Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology for Adult Lifespan (CAAP-AL) (MSc)
Clinical Associates in Applied Psychology (CAAPs) are new roles within NHS Wales psychological services which fill an identified skills gap between assistant psychologist and qualified clinical psychologist.
Students on this course will be employed in the NHS as a trainee CAAP, learning in practice and studying to obtain the MSc CAAP-AL qualification
The purpose of this programme is to provide you with the skills necessary to work as a CAAP to give high quality, evidence-based psychological interventions for adults experiencing mental health problems. You will learn about psychological evaluation, assessment, formulation and interventions derived from rigorous psychological research and practice.
As a qualified CAAP, you will be able to practice autonomously with appropriate support, working within your scope of practice, under the supervision of a Practitioner Psychologist.
The programme has a year-long clinical workplace in NHS Wales. In parallel, you will complete academic modules on the theory behind clinical practice, such as clinical research, assessments and formulations, and clinical interventions. Some of the academic modules will take place on campus and some through online delivery.
Learn more about CAAP roles via NHS Wales.
Course structure
You will complete a workplace placement in NHS Wales under the supervision of a Practitioner Psychologist. In parallel, you will complete academic modules on the theory behind clinical practice, such as clinical research, assessments and formulations, and clinical interventions.
You will be on workplace in NHS Wales for around three days per week and the remaining two days will be spent completing your academic work.
Some of the academic modules are taught on campus and others through online delivery. This means that extensive travel may be involved, depending on placement location.
The programme is for one year. Practical skills will be covered both on workplace in NHS Wales and within academic modules. The theory underpinning these skills will be taught in both settings with a focus on this occurring within University teaching and workshops, delivered online or on campus.
Modules
Modules for this course include:
Professional and ethical practice
This module introduces trainee CAAPs to the core ideas, values, principles and guidelines underpinning professional and ethical practice in applied psychology. Areas covered will include the importance and relevance of reflective and evidence-based practice for working in NHS Wales; staffing structures and roles within the NHS Wales; difference, diversity and social impact; clinical governance issues regarding effectiveness, quality and confidentiality; ethical and legal aspects of clinical practice; management of clinical time and caseload; different types of service delivery and interprofessional/team working.
| Credits | 20 |
|---|---|
| Semester | Spring Semester |
Assessment, engagement, and formulation
This module introduces trainee CAAPs to the psychological knowledge base to help understand adult lifespan psychological distress, including onset, maintenance and recovery factors. The module will provide understanding of contemporary theory in clinical psychology and related fields, including knowledge of social context, health, disease, disorder and dysfunction, theories and evidence concerning psychological development and psychological difficulties in adulthood. Trainees will use theory-practice links to learn skills to assess and formulate using a range of psychological assessment methodsand how to use this information to develop formulations. The module will also enable trainees to develop knowledge and skills regarding developing a therapeutic alliance, risk assessment, and supervision.
| Credits | 40 |
|---|---|
| Semester | Spring Semester |
Intervention and outcomes
This module introduces a range of evidence-based psychological interventions that will enable CAAP trainees to work with adult patients in a variety of clinical settings. Trainees will develop knowledge and skills in making theory-practice links in interventions designed for individual adult patients, groups, and carers. Trainees will also develop knowledge in a range of evidence-based treatment models. Trainees will also be introduced to the importance of continuing measurement beyond assessment and be trained to identify and use several common outcome measures.
| Credits | 40 |
|---|---|
| Semester | Year |
Research and evaluation methods
The module will introduce methods and approaches to equip trainees to become both a critical consumer and producer of service evaluation/audit and small-scale research projects in an NHS context. This will include ethics and research governance, quantitative and qualitative methodologies and the principles of reliable and valid measurement of outcomes.
| Credits | 20 |
|---|---|
| Semester | Year |
Clinical Practice
This module comprises placement time where trainees will both observe and undertake clinical work, and have the opportunity to link academic and skills training to practice learning. Placements will be within trainees’ employing Health Boards work bases and might be in a range of adult and older adult mental and physical health services. Through supervised practice trainees will obtain the skills, knowledge and competence to provide psychological assessment, formulations and interventions in line with the needs of the employing Health Board. Trainees are required to provide a regular service to patients that involves delivery of recognised psychological interventions. All clinical practice will be supervised by a Health Board appointed supervising Practitioner Psychologist, and examples of the work should be directly observed and recorded for review by programme staff and the workplace supervisor.
| Credits | 60 |
|---|---|
| Semester | Year |
Fees and funding
CAAPs is a fully funded training proramme run by NHS Wales. The educational component of the training is currently provided by Cardiff University.
CAAPs begin earning a wage as soon as they start their training. CAAPs are paid at band 7 Agenda for Change (AfC), however whilst they are training CAAPs received a reduce wage on something known as Annexe 21. Annex 21 means that while, undertaking training, a CAAPs is paid at 70% of the top of Band 7 AfC.
Find out more about funding via NHS Wales.
Admissions criteria
To be eligible for the role you are required to meet the following criteria:
- graduate basis for chartered membership (GBS) of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
- minimum 2.2 undergraduate degree
- has worked in a caring role with people experiencing psychological distress or mental health difficulties
- demonstrate a minimum of six months experience relevant to psychological wellbeing and mental health
- eligibility to work in the UK
Careers and employment
This programme is supported by providers of NHS Wales psychological services. The programme is commissioned and supported by Health Education and Improvement Wales, and ultimately by Welsh Government. There is an expectation of continuation of employment post qualification within the appointing Health Board.
Posts will be advertised on www.jobs.nhs.uk at various times throughout the year.
Placements
The programme is in the process of applying for BPS accreditation and on completion of this CAAPs will be eligible to register on the BPS’s ‘Wider Psychological Workforce Register’.
Further qualification into a different NHS funded substantive role (e.g. Clinical Psychology Training) may be possible during your career post qualification. However, NHS commissioners will not support this until two years from successful completion of the CAAPs MSc. This would not preclude seeking NHS internal funding to support in-role (CAAP) post qualification training.
Learning and assessment
Teaching
This programme is taught by practicing experts who are able to provide the right balance between the theoretical and the practical skills necessary to be a Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology (CAAP). You will receive a mixture of practical on-the-job training under the supervision of NHS Wales specialists and theory provided by university-based experts. There will be a wide range of teaching techniques suitable for the range of skills you will learn, including simulated clinical cases and small group tuition. Some of the workshops will be delivered online and some on campus.
The medium of instruction will be English. However, you will be given the option of having a personal tutor who speaks Welsh and of submitting written assessments in Welsh. We will attempt to find a Welsh speaking clinical supervisor but this will depend on whether one is available in your practice locality.
Assessment
A large part of the programme will be assessed by demonstrating skill based clinical competencies. These will be evidenced within a clinical portfolio. On your placement you will be expected to satisfy a range of clinical competencies with details recorded in your portfolio. You will also be assessed using practice based report, clinical observations, and standard academic assessments such as essays, reports and presentations. You will be given formative assignments and support throughout the programme to prepare you for the summative assignments.
Support
You will be assigned a personal tutor at Cardiff University who will support you with pastoral concerns. If you encounter any problems which affect your studies, your personal tutor should always be your first point of contact; they will be able to put you in touch with the wide range of expert student support services provided by the University and the Students' Union as appropriate. You are required to meet with your personal tutor at several points during the year but you are also encouraged to get in touch with them at any other point if you need help or advice.
For day-to-day information, the Professional Academic support staff of our Postgraduate Student Hub are available, in person, by telephone or by email, from 8am to 6pm each weekday during term time to answer your questions.
In addition, as an employee of NHS Wales you will be able to access NHS support services and occupational health services. The programme team and your workplace supervisor will be able to signpost you to this support and information will be available within your staff pages in the NHS and on the Health Board webpages.
Contact
For information about the academic element of this course, contact the School of Psychology.
For any other queries contact NHS Wales.
Clinical associates in psychology work within NHS Wales to provide psychological interventions under the supervision of a fully qualified practitioner psychologist.