Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme Management and ...

Programme Management and Resources Handbook
arrangements with the Clinical Director, or even intercalation periods from the
programme. If a trainee is absent for four weeks or more, the university follows an
intercalation process which provides a pause in training without affecting a trainee’s
registration. This is arranged alongside liaison with the trainee’s employer and
includes sickness absences (over four weeks) and maternity leave, as well as other
kinds of absence. The university also provides a confidential counselling service and
the telephone number for this is available in the University Telephone Directory
(http://www.lancs.ac.uk/phonebook/); it is usually only a matter of days to obtain
an appointment.
The employing trust provides assistance in times of crisis and help can be sought from
the trust’s human resources department and employee assistance programme. In
addition, where appropriate, the Clinical Director can refer the trainee to the trust’s
occupational health service.
Special leave requirements
Should any trainee require prolonged special leave, for example, maternity leave,
reasons relating to illness (in self or family members), extensive compassionate leave,
then that is arranged on an individual basis in line with LCFT’s policies following
discussion with the Clinical Director. For each individual request procedures are
followed with the employing Trust, the SHA and the university. A trainee requesting
such leave would need to link with the programme office in the first instance, and
others will be involved in discussion as appropriate. It is important to note though
that, without specific funded extensions of training and as approved by the SHA on an
individual trainee basis, trainees are funded to complete training within three years.
Where training is not completed within this funded time then the university may well
request that tuition fees are paid.
In conclusion
The points contained above outline the many types of support available to trainees.
The programme has encouraged both informal and formal feedback from trainees on
the systems it has developed. There have been working parties, which have included
trainees as well as staff, to discuss and develop appropriate support networks.
Trainee support offered by the programme will continue to be monitored and
evaluated, and modified as appropriate to cope with the continuing and expanding
demands of clinical psychology training.
Formal evaluation
Section 5
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