Preparation

In preparing for placement learning, students must read all the information on this page

Placement forms an integral part of the MA in Art Psychotherapy Practice, enabling students to apply aspects of theory and practice of course material and gain experience of Art Psychotherapy Practice with clients in up to two different placement settings. As well as having a client caseload, the development of professional proficiency is supported by regular placement supervision and the experience of working alongside other professionals.

Prior to commencement of placement, students must be in personal therapy.  This continues throughout the duration of the course.  Please refer to your BlackBoard organisation site for details on the duration and evidencing of personal therapy.  Students are required to pay for their own personal therapy.

We work in partnership with NHS Trusts, local authorities, schools and many private, independent and voluntary sector organisations to provide the required experience for our students. You will be allocated to placement and required to organise your own travel.

All students must successfully complete a minimum of 100 days placement in order to meet the minimum requirements for professional suitability. A placement day replicates a working day within the placement organisation.

Full time trainees doing the two-year course, are on placement 2 days per week commencing in the spring of their first year on the course. Part-time trainees doing the three-year course, are on placement 1 to 1.5 days per week, commencing their placement at the beginning of their second year on the course.

There are taught preparation sessions, and each student will be given access to and required to familiarise themselves with the placement handbook prior to placement. The placement handbook guides both student and placement supervisor/mentor on the expectations of the course throughout placement.  (Where 'placement supervisor' is referred to in the placement handbook, it should be understood as including the 'mentor' where applicable).

Fitness to Practice

High standards of conduct and professionalism are required of art psychotherapy/art therapy trainees for they will be placed within organisations with people who may be at risk and/or vulnerable. The continual evidence of a trainee’s Fitness to Practice is of central importance to the completion of the course and this includes a commitment to regular and professional attendance. Trainees will be required to sign a proforma in advance of commencing placement to confirm that they are in compliance with this necessary requirement. Further details of HCPC's Fitness to Practice requirements can be found here. 

Professional Requirements (links to page on which DBS and Occupational Health requirements are set out)

• Professional requirements of students (Link to Sheffield Hallam University webpage)

Pre-Placement Induction - Preparation for Practice Learning, Mandatory Requirements

You must complete the mandatory requirements successfully before commencing placement.

Prior to placement students are required to undergo an Occupational Health assessment, enhanced DBS and fitness to practise checks.

Mandatory Training

The university’s mandatory training for Art Psychotherapy Practice placement includes:

• Safeguarding for Children
• Safeguarding for Adults
• Equality, Diversity and Human Rights
• Data Security Awareness
• Conflict Resolution
• Infection prevention and control
• Resuscitation
• Fire safety
• Health Safety and Welfare
• Preventing Radicalisation-Basic Prevent Awareness

Prior to attending each 50-day placement block, students are required to undertake an online mandatory training package.  There are also two practical sessions which must be attended in person.

Students should keep a record of their own mandatory training.  They may be asked about this at their pre-placement visit/interview.  Students may be required, or have the opportunity within the placement organisation, to engage in additional training and this is encouraged.

Students of Art Psychotherapy will be required to complete the Student Fitness to Practice Form (DOCX, 150.2KB) in addition to university DBS and Occupational Health checks.

Student Guidance

Important - you must familiarise yourself with the following policies and guidance, held in the Policy Library/Student Guidance Policies section of this website (Link to Sheffield Hallam University webpage).

• Reporting Incidents, Accidents or Concerns
• Health and Safety
• Data Protection
• Inclusivity
• Staying Safe 
• Working Hours
• Travel
• Uniform

On-Placement Induction to your Allocated Placement

Induction is undertaken with students at their allocated placement.  As soon as you have received confirmation of your allocated placement, you must check communications including emails from your placement provider or the university's Professional Placement Team informing you of the date, time and location of your placement induction event. 

Students must attend the placement provider's induction event in order to continue on their allocated placement.  If you are unable to attend for any reason you must inform your placement provider and the university's Professional Placement Team using your university email address before the scheduled event.

Assessment of Practice Documentation

As a student it is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with your assessment of practice documentation and practice learning outcomes for the placements you attend.  This will help you to plan for and document your placement learning opportunities and support your practise supervisors and assessors to provide you with feedback using the assessment of practice documentation appropriately.

You must document - in the Art Therapy Attendance Record - all hours you attend on your placement and have these verified by your placement provider.

Student Placement Learning Evaluation

You will be invited by the university to complete a placement learning evaluation questionnaire, which you must submit when you complete your placement learning experience.  Further information is provided on the Evaluation page on this website.

Course Specific Placement Objectives

Learning Objectives

• Enable trainees to fulfil the minimum training requirement of 100 days of placement allowing for sufficient and satisfactory client contact and organisational experience as required by the HCPC.
• Develop and consolidate a standard of non-discriminatory professional proficiency.
• Ensure students make use of:
  • Relevant HCPC, BAAT and other professional body guidelines
  • Supervision and support
  • Policies and procedures governing the placement setting, including Safeguarding
  • Appropriate evidence
  • Clear, concise and appropriate verbal and written communication
• Enable students to adapt their practice with regard to differences between, and diversity of, clients and placement settings.
• Provide experience of multi-disciplinary learning including meeting and communicating with professionals from across a range of professions.

Learning Outcomes and Key Skills

1. By the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate their ability to
   • Receive referrals
   • Assess for therapy
   • Provide therapy
   • Refer on where appropriate
2. drawing on:
   • Sympathetic and ethical interpersonal communication with and to the benefit of clients/service users
   • Relevant HCPC, BAAT and other professional body guidelines
   • Safeguarding and information sharing procedures
   • Supervision and relevant support
   • Policies and Procedures governing the placement setting
   • Appropriate evidence
3. Use on-going supervision and support to the benefit of clients/service users
4. Communicate clearly, concisely and respectfully with appropriate colleagues and other professionals in a range of service settings, to the benefit of clients/service users
5. Critically reflect upon, evaluate and appropriately adapt to the impact of culture, equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory manner.
6. Forge a sense of professional identity as an art psychotherapist/therapist.

Placement Module Learning Activities

Students are placed in practice settings where, during the normal working hours of the placement setting and, using supported and supervised reflective practices, they consolidate, synthesise and adapt knowledge to practice in the following areas:

• The provision of art therapy/art psychotherapy for service users, and within staff teams who may not previously have encountered it.
• The requirements of team working and communication.
• The formulation, assessment and forms of therapy offered to service users with particular needs (with reference to theory, practice and research).
• The introduction and use of art making within a psychotherapeutic relationship in a manner that responds appropriately to the service user and makes good use of the student’s skills.
• The diversity issues, economic, cultural, and institutional factors that may influence the provision of therapy.
• The appropriate conclusion of therapy in the light of client need and service constraints.

HCPC Guidance

The MA in Art Psychotherapy Practice is an HCPC approved course and students are required to adhere to HCPC standards of proficiency.