HPS776 - Issues in Professional Psychology

Unit details

Note: You are seeing the 2020 view of this unit information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year:

2020 unit information

Important Update:

Classes and seminars in Trimester 2/Semester 2, 2020 will be online. Physical distancing for coronavirus (COVID-19) will affect delivery of other learning experiences in this unit. Please check your unit sites for announcements and updates one week prior to the start of your trimester or semester.

Last updated: 2 June 2020

Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Melissa O'Shea
Cohort rule:

Students must be enrolled in H750 Master of Psychology (Clinical) to enrol in this unit

Prerequisite:

Nil

Corequisite:

Nil

Incompatible with: HPS976
Typical study commitment:

This unit is taught in Intensive Mode - a week-long block at the commencement of students' first trimester in H750 Master of Psychology (Clinical)

Scheduled learning activities - campus:

1 x 3 hour seminar per week

Content

The Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for Issues in Professional Psychology represents important preparation for professional practice, which begins in Trimester 2 with the Clinical Placement Program and then continues throughout the course of the professional lives of graduates of this program. It is designed to provide knowledge, reflection and practice in professional issues and professional ethics as well as the governance framework that exists to support Clinical Psychology as a health discipline. Students will become familiar with the various professional standards and codes relevant to the provision of psychological services. These will include: The Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics (as adopted by the Psychology Board of Australia), APS Ethical Guidelines, and the Australian National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce.

The Unit begins by considering the governance environment in which Professional Psychology sits with a focus on the Public Mental Health System and applying effective ethical and reasoning frameworks to decision making to common dilemmas when working with clients in professional practice. Contemporary issues such as Leadership in Psychology and Health as well as the contemporary practice paradigms of Client-Centred care and Recovery orientation are also jointly considered and wherever possible utilise active learning activities.

Consistent with the wider intended learning outcomes of the program, a key focus of the Unit is the application of ethical, legal and professional Psychology practice principles within the inter-professional Health environment, with the teaching and learning and assessment activities supporting the achievement of these competencies for students. Students will directly apply new knowledge in relation to working effectively and collaboratively in health care through participation in inter-disciplinary student teams (including Psychology, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Medical Imaging, Optometry and Medicine) working towards the development of shared care plans for complex simulated clients using computer assisted learning technology. Students will also participate in 8 days of Work-Integrated learning within the Barwon Health Mental Health Service where they will be observe and reflect on Psychology and Health practice in action in readiness to commence Clinical Placements.

A highlight of the Unit is the 2-day Aboriginal Cultural Immersion module where students will spend time at the Institute of Koori Education and the Wathaurong Health Co-operative in order to facilitate understanding of culturally sensitive approaches to applying psychology knowledge and practice in working with Aboriginal people. Students will be assessed on their capacity to communicate how this learning will change their practice using a video-blog.

 

These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this Unit

At the completion of this Unit successful students can:

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes

ULO1

Identify and describe key principles of Inter-Professional collaboration in healthcare

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

ULO2

Apply the principles of Inter-Professional Collaboration in Healthcare to participate effectively in the health context to achieve best outcomes for clients

GLO2: Communication

GLO6: Self-management

GLO7: Teamwork

ULO3

Articulate and apply discipline specific knowledge in considering authentic professional issues in the ethical and legal practice of Clinical Psychology

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO4

Apply skills and knowledge inherent to the practice of Clinical Psychology in ways that are culturally sensitive to diverse communities and cultures in Australia with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO5

Understand how the governance framework for Clinical Psychology is structured including key standards and legislation that apply to the practice of Professional Psychology and the broader Health profession

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO8: Global citizenship

 

This unit of study is designed to provide education and training in professional practice issues and professional ethics. Throughout the course, students will be expected to become familiar with various professional guidelines and codes relevant to the provision of psychological services. These will include: The Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics (as adopted by the Psychology Board of Australia), APS Ethical Guidelines, and the Australian National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce. The unit will also include material which provides the opportunity for students to explore and develop their understanding of the legal responsibilities of professional psychologists, including for those engaged in clinical and related practice.

Assessment

Trimester 1:
Assessment description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1: Work Integrated Learning Portfolio Equivalent to 2000 words Pass/fail
  • Information not yet available
Assessment 2: Video-blog examining Cultural Sensitivity in Psychology Practice 5 minutes Pass/fail
  • Information not yet available
Assessment 3: Inter-Professional Team Care Plan Development 2 in total Pass/fail
  • Information not yet available

This unit is Pass Grade only. All assessments must be passed in order for the unit to be passed.

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: HPS776 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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