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PGCert

Associate Psychological Practitioner

Trainee Associate Psychological Practitioner (TAPP)

Attendance

Campus

Start

Duration

1 Year

Start

March 2024

Delivery

Campus Taught

Become a Trainee Associate Psychological Practitioner (TAPP) in the North West. This training course aims to meet the needs of clinical services in the region. The PGCert will address the shortage of psychological practitioners in the North West.

This PGCert Associate Psychological Practitioner course is led by the Innovation Agency North West Coast. It's developed in partnership with North West NHS Trusts.

As a trainee, you'll be employed on a 12-month training contract whilst studying for a postgraduate certificate. You'll work full-time at a band 4 level for 12 months and work in clinical settings. You'll progress to a band 5 Associate Psychological Practitioner on completion of your course. During this time you'll complete the equivalent of one day per week of TAPP study. You'll study online and face-to-face, with regular clinical supervision and personal study.

We structure the course around an evidence-based competence development ethos using a core competence framework. For example working psychologically in relation to assessments, formulations, interventions. The TAPP training integrates theory and skills from your taught and independent study into your clinical services. Your clinical supervisor will support you to learn and develop your competencies. On the PGCert you'll complete a series of knowledge and competency-based assessments.

Why study with us

You'll get an opportunity to start a career as an Associate Psychological Practitioner. Work within NHS Trusts or NHS commissioned services to deliver a range of psychological support to a wide array of clients.
The course has been shortlisted for and won many awards recognising its contribution to NHS provision across the North West.
Your course fees are paid for/funded by Health Education England.

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Winner 2023 - Educate North Awards

Employer Engagement (University Sector)

Winner 2022 - NWC Awards

Ruth Young Award for Research Implementation

Winner 2022 - HSJ Patient Safety Awards

Primary Care Initiative of the Year

Winner 2021 - LSCFT Award

Outstanding contribution to education and research

What you'll do

You'll work in one setting for your training, either a primary or non-primary care setting. You'll work with a qualified Psychological Professional who'll provide weekly clinical supervision.
Learn through a combination of taught sessions, case study reviews, role-play observations and practice experiences. You'll also take part in supervised clinical practice and learning that occurs as part of your day-to-day job.
You’ll become part of a new workforce within the NHS changing the shape of clinical psychology healthcare in a post-pandemic world.

Module overview

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Looking to start your postgraduate journey?

Our range of subjects and study modes can support your goals, take your next step with a postgraduate degree.

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Hear from our students

Staff Spotlight – Carolina Campodonico

“I mostly teach clinical psychology on the BSc Psychology, the MSc in Clinical Psychology and the TAPP Course. Apart from teaching, I supervise students’ placements and final year projects and I am the first-year tutor for three BSc courses.

When students get excited about something I am teaching, and they start discussing the topic with me or between them, or when they stop to have a chat with me at the end of a lecture, that’s the best part of my job”

Future careers

This is a new route to new careers within the NHS and one that we hope will form part of a revised Psychology Professions Network.

As you complete your training and pass the course you'll move from being a Trainee Associate Psychological Practitioner (Band 4 NHS) to an Associate Psychological Practitioner (Band 5).

Industry links

We designed the course with the sole intention of delivering highly skilled graduates into NHS Trusts/services. You'll be trained in seven core competencies. These will help you to provide psychological assessment, structured formulation and brief low-intensity interventions across a range of mental health needs.

Even though you'll work in a single setting, you'll be able to gain insights and an understanding of the roles of other TAPPs and develop knowledge, skills and behaviours that will aid further growth. This experience may enable you to move to different settings as your career progresses.

A joint collaboration between the Innovation Agency North-West Coast, NHS staff and UCLan. This is the first Associate Psychological Practitioner programme in the UK. Funding is via Health Education England and if you're appointed to a TAPP position, they will fund the University to supplement your training.

The fees associated with the course will be covered by Health Education England and paid directly to the University as part of a service level agreement between the NHS and the University of Central Lancashire.

Fees and funding

2023/24

Full-timeTBC

International

Full-timeTBC

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

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We use a range of methods, including lectures and workshops to deliver the core content and enhance critical thinking and assimilation of information. Interactive activities include case study reviews, group discussions, reflective practice and problem-based learning, helping to develop applied skills through embedding core knowledge into clinical contexts. Clinical psychology practices are emphasised within the curriculum. Role-play observation and direct practice (e.g., with peers and/or medical role play actors) are used during some sessions, particularly at the start of the course to develop your confidence and core psychological practitioner skills.

You'll learn via a blended approach, utilising the benefits of both face-to-face and online teaching sessions. Assessment is through a portfolio where you'll record your development, competencies and skills. This will form the basis of your supervision throughout the course. The assessment allows us to evaluate the learning outcomes and corresponding competencies.

The course is designed to offer a new route into working within the competitive and exciting field of Clinical Psychology. It is not intended as a development stage towards securing a place on a DClin Psychology course but as a new career path in its own right.

The title Clinical Psychologist is a protected title within the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Only those completing a recognised programme of study, including completion of the taught Doctorate in Clinical Psychology may use this title. As with other courses of this nature, students on this course may not draw on further HEE funding for a period of two years. See the HEE/NHS website for further details.