Developing as a Psychologist
Task 1 guidance:
You are recommended to complete between three and five reflections which demonstrate the specific, generic and transferable skills expected of psychology graduates. Reflective entries should all be of a similar length with a word limit of 3000 words in total.
You must reflect on at least one subject specific skill and one generic /transferable skill from the below table for the list of skills (from UK Quality Assurance Agency Subject Benchmark Statement for Psychology) (LO 1). It is suggested that you use subheadings in your submission to show which benchmark standard is being reflected on.
Students must then use a reflective model (e.g., Gibbs 1988) to structure your reflection and address the learning outcomes (LO’s).
- Students should evaluate why this standard is of relevance and importance to their development as a Psychologist
- You should then critically assess your own personal status (LO2) in regards to this specific benchmarked skill(s) (i.e., to what extent have you met this standard?),
- Reflect on how you have acquired these skills. You will need to provide evidence of your learning from across the course (i.e., Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3). As this will show how you have developed your skills in relation to this particular benchmarked standard. It is important, that you provide specific examples of how you have progressed from year to year.
- Reflect on the targets you and/or staff identified to further develop your skills during your time on the course, in relation to the benchmarked standard. You will need to provide evidence for development activities you engaged in to meet these targets skills/needs (i.e., LO3). You may consider including evidence such as:
- Reflecting on meetings with your Personal Professional Tutor (PPT) and including identified goals and targets within your SWOT analysis or personal development plan.
- Meetings with other academic staff as evidence (e.g., careers advisors).
- Attendance at development events e.g. the Graduate Employability Fair (hosted in Semester 1). End of Year Conference (when you will be presenting your 3002PY dissertation poster).
- Dissertation supervision when discussions have specifically covered the development of generic/transferable skills you have or will need to developed for your dissertation and future career.
- Reflect on how you used, or could have used the generic/transferable skills you have been reflecting on to develop your future career (LO5).
- Reflect upon and action plan future development needs (LO4). Therefore, following your graduation (or completion of your course), what steps will you take to further enhance your development as a psychologist (e.g., applying for a relevant postgraduate course, applying for relevant jobs to increase clinical experience etc.). You may consider using tools such as the SMARTER form to construct a concise action plan.
Task 2: Evidence of engagement with Academic Staff and progression 5% grade
Task 2 guidance
- You will need to provide evidence of engagement with academic staff via attending meetings relevant to your development as a psychologist/ career development. Example of evidence:
- Copies of your Personal Development Plans (PDP and SWOT) completed with your PPT across the year.
- Copies of relevant development meetings with other academic staff (e.g., employability team) using the template form found under the Assessment tab on Moodle.
- Copies of emails where you have discussed career opportunities/developments.
- There must be evidence of progression across the academic year. For example, you may identify specific targets for skills development in relation to benchmark standards in your first PPT meeting (in Semester 1) and then evidence in the next meeting how you progressed and plan additional targets etc.
It is important to note that if you attach evidence of several meetings (e.g., 4 meetings), but these meetings have not been spread out across the year to show your progression (e.g., you include 4 meetings within the last 2 months of your course), then you will not be able to attain the full 5% (i.e., excellent score) for Task 1. To complete and submit a reflective portfolio with a word limit of 3000 words (95% of grade).
Task 1 guidance:
You are recommended to complete between three and five reflections which demonstrate the specific, generic and transferable skills expected of psychology graduates. Reflective entries should all be of a similar length with a word limit of 3000 words in total.
You must reflect on at least one subject specific skill and one generic /transferable skill from the below table for the list of skills (from UK Quality Assurance Agency Subject Benchmark Statement for Psychology) (LO 1). It is suggested that you use subheadings in your submission to show which benchmark standard is being reflected on.
Students must then use a reflective model (e.g., Gibbs 1988) to structure your reflection and address the learning outcomes (LO’s).
- Students should evaluate why this standard is of relevance and importance to their development as a Psychologist
- You should then critically assess your own personal status (LO2) in regards to this specific benchmarked skill(s) (i.e., to what extent have you met this standard?),
- Reflect on how you have acquired these skills. You will need to provide evidence of your learning from across the course (i.e., Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3). As this will show how you have developed your skills in relation to this particular benchmarked standard. It is important, that you provide specific examples of how you have progressed from year to year.
- Reflect on the targets you and/or staff identified to further develop your skills during your time on the course, in relation to the benchmarked standard. You will need to provide evidence for development activities you engaged in to meet these targets skills/needs (i.e., LO3). You may consider including evidence such as:
- Reflecting on meetings with your Personal Professional Tutor (PPT) and including identified goals and targets within your SWOT analysis or personal development plan.
- Meetings with other academic staff as evidence (e.g., careers advisors).
- Attendance at development events ego the Graduate Employability Fair (hosted in Semester 1). End of Year Conference (when you will be presenting your 3002PY dissertation poster).
- Dissertation supervision when discussions have specifically covered the development of generic/transferable skills you have or will need to developed for your dissertation and future career.
- Reflect on how you used, or could have used the generic/transferable skills you have been reflecting on to develop your future career (LO5).
- Reflect upon and action plan future development needs (LO4). Therefore, following your graduation (or completion of your course), what steps will you take to further enhance your development as a psychologist (e.g., applying for a relevant postgraduate course, applying for relevant jobs to increase clinical experience etc.). You may consider using tools such as the SMARTER form to construct a concise action plan.
Task 2: Evidence of engagement with Academic Staff and progression 5% grade
Task 2 guidance
- You will need to provide evidence of engagement with academic staff via attending meetings relevant to your development as a psychologist/ career development. Example of evidence:
- Copies of your Personal Development Plans (PDP and SWOT) completed with your PPT across the year.
- Copies of relevant development meetings with other academic staff (e.g., employability team) using the template form found under the Assessment tab on Moodle.
- Copies of emails where you have discussed career opportunities/developments.
- There must be evidence of progression across the academic year. For example, you may identify specific targets for skills development in relation to benchmark standards in your first PPT meeting (in Semester 1) and then evidence in the next meeting how you progressed and plan additional targets etc.
It is important to note that if you attach evidence of several meetings (e.g., 4 meetings), but these meetings have not been spread out across the year to show your progression (e.g., you include 4 meetings within the last 2 months of your course), then you will not be able to attain the full 5% (i.e., excellent score) for this part of the marking criteria (i.e., you would attain a lower score for this component).
It is recommended that you use the suggested template and summary table to help highlight which parts of the evidence you are submitting counts as evidence for this part of your submission.
It is important, however, that all documents included in the appendix must be signed and dated by the academic staff to be considered as evidence. Or copies of emailed evidence of your contact with your PPT will also be considered.