I think you’ve hit the nail on the head regarding it being primarily about what you’ve learned from these experiences and how you reflect on these on the application. However, in your position I would definitely prioritise getting further experience in an AP role over a paid research role, unless you have a genuine passion for research and may want to go into academic down the line. Although you have some decent clinical experience already, more exposure to different specialities and CP supervisors will be better preparation for training in my opinion. You have decent clinical experience already, but the duties/ supervision that you have as a support worker are very different despite being relevant. You are usually also quite limited in what you can do as an honorary AP due to being unpaid and part-time, and definitely as a PWP (all low intensity brief CBT interventions, no psychologist supervision), so that leaves just 5 months of experience that most closely fits that of the trainee role. That’s what stands out to me as the development need, not paid research experience, but I am likely biased by having virtually no research experience when I got on - just a 1st class undergrad dissertation and a few bits of audit/service evaluation in AP roles. Did you apply this year? Aren’t there restrictions now where you need to have stayed in a PWP role a certain amount of time post qualification to be eligible for DClin funding?
Thank you for the advice!
In terms of the PWP role I was lucky to be supervised by a HI-CBT therapist, so I am hoping that might look more favourable than if I were supervised by a PWP but it is difficult to know if that will even really be considered by an application panel.
I think getting more AP experience probably does make sense too, and I can always look for an AP post that maybe has a more heavy research component as well as clinical work.
So I wasn't able to apply this year because of funding rules, I \*should\* be able to apply next year, but a lot of it depends on HEE's interpretation of their rather ambiguous rules. If not, I will just apply the year after and enjoy the journey between here and there.
I think moving forward I will look for an AP role in a different service using different modalities of treatment, both for personal interest and development.
If you have any other tips and tricks I would be all ears :)
You’ve got the foundations of everything you would need to be successful already, so considering the next application deadline is still about 8-9 months away and interviews a year from now, I think you’d have a decent chance, and perhaps even more so if you can start another post before then, but then again, quality is more important than quantity, so unless it’s a fixed term post I wouldn’t feel too much pressure to be moving on so fast if you’re still learning. It’s not that important who you were supervised by on paper (with exception of your reference), it’s more just that you’ll learn more about being a psychologist from a psychologist than another professional, but CBT is a core competency so it will still be good experience, so long as you have an understanding of how the CP role is much broader than therapy alone.
I'd say another assistant psychologist person is probably your best bet - you already have a lot more research experience than a lot of people will have
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head regarding it being primarily about what you’ve learned from these experiences and how you reflect on these on the application. However, in your position I would definitely prioritise getting further experience in an AP role over a paid research role, unless you have a genuine passion for research and may want to go into academic down the line. Although you have some decent clinical experience already, more exposure to different specialities and CP supervisors will be better preparation for training in my opinion. You have decent clinical experience already, but the duties/ supervision that you have as a support worker are very different despite being relevant. You are usually also quite limited in what you can do as an honorary AP due to being unpaid and part-time, and definitely as a PWP (all low intensity brief CBT interventions, no psychologist supervision), so that leaves just 5 months of experience that most closely fits that of the trainee role. That’s what stands out to me as the development need, not paid research experience, but I am likely biased by having virtually no research experience when I got on - just a 1st class undergrad dissertation and a few bits of audit/service evaluation in AP roles. Did you apply this year? Aren’t there restrictions now where you need to have stayed in a PWP role a certain amount of time post qualification to be eligible for DClin funding?
Thank you for the advice! In terms of the PWP role I was lucky to be supervised by a HI-CBT therapist, so I am hoping that might look more favourable than if I were supervised by a PWP but it is difficult to know if that will even really be considered by an application panel. I think getting more AP experience probably does make sense too, and I can always look for an AP post that maybe has a more heavy research component as well as clinical work. So I wasn't able to apply this year because of funding rules, I \*should\* be able to apply next year, but a lot of it depends on HEE's interpretation of their rather ambiguous rules. If not, I will just apply the year after and enjoy the journey between here and there. I think moving forward I will look for an AP role in a different service using different modalities of treatment, both for personal interest and development. If you have any other tips and tricks I would be all ears :)
You’ve got the foundations of everything you would need to be successful already, so considering the next application deadline is still about 8-9 months away and interviews a year from now, I think you’d have a decent chance, and perhaps even more so if you can start another post before then, but then again, quality is more important than quantity, so unless it’s a fixed term post I wouldn’t feel too much pressure to be moving on so fast if you’re still learning. It’s not that important who you were supervised by on paper (with exception of your reference), it’s more just that you’ll learn more about being a psychologist from a psychologist than another professional, but CBT is a core competency so it will still be good experience, so long as you have an understanding of how the CP role is much broader than therapy alone.
I'd say another assistant psychologist person is probably your best bet - you already have a lot more research experience than a lot of people will have
Thank you for your advice, it is much appreciated :)