UEA places student experience as integral to work that we do.
We embrace these values in our approach to the development of the programme, with trainee representation and feedback considered in all forums. Each year group identifies ‘representatives’ to attend committee meetings, providing a feedback loop between trainees and the programme. There is opportunity for these representatives to rotate through and across years, so that trainees have great opportunity to be involved in these important roles and shaping the programme. We also provide joint reflective forums, such as ‘reflect and review’ for each year group. These aim to facilitate a reflective discussion of trainees' experience of the term’s teaching, placements, and other programme matters. From this, action points can be identified and taken forward. Individual feedback forms are also completed following each teaching session, to provide directly to those providing teaching.
We appreciate that working and training as a clinical psychologist may be challenging at times. We aim to help trainees cope with these demands by providing a range of support structures and by developing their skills of self-reflection and self-awareness through the teaching programme and experiences on placement.
Normally we expect trainees to seek support from Programme staff, their peers and supervisors. We provide a range of support systems reflecting the different needs of trainees. We have a "buddy" system where each new trainee is supported by a trainee in the year above. In addition each trainee is allocated to a UEA advisor who is responsible for supporting them and monitoring their work throughout the three years. They have regular meetings with the trainees including advisor and appraisal meetings and typically mid-placement reviews. There is also a network of personal support tutors throughout the region to whom trainees are allocated. Trainees are encouraged to attend a personal and professional development group in each year of the Programme.
During the first year of training all trainees are invited to attend a Mindfulness group.