PY0657 - Psychology Placement

This module comprises an employment opportunity in which the student will gain experience and knowledge of working as a support worker (or equivalent) in a psychology related role. You are expected to engage with experiential learning through reflection, critical analysis and continuous improvement. This will involve the support of an individual or group of individuals, beginning with a meeting with the placement liaison to identify the service users’ needs and background information, managing support arrangements and producing written documentation, including reflective logbooks. The placement will involve working with service users who may have a range of conditions, including developmental disorders, mental health conditions, and possibly co-morbid disorders and considerations when approaching support. The placements are available in a range of different support services (e.g. education-based support; community support and group work).

Training is provided at the beginning of the module to develop a professional approach and skilled behaviour needed while attending a work
Placement. Taught workshops will be used to facilitate your learning and professional development, covering topics such as i) reflective writing, ii) time management; iii) presentation skills; iv) interview skills; and v) employability.

The module tutor will support you by making a variety of resources linked to the taught and experiential elements available on the e-learning portal (e.g. PowerPoint slides, handouts, reading lists, directed assessment related-activities). Technology enabled learning will be implemented through the use of Panopto recordings of the in-person lectures and independent learning sessions.

The module tutor will meet with you regularly to discuss progress; this will involve formative review of your reflective logs and trouble-shooting of issues that arise through the placement process. These appraisals are used to facilitate reflection and discussion of your individual experiences as well as ensuring appropriate standards are achieved and maintained.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MK1: You should identify personal and professional development in relation to your experience within the workplace in line with theories of personal and professional development; and communicate this through the development of a portfolio

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MIP1: You will be required to reflect on and accept accountability for managing own learning and development in a workplace environment, and demonstrate the benefits of this experience in an interview setting
• MIP2: You will take charge of your own career development learning, through critical self-evaluation and reflection on the relevance of the module for career enhancement and future learning.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MPV1: You will need to become an effective and fluent communicator, who can convey information in the most appropriate format and media
• MPV2: You will reflect on how you have developed the attitudes and skills to engage and work constructively and sensitively in multi-cultural environments and teams; showing sensitivity, and reacting appropriately to contextual and interpersonal factors

Formative Assessment
Formative assessments will comprise discussion of your reflective logbooks with the module tutor, as well as group discussion of in-class activities (MK1; MIP2)

Summative Assessment
The first assessment is a portfolio detailing a record of your engagement with, and experience on, your placement. It is a pass / fail assessment with no weighting to the module mark (MK1; MIP1; MIP2; MPV2).

The second assessment is a recruitment centre activity where you will reflect upon the skills developed whilst out on placement within the context of applying for a fictional job. This will be worth 90% of the module mark (MK1; MIPI1; MIPI2; MPV1).

The third assessment is a self-reflective account in which you will be asked to consider how this module has impacted on your employability and future career (MIP2). This will be worth 10% of the module mark.

Feedback
For formative assessment of logbooks, the module tutor will provide you with written feedback on the electronic workbook. For class activities peer feedback provided through discussion in taught session.
For the summative portfolio, you will get a written feedback report from the module tutor.
Following the interview you will get immediate oral feedback and a subsequent written record of your feedback and final mark.
You will be required to arrange a tutorial with your personal guidance tutor for formal feedback on your reflection.

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This module gives you an employment opportunity in which you will gain at least 70 hours of experience, working as a support worker (or equivalent) in a psychology related role. You may be working in one of a range of different support services (e.g. education-based support; community support and group work). This may involve the support of an individual or group of individuals, managing support arrangements and producing written documentation, including reflective logbooks

The work placement provides you with the opportunity to practice experiential learning through reflection, critical analysis and continuous improvement. Logbooks are used to record the sessions, in order to aid reflection and continuous improvement. Regular feedback on your logbooks and discussion with the module tutor will be used to facilitate reflection and discussion of your individual experiences, as well as ensuring you are able to maximise your professional development.