skills supervision) in order to pass the course. This requirement forms part of the final assessment for the course in module MHWP4103.