Educational Psychologists in Northern Ireland

1. Educational Psychologists in Northern Ireland Initial Training Doctorate

2. Training of Educational Psychologists • Three year Initial Training Doctorate. • At Queen’s University this is called the Doctorate in Educational Child and Adolescent Psychology. • Applicants are expected to have experience in schools and/or other settings where children and young people are offered services (see our website http://www.psych.qub.ac.uk/ProspectiveStudents/PostgraduateStudies/DECAP/WorkExperience/index.aspx

3. Entry Requirements (1) • Applicants must have ,or expect to have before enrolling for the I.T.D. course, at least an upper second class (2:1) honours degree in psychology, or the equivalent.

4. Entry Requirements (2) Eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of The British Psychological Society by date to be set in 2010 To be eligible for GBC you must have either Undertaken a qualification in psychology (usually a Bachelor (Honours) degree) which has been approved by the BPS as conferring the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership or Passed the Society’s Qualifying Examination or Undertaken an appropriate Society approved conversion course.

5. Entry Requirements (3) • Be able to demonstrate that you have gained relevant experience with children and young people (0-19 age range) within educational, childcare health or community settings

6. Examples • Volunteer work in classrooms with children and young people • Befriending systems such as Praxis • Working with individuals or groups with ASD diagnosis • Counselling services such as Samaritans/Nightline • Classroom assistant/literacy support • Summer Schemes

7. Applicants are rated on : • Intellectual Ability • Personal Qualities • Readiness for Training • Application forms are scored to make the number of interviews offered more manageable. This forms the basis for shortlisting. • Both interviews are scored for selection.

8. Shortlisting and Selection • Since many applicants will meet minimum criteria, shortlisting/selection will depend on applicants meeting criteria at higher levelon application form. • Successful applicants will be funded by Dep Education (N.I.) and will be expected to work in Northern Ireland for three years following qualification. • A full driving licence, unless prevented for health or disability reasons.

9. Interviews (1&2) • 1. The academic research interview- applicant will make a brief presentation, which should summarise the key points The applicant will be asked to critique the journal article and will be asked about the implications (if any) of the findings. Applicants will receive the journal article 40 minutes prior to interview.

10. Interviews (1& 2) • 2.The educational-personal interview will involve applicants making presentation and answering questions on a case/ educational vignette, which will have been given 30 minutes prior to this interview. .

12. Equal Opportunities • An equal opportunities policy is adopted in relation to selection. • Applications are invited from eligible candidates regardless of gender, marital status, dependency, age, disability, sexual orientation ,ethnic origin, perceived religious affiliation or political opinion.

13. Training Salary • Year 1 £15,000 • Year 2 £15,000 • Year 3 £15,000 Annual conference allowance £750 This salary is tax free due to special tax concession and below the threshold of student loan repayment schemes.

14. Application Forms • All Details will appear on the web page: www psych.qub.ac.uk • Closing Date 16th January 2013 • Interviews 18th, 19th and 21st February 2013

15. The Curriculum Year 1Children and Young People in Schools • Focus is largely on education and in particular special educational needs. • Research and Enquiry begins • Four modules: Trainees must pass all four modules to proceed into 2nd Year

16. The Curriculum Year 2Children and their families- • The focus is on mental health issues with particular reference to vulnerable groups. Systemic approach receives increasing focus. • Research and Enquiry continues • Small scale research • Larger scale research

17. The Curriculum Year 3Adolescence and social- emotional wellbeing (mental health) • Focus is on adolescents and mental health within community settings. • Research and Enquiry concludes

18. DECAP The spiral curriculum

19. Intermodular teaching • CBT (over 2 years) • Incredible Years (Parenting) • Incredible Years (Teacher Classroom Management) • Video Interaction guidance (over 3 years) • Dynamic Assessment (over 3 years) • Family Therapy/systems change Part 1

20. The 8 Key Professional Competences

21. The 8 Key Professional Competences

22. Placements • Opportunity to work in Education and Library Boards and in other statutory/voluntary settings. • Placements can be anywhere in Northern Ireland • Some placements may be available outside N. I. • Approximately 50% of training is teaching/study/research and 50% is placement. • Generic EP service, multi-agency, equality and diversity, elective, voluntary sector

23. Current work of Educational Psychology Services • Statutory work –formal assessment • Inset (Adhd/ Dyslexia /Loss and change/Emotional literacy/Special Needs • Projects such as Bereavement Support/Critical Incidents • Behaviour support Teams • Early Years Specialism/ ASD specialism • Emotional Literacy/Parenting Projects

24. EP ROLE contd. • Consultancy work • Multi disciplinary work/Child development Clinics • Working Parties- Dyslexia/Acquired Brain Injury/ Development Co-ordination Disorder • Counselling/ work with families

25. Starting Salary (under review) £31000+ Opportunities for progression to Senior Specialist Posts/Senior Management Psychologist/Principal Educational Psychologist/ Education Administration Posts/Professional and Academic Tutor Posts

26. Achieving small and usually unheralded achievements • Do all the good you can, • By all the means you can, • In all the ways you can, • In all the places you can, • At all the times you can, • To all the people you can, • As long as ever you can. • (words attributed to John Wesley)