Outline

Overview

This unit is designed to extend skills in the Psychology Clinic, specifically clinical assessment, formulation, treatment planning, and treatment implementation skills and knowledge for adult and child patients. It also extends trainees' knowledge and experience conducting and interpreting psychometric assessments. Trainees will be allocated to new supervisors for this placement and supervision methods will become less intense, more individual and begin to reflect formats available in external placements, although frequent direct observation of the trainee's clinical practice continues. Clinical work may involve the integration of more than one model of therapy, a capacity to reflect more on process as well as content, the capacity to respond to more complex issues, including those related to personality and the greater individualization of approaches for each case. An additional aim of this unit of study is to equip students to assess and treat complex presentations such as personality disorders. This unit focuses specifically on two models of therapy, schema therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. Both of these models, developed from cognitive-behaviour therapy, are suitable for personality disorders, or more intractable or chronic presentations.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	PSYC6086
Academic unit	Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	PSYC6079
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Caroline Hunt, caroline.hunt@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Emotional Regulation Strategies skills exercise Skills practice excercise	0%	- Due date: 23 Apr 2021 at 09:00 Closing date: 23 Apr 2021	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Placement	Mid Placement Review meeting Placement protocol	0%	- Due date: 15 Apr 2021 at 23:00	60 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Placement	End Placement Review meeting Placement protocol	0%	- Due date: 01 Jul 2021 at 23:00	60 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Supervision contract Placement protocol	0%	- Due date: 07 Feb 2021 at 23:00	2 page template
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Mid Placement Review form Placement protocol	0%	- Due date: 18 Apr 2021 at 23:00	4 page template
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Supervision Rating Scale Placement protocol	0%	- Due date: 08 Jul 2021 at 23:00	1 page template
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Clinical Logs Placement protocol	0%	- Due date: 08 Jul 2021 at 23:00	1 page template
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	End Placement Review form Placement protocol	0%	- Due date: 08 Jul 2021 at 23:00	4 page template
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	DBT Skills Training Script Skills practice exercise	0%	- Due date: 09 May 2021 at 23:00	2 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Schema Therapy Case vignette	0%	- Due date: 20 Jun 2021 at 23:00	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

ER Training Script: A one- to two-page script explaining any skill taught to support Emotional Regulation.
Schema Assessment: A written case description based on a client that you have worked on, including formulation and treatment plan.
Supervision contract: Students will be required to submit a written contact outlining the placement expectations for both the student and the supervisor. The contract is to incorporate specific goals for each student in accordance with their personal goals, interests, skills development and previous experiences. The preparation of the contract is the responsibility of the student. The contract must be signed by both the student and supervisor. A template is provided.
Mid Placement Review (MPR): Students will be required to complete a formal meeting with supervisor(s) to review progress to date and provide formative feedback. The meeting allows any problems to be flagged openly (by supervisor and student), and explicit goals set for what needs to be achieved for the reminder of the placement. Students will be required to submit a written summary of the Mid Placement Review meeting with their supervisor(s) to document progress on the placement. The Mid Placement Review form must be signed by both the student and supervisor. A template is provided.
End Placement Review (EPR): Students will be required to complete a formal meeting with supervisor(s) to review overall progress and provide feedback. Students will be required to submit a written summary of the End Placement Review meeting with their supervisor(s) to provide a summative assessment of the placement. The End Placement Review form must be signed by both the student and supervisor. A template is provided.
Clinical Log: Students will be required to submit a week by week record of their clinical placement experience. The clinical log is a record of all cases and work completed by the student each week. Each weekly clinical log must be signed by both the student and supervisor. Clinic Logs are recorded in the Sonia database.
Supervision rating scale: Students will provide feedback on their clinical supervision. A template is provided.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Result name	Code	Description (COURSEWORK)
Pass with Merit	PM	The material or clinical practice substantially exceeds the expected level of competence for the stage of training. Reserved for work of an exceptionally high standard that demonstrates independent thought, originality and comprehensive knowledge of the subject area. In order to be awarded a ‘Pass with Merit’, a student needs to perform in the top 10% of students.
Pass	P	The material or clinical practice meets the expected level of competence for the stage of training. A pass is considered to signify work that is of a good to very good standard, according to the relevant expectations.
Meet with Marker	MEET	The written material or clinical practice demonstrates some misunderstanding or a minor deficiency in level of competence. The student must meet with the examiner to discuss the problems with the work. If the marker is satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, the work is given a pass. Alternatively, the student may be required to resubmit or repeat the work.
Resubmit	RE	The written material or clinical practice does not meet the required competency. The student must resubmit or repeat the work within a period of time determined by the CPU and the work will be re-marked. Resubmitted or repeated work that on this basis fails to meet the required competency will then be marked independently by a second marker, and a third marker if the two initial markers disagree. Work that is deemed to have failed to meet course requirements by two markers will be assigned a Fail.
Fail	F	The written material or clinical practice is of a sufficiently low standard, or demonstrates unethical or dangerous practice. Any piece of written work that is marked with Fail will be marked independently by a second marker, and by a third marker if the two initial markers disagree. Where required, the three markers meet to decide upon a final mark to be awarded. Work that is deemed to have failed to meet course requirements by two markers will be assigned a Fail. In most cases, written assessments and clinical practice assessments examine core clinical competencies, and the Fail mark will result in the Unit of Study being failed. Any Unit of Study that the student is deemed to have failed will have to be repeated, and the student will be required to re-enrol in that Unit of Study. Students are only eligible to repeat Units of Study once.
Result name	Code	Description (CLINICAL PLACEMENTS)
Pass With Merit	PM	The clinical practice substantially exceeds the expected level of competence for the stage of training. Reserved for work of an exceptionally high standard that demonstrates independent thought, originality and comprehensive knowledge of the subject area. In order to be awarded a ‘Pass with Merit’, a trainee needs to perform in the top 10% of MCP students, and meet all of the following requirements, in addition to the core competencies: Demonstrates an exceptional understanding of therapeutic principles and their conceptual and theoretical underpinnings; Demonstrates a superior capacity to generate hypothesis testing and formulation within the therapy session; Works independently, with minimal supervision, professionally and therapeutically; Shows initiative and creativity; Is highly professional; Contributes significantly to the supervision process and supports all members of the supervision team.
Pass	P	Clinical and professional practice meets the expected level of competence for the stage of training. A pass is considered to signify work that is of a good to very good standard, according to the relevant expectations. Note. If the level of competence expected at this stage of training in professional or clinical practice has not been met in one or more areas (and these are expected to develop over subsequent placements), clear goals for future placements need to be set by the supervisor and student in order for these competencies to receive priority in future placements. The goals need to be written in the EPR as ‘essential targets’ and relayed to the Placement Coordinator so the future supervisor can be alerted to these areas of developmental needs.
Identified Difficulties	ID	The level of competence expected at this stage of training in professional or clinical practice has not been met in one or more areas. These competencies need to be attained to an acceptable standard before a student can be passed in the placement. A remediation plan that targets the area/s of concern needs to be developed and implemented. A final grade will not be awarded for the relevant placement until the competency or competencies have been attained or are unable to be remediated within a reasonable set timeframe.
Needs Development	ND	The professional and/or clinical practice does not satisfy a basic level of competence. The student and supervisor must set clear goals for the remainder of the placement that specify the skills that must be demonstrated prior to the EPR. The student may also need to repeat or complete additional work within a period of time determined by the CPU. The supervisor is required to re-evaluate any further work.
Fail	F	The clinical and/or professional practice does not satisfy a basic level of competence, or the trainee demonstrates unethical or dangerous practice. Any Unit of study that the trainee is deemed to have failed will have to be repeated. The trainee will be required to re-enrol in any Unit of Study that they have failed. Trainees are only eligible to repeat Units of Study once.

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

For information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

If you do not submit an assessment by the due date, and do not have an approved special consideration application, late penalties will apply. The following penalties apply for any assessment submitted late without an extension approved through special consideration: • Less than 1 week late > Meet with Marker (MEET) Requirement: Student to meet with Unit Coordinator plus either Director of Clinical Training or Head of the Clinical Psychology Unit. • 1-2 weeks late > Resubmit (RE) Requirement: Student to complete a new piece of work and resubmit within one week (eg. new assignment or new case report or new research report). Unit Coordinator to provide new assignment question or instructions. • 2 weeks late > Fail (F) Requirement: Result reported as Fail for unit of study on student academic transcript.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 06	Working with dysregulation in context of personality difficulties (Penney)	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 07	Working with dysregulation in context of personality difficulties (Penney)	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 10	Schema therapy (Norton)	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 11	Schema therapy (Norton)	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 12	Schema therapy (Norton)	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 13	Schema therapy (Norton)	Lecture (3 hr)
Weekly	Clinical placement (1.5-2 days/week for 24 weeks)	Clinical practice (336 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. apply advanced knowledge of psychopathology, developmental systems, and the core principles and theoretical models that underpin current evidence-based practice, in working with clients across the lifespan
LO2. apply advanced psychological knowledge to culturally responsive assessment, case formulation and intervention for complex presentations, including personality disorders
LO3. implement appropriate, empirically supported interventions, including the management of risk
LO4. monitor clients’ progress and intervention outcomes, assessing areas of improvement and making changes to treatment plan when necessary
LO5. apply professional practice policies and procedures, including record keeping and psychological report writing
LO6. demonstrate respect for the skills and contribution of other professionals, working collaboratively and effectively with them, within the bounds of ethical and legal requirements
LO7. demonstrate self-reflection in professional practice, accounting for impact of own values and taking appropriate remediating action

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

PSYC6086: Placement 2 and Complex Presentations

Semester 1, 2021 [Professional practice] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect