Evaluation of a psychology graduate internship programme
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-04-2019-0025 |
| Published date | 24 October 2019 |
| Date | 24 October 2019 |
| Pages | 423-435 |
| Author | Alesia Moulton-Perkins,Alexandra Wressle,Nick Grey,Rebecca Sired |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Mental health education |
Evaluation of a psychology graduate
internship programme
Alesia Moulton-Perkins, Alexandra Wressle, Nick Grey and Rebecca Sired
Abstract
Purpose –Applicationsfor clinical psychology trainingfar outstrip places and relevant workexperience is key.
Paid opportunitiesare limited and therefore many choose volunteering, with well-connected graduates faring
best. To promoteequal opportunitiesa coordinated psychologygraduate voluntary internshipprogramme was
establishedin a National Health Service Trustin the South of England. The purposeof this paper is to evaluate
intern and supervisor outcomes, equality of access and adherence to governance standards.
Design/methodology/approach –Three cohorts of interns, unappointed applicants and supervisors were
surveyed. Between 2013 and 2016, 270 psychology graduates applied, 119 were recruited and 151 either
refused a place or were unsuccessful. In total, 91 supervisors provided service-level feedback.
Findings –Interns and applicants were predominantly young, able-bodied white British heterosexual
females. Demographic profiles were similar and broadly representative of psychology graduates nationally.
While fewer were from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds, proportions were greater than the local
population. Participants were more socioeconomically privileged than undergraduates nationally. The
scheme was popular and well governed according to interns and supervisors. Post-internship employment
prospects were improved, with most interns gaining paid mental health roles like assistant psychologist. Most
supervisors commented on the positive contribution made by interns to service outcomes.
Originality/value –This study makes a significant contribution to the literature on voluntary psychology
graduate posts, an area under-researched until now. Our results suggest that a coordinated, transparent
approach can benefit both interns and services by minimising exploitation and maximising developmental
opportunities for the new graduate. The programme makes an important contribution to addressing
inequalities experienced by psychology graduates attempting to enter mental health careers.
Keywords Psychology, Mental health, NHS, Work experience, Internships, Volunteers
Paper type Research paper
Approximately 83,000 students enrol on UK psychology undergraduate degree courses every
year (HESA, 2017/2018a), and many are interested in pursuing careers in the health and social
care professions, including clinical psychology. Clinical psychology is unique amongst the
psychological professions, at least in the current UK context, in that postgraduate training is
salaried. Trainee clinical psychologists are employed by National Health Service (NHS) Trusts to
pursue a three-year doctorate. Pay is good, with levels similar to qualified and experienced
nurses. With the additional advantages of excellent post-doctoral employment rates and
well-paid and structured ongoing career prospects, competition for clinical psychology training
courses is high, with courses receiving between 13 and 50 applications for each place
(CHPCCP, 2018). Clinical psychology doctoral programmes require applicants to have relevant
work experience. Paid assistant psychologist positions are a popular option for gaining such
experience. Certainly, having a greater number and range of assistant psychologist posts
significantly increases the chances of being shortlisted for clinical interviews (Phillips et al., 2004).
However, demand greatly exceeds the supply of these paid roles with anecdotal accounts of
advertised posts receiving hundreds of applications within hours of being advertised online.
In this context volunteering may be a useful stepping stone.
Volunteering presents important benefits to recent psychology graduates. Often referred to as
honorary assistant psychologist posts, or less frequently in the UK[1] as internships, these
unpaid roles allow graduates to acquire relevant clinical and other experience and develop
Received 25 April 2019
Revised 6 September 2019
Accepted 12 September 2019
At the time of the research
Alesia Moulton-Perkins,
Alexandra Wressle, Nick Grey and
Rebecca Sired were based at
Sussex Partnership NHS
Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK.
Alesia Moulton-Perkins and
Alexandra Wressle contributed
equally to the paper and wish to
be known as joint first authors.
Nick Grey contributed to the
statistical analyses and reviewed
the draft for publication. Rebecca
Sired contributed to data collection
and wrote the original internal
service evaluation report. The
authors would also like to thank
Adrian Whittington for his
leadership and support.
Alesia Moulton-Perkins is
based at the School of
Psychology, University of
Surrey, Guildford, UK.
Alexandra Wressle is based at
the Institute of Management
Studies, Goldsmiths University
of London, London, UK.
Nick Grey is based at Sussex
Partnership NHS Foundation
Trust, Worthing, UK and
School of Psychology,
University of Sussex, Brighton,
UK.
Rebecca Sired is based at the
Department of Psychology,
University of Bath, Bath, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JMHTEP-04-2019-0025 VOL. 14 NO. 6 2019, pp. 423-435, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1755-6228
j
THE JOURNAL OF MENTALHEALTH TRAINING, EDUCATION AND PRACTICE
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