Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme Management and ...

Programme Management and Resources Handbook
Introduction to personal support: the systems and the key people who operate and
oversee those systems
The programme has a number of support systems which are designed to be
complementary and which, together, optimise each trainee's personal and
professional development through the three years of training.
Often, even before entry to the programme, potential trainees may contact the office
in regard to any special requirements they may have. Where any trainee has a
registered disability, and a need for particular equipment or special procedures to be
followed to facilitate training, office staff (usually the Programme Administrator)
liaise with staff, the funding authority, and the student support unit within the
university to ensure requirements are assessed and then met as efficiently as
possible.
Please also see the HCPC’s guidance: ‘A disabled person’s guide to becoming a health
professional (only available to view online, please click on the link):
http://www.HCPC-uk.org/publications/index.asp?id=111#publicationSearchResults
Individual Tutor System
The main structure for trainee support is the individual tutor system.
The role of individual tutors and the tutor system
To ensure that trainees receive coordinated support throughout their training, from
staff who have a chance to get to know them and their learning needs, each trainee is
allocated one member of staff from the clinical team and one member of staff from
the research team to act as their ‘individual tutors’. Trainees will normally keep the
same individual tutors throughout their three years of training. Tutors will be
allocated to trainees prior to their first week of training by the Clinical Director. All
new trainees meet with their individual tutors during the induction period, and tutors
and trainees are encouraged to agree a ‘psychological contract’ describing the way
that they will work together.
Individual tutors are intended to be the main point of general contact for the trainee
with the programme. They are available to provide pastoral support as well as having
the delegated authority to deal with some day-to-day line management issues, such as
approving annual leave requests. Where trainees approach other members of staff to
discuss specific issues, these staff members will also link back to the trainee’s
individual tutors so that a coordinated response and support can be provided.
Individual tutors also carry out some specific tasks in relation to the trainee. These
include the following:
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