Practicum Placement 2 PG (6314.6)

Required texts

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5-TR ed.).

Australian Psychological Society. (2007). APS code of ethics.

The placement organisation may also require certain readings to be undertaken or training to be completed prior to or as part of the placement.

The following books are useful reference texts:

Andrews, G., Creamer, M., Crino, R., Hunt, C., Lampe, L., & Page, A. (2003). The treatment of anxiety disorders: Clinician guides and treatment manuals (2nd ed). Cambridge University Press.

Barlow, D. H. (2021). Clinical handbook of psychological disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual (6th ed). Guilford.

Greenberger, D. & Padesky, C. (2015). Mind over mood: Change how you feel by changing the way you think (2nd ed.). Guilford.

Leahy, R. L., Holland, S. J., & Mc Ginn, L. K. (2012). Treatment plans and interventions for depression and anxiety disorders (2nd ed.). Guilford.

Ramnero, J., & Torneke, N. (2008). The ABCs of Human Behavior: Behavioral Principles for the Practicing Clinician. New Harbinger.

Simmons, J. & Griffiths, R. (2017). CBT for beginners (3rd ed.). SAGE.

Students are encouraged to discuss with their supervisor suggested readings relevant to the assessment and treatment of the placement client population.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

How to submit placement documents

All required placement documents (aka the placement folder) are to be uploaded to the student's Smartabase site. Please see Canvas for a guide to using Smartabase.

Special assessment requirements

Requirements to pass: This unit will be assessed as a non-graded pass or fail. An ungraded pass is achieved by attendance at mandatory group supervision and/or seminars, passing all assessment items, completion of the requisite number of face-to-face and clinical experience hours, submission of all placement documentation in line with requirements, and completion of all required client-related work. These additional assessment requirements are in line with conditions set by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.

Hours: The student is required to aim toward a target of 250 hours of placement activity per placement. Of these 250 hours, a minimum of 100 hours should be direct client contact. However, if a student is deemed to be competent in all domains but they have not reached 100 client contact hours (student must have 80 hours of client contact or more), they may receive an ungraded pass. This can only occur under the provision they complete the required client contact hours during their next placement. In that case, an agreement will be made between the student and the Placement Coordinator, which will be documented and recorded on their Smartabase site.

Placement documentation: Details of required placement documentation can be found on Canvas. Documentation includes but is not limited to:

• Supervision contract. This must be completed within two weeks of commencing placement.
• Professional practice log book. This log book should provide evidence of all hours spent on placement (client contact, non-contact and supervision). Every page must be signed by the student and supervisor.
• Supervision log records. These must detail all supervision sessions completed (individual and group) throughout the duration of the placement, including a summary of the topics discussed, reflection, and future research or tasks related to the supervision content. Every single entry must be signed by the student and supervisor.

Please note that all client notes, including progress notes and reports, must be signed by both the student and supervisor. A student will not be passed on the placement if there are any documents left unsigned.

Supplementary assessment

Not offered

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Additional Information

Remedial support plans

If a student is graded as ‘progress with concerns’ at the mid-placement review, or deemed to be “at risk” of failure at any stage during placement, a remedial support plan will be developed. This plan will document the concerns and planned actions, and will be developed in consultation with the student, supervisor, the UC Psychology Clinic Manager, and Placement Coordinator. The placement may need to be extended in order to support the student’s development in reaching appropriate competence. However, if progress is not made or does not reach the required Stage within an appropriate timeframe, a fail grade will be applied. In these circumstances the supervisor and student will be required to identify specific learning needs and activities to address the concerns raised should the student re-attempt placement.

Misconduct

Any breaches in ethical, legal or professional conduct at any stage during placement will result in referral to the appropriate discipline staff members for assessment of whether an immediate fail grade and termination of placement is required. For significant student misconduct behaviour, students will be referred to the Associate Dean of Education. Serious ethical and professional misconduct by a provisional psychologist could also necessitate an AHPRA notification, which could affect provisional registration and completion of the placement units.

Fail grades

In the event a student fails the placement, consultation with the Psychology Clinic Manager and the Convenor of the Master of Clinical Psychology program is required to discuss options before re-enrolment.

A second fail grade will result in the Discipline recommendation to the university that the student fail the MCP program.

Learner engagement

The amount of time you will need to study in this unit will depend on a number of factors including your prior knowledge, learning skill level, and learning style. Nevertheless, you should note that the minimum time commitment to complete the placement is usually 250 hours. Note that placements typically run beyond the semester period.

Participation requirements

Students are required to attend the University of Canberra Psychology Clinic for two full days per week (9am to 5.30pm) for a minimum of 17 weeks until all assessment items (including special assessment requirements described in section 5b of this unit outline) are complete.

Should absence be required for any reason, the placement supervisor must be advised by telephone as soon as possible.

If attendance requirements cannot be satisfied (e.g., due to outside employment), it is recommended that you meet with the Course Convenor to schedule this unit for a future semester.

Required IT skills

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

Pre-placement requirements

This unit has pre-placement requirements. Students have already met many pre-placement requirements for 6313 (Placement 1) prior to starting in the Psychology Clinic. In addition to these requirements students are required to be up to date with both their immunisations and TB screening. Information in relation to pre-placement requirements can be obtained from the Placement Requirements website and/or the Placement Office.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they are compliant with all pre-placement requirements. Students are required to complete details relating to pre-placement requirements in InPlace (inplace.canberra.edu.au). If you have any queries related to InPlace please contact placement@canberra.edu.au.

Students will not be allowed to start placement if they have not met pre-placement requirements. A delayed start to the placement must be approved by the Placement Coordinator. If not approved, the student will be required to withdraw from the unit. A failure to withdraw by Census date will result in a fail grade being awarded for this unit.

Inherent requirements and fitness to practice

The University of Canberra has responsibilities under work health and safety laws to protect the safety of those for whom it has a duty of care. Additionally, the University of Canberra is mandated, under Health Practitioner Regulation National Law ACT (2009), to notify the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) if it reasonably believes that a student has a health impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical placement, may place the public at risk of substantial harm. Students who cannot meet inherent requirements or are not fit to practice during clinical placement may pose a risk to themselves, the public, clinical placement organisation staff, UC staff and other students if they are permitted to participate in clinical placement. These students may also fall within the mandatory notification requirements under national law.

Adherence to relevant UC policies and procedures

Students must adhere to the University policy during WIL experiences, including the Student Conduct Rules 2018, the WIL Policy, WIL Procedure, Assessment Policy and the Assessment Procedure.

Additional information

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