Introduction to: The Psychology Placement Year. University Certificate in Personal and Professional Development

Transcription

1 Introduction to: The Psychology Placement Year University Certificate in Personal and Professional Development

2 The psychology placement year Long term tradition with recent growth This year 90/115 (78%) students on placement- a record high 53 Clinical (NHS) 16 Educational 14 Research (5 students in Australia) 4 Forensic (Prison Service) 1 Counselling 1 Occupational (RAF) 3 Business and 1 Study placement in Korea. Over 80% take placements across the University

3 Should you take a placement year? Improves employability Improves scholarship and degree grade Try before you buy You might not like a career in clinical or forensic psychology Clinical experience very important to get first graduate clinical assistantship with view to applying for Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

4 Benefits of a psychology placement year placement year or no No place 30 N = Placemen Year of graduation Reddy and Moores (2006).

5 Your brilliant career How do employers select their graduates? Now competency based in many major organisations Why? Organisations must be adaptable to add value & remain competitive and seek competencies rather than best fit for a specific job What is a competency? the underlying characteristics of a person, that lead to or cause effective and outstanding performance (Boyatzis 1982) E.g: using your initiative; leadership planning and organising; teamwork; listening

6 What does this mean for you? Through reflection and self awareness you need to know your own strengths, interests and competencies You will need to know how to handle competency based interviews and demonstrate your competencies at assessment centres Now sweeping through the public services and the major professions. Competencies will relate to continuing professional development and promotion as well as recruitment

7 What competencies are employers looking for? Graduates Work report (Harvey, 1997) Cognitive skills/brain power e.g. analysis, judgement, attention to detail. Generic: e.g. planning and organising, communication, questioning, listening, teamwork, interpersonal and organisational sensitivity, Personal capabilities e.g creativity, decisiveness, initiative, adaptability/flexibility, achievement orientation, tolerance for stress, leadership. Technical ability e.g. knowledge and application. Business/organisational awareness e.g. organisational understanding, commercial awareness, financial awareness Practical and professional expertise e.g. reflective practice), process operation, image presentation.

8 Does this mean that the competencies I develop can be as important as my subject and degree grade? Yes Degree class alone is not a reliable job performance predictor (IRS, 2003; Barber et al 2005). Competency-based recruitment is more reliable for identifying graduates with potential. Employers seek graduates with the general competencies necessary for competitive advantage not organisational-specific competencies that can be acquired with development and training (IRS, 2003).

9 Competencies you are developing Research Analysis Handling data and information Problem solving and reasoning Interpersonal insight Team work Communication Learning orientation

10 How do you get to be where you want? 1. Know what you want This means knowing yourself knowing what is available to choose from 2. Get some experience to develop your competencies. Very few UK graduates have any graduate level work experience =..Employability

11 How we can help you to develop your employability 1 The psychology sandwich year placement scheme 2 A new University Certificate in Personal and Professional Development (CPPD)

12 CPPD Uses Personal Development Planning (PDP) to help you to: Understand your own competencies and how to develop and enhance them Demonstrate competencies effectively to potential employers Research and take the first steps towards the career that you want

13 How does CPPD work? There are three modules: PY2201 (preparation for placement and employment) in the 2 nd year PY2202 (on-placement) in the placement year PY2205 (post-placement) in the final year All second year students are automatically enrolled in PY2201 An attendance register is kept for the lecture series. Passing PY2201 is a pre-requisite to enroll on PY2202 Passing PY2202 is a pre-requisite to enroll on PY2205 Passing PY2205 triggers the award of the University Certificate in Personal and Professional Development

14 What do I have to do? PY2201 PY2201 concentrates on assessing and identifying the skills that you have already and requires you to do all the things that you would do anyway in preparation for a placement year; attending term one lectures and training classes on writing CVs and interview technique (a register will be taken) finding out about and reflecting on your career interests, job preferences, competencies, strengths and weaknesses writing job applications and updating your CV. In addition, you will be required to keep records of this in an e- portfolio (Pebblepad) Even if you are not planning to do a placement year you may benefit from taking this module in order to prepare yourself for your future career (and you are strongly encouraged to do so).

15 What ifs What if I don t take a placement? You will not be eligible for the Certificate but if you complete and pass PY2201 it will appear on your degree transcript as an additional module so you can impress employers with your dedication and employability. Taking PY2201 will improve your employability. You will be better prepared for competency-based interviews for example What if I fail PY2201 can I still take a placement? Yes. Taking and passing PY2201 is strongly recommended but it is not a requirement for taking a placement year. You will not be eligible for the Certificate award if you don t pass PY2201 though.

16 PY2202 PY2202 emphasises the development of your skills. In addition to the usual assessed placement year work undertaken by all psychology placement students (a reflective log, a poster about your placement work and a placement description), PY2202 requires you to: complete a strategy outline for every 4 weeks of your placement (which will help you identify and achieve your learning goals) Complete a final skills audit which you can compare to the one completed in your second year in order to track your development

17 PY2205 PY2205 aims to put your personal development records so far to practical use and emphasises the presentation and evidencing of your skills. CPPD requires you to: present your placement poster to 2 nd year students thinking about placements identify and provide evidence for your psychology skills and for six generic graduate competencies provide an up-to-date CV and covering letter or complete an application form (complete with references), for an advertised job of your choosing

18 PY2201 week-by-week Week 1 Introduction to Placements Week 2 Introduction to PDP: Pebblepad and Pnet registration Week 3 Effective CVs and applications Week3 Virtual Interview Technique lecture on Blackboard Week 4 Health and Safety/Finance Week 5 Placement Poster presentation / Employer Showcase Week 6 Placement Workshop Mock Interviews Week 7 PDP Pebblepad and careers surgery Week 8 Psychology Careers Insight Fair: Various Psychology Professionals Week 9 Dignity at Work/Insurance Week 10 Linking Learning to the Workplace and Employability

19 The Psychology Placement Year: The practicalities LHS Placement Officer

20 Placement Criteria Must complete a minimum of 30 weeks full-time employment. You can negotiate with your employer, part-time but you must complete 150 days minimum. You can work for a full 12 months on placement. The placement must be a genuine job at an appropriate graduate level. You must be given adequate direction and full supervision.

21 Finding a placement 1 Get advice and support from the Placement Team and the Careers Service and identify your interests, abilities etc. Check Vacancy site via Blackboard for new vacancies. Attend Liz Bland s careers sessions, get CV and application letters ready for your portfolio. Psychology Placement Resource Room SW507.

22 Finding a placement 2 There are more placements than students. Many students generate their own placements. Employers may be interested even if they have not advertised. You don t have to take a job if you are offered it. Do send speculative CV and letters to anyone you would like to work for.

23 Money Worries Talk on 26 th October Fees half fees. Placement Allowance of 1000, paid in two instalments (March/June). Placement Bursary 500 on unpaid placements. Apply to Access to learning Fund for set up costs e.g. rent deposits. Further details are available on Blackboard

24 What to do next? Complete your Registration Sheet and Code of Conduct and hand into the School Office MB625 for me by Friday 8 th October Attend Employability/Pre Placement Lecture Programme. Begin applying.