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• Postgraduate study:
• Courses
• Apply now
• Fees and funding
• Accommodation
• Open Events
• Work placement
• Study resources
• Student support
• Research
• Campuses
• Choose Kingston
• Disability and mental health support

Applications of Forensic Psychology

• Module code: PS7032
• Year: 2018/9
• Level: 7
• Credits: 30
• Pre-requisites: None
• Co-requisites: None

Summary

This module will enhance your understanding of the application of forensic psychology. You will gain knowledge and understanding about organisations in which you might work as a forensic psychologist and the systems and structures within these settings. You will gain an understanding of the skills required when working as a reflective scientist-practitioner. You will also gain knowledge of the foundations of assessment and intervention including theory practice links, critical evaluation, training and consultancy. You will engage with this material through a series of interactive workshops and your participation in either a forensic work based placement or an applied research placement.

Aims

• To extend students' knowledge of the issues surrounding the work of a forensic psychologist.
• To gain an advanced understanding of equality, diversity, ethics and human rights as applied to forensic settings.
• To extend students' knowledge and advance their understanding of  formulation, evaluation, training and consultancy as applied to the settings in which forensic psychologists may work.
• To encourage the development of self-awareness in order that students use supervision effectively, and develop reflective practice for personal and professional development.
• To enhance students' communication skills in order that they are able to communicate complex information both orally and in writing to colleagues, service users and a wider audience.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the skills necessary for ethical practice across various settings within forensic psychology
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills, including listening skills, necessary to convey information to colleagues, service users, and the wider audience
• Evidence independent working and effective time management via attendance and engagement in the work setting
• Demonstrate an understanding of formulation, evaluation, training and consultancy within forensic psychology
• Demonstrate self-awareness in order to work with others effectively
• Demonstrate the knowledge/skills to conduct assessments and interventions within forensic psychology

Curriculum content

• Introduction to clinical skills eg. interviewing skills, use of supervision
• Working as a forensic psychologist
• The therapeutic relationship
• Ethical practice
• Reflective practice and supervision
• Risk assessments
• Administration and interpretation of psychometric tests
• Working with different service user groups
• Trauma
• Cultural diversity
• Service user perspective

Teaching and learning strategy

The module will run a set of interactive workshops throughout the year running alongside the students' placement. Students will have a short set of workshops prior to starting their placement to ensure they are prepared for their work based or research based placement. The workshops will cover a range of key practices including clinical skills ie. interviewing skills, use of supervision, assessment training eg. HCR-20 risk assessment, and will provide students with an opportunity to extend and consolidate their knowledge and skills base.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Assessment strategy

These assessments will enable students to develop and demonstrate their understanding and progress throughout the module. The assessment strategy is designed to enable students to develop their knowledge, critical appraisal and evaluation skills relevant to the British Psychological Society (BPS) guidelines stipulated as necessary for development as a forensic psychologist.

This module will be assessed by

 The portfolio of work comprises: 100%

• A Reflective Essay - 1,500 words based on their placement experience
• Case/ Research Presentation - a 15 minute presentation with questions
• Consultancy Report - 3,000 word evaluation of an existing policy
• Placement Log Book - Students will complete a log book detailing their ongoing work activity on placement.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Elements of Assessment

Achieving a pass

It IS a requirement that the element of assessment is passed in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Barlett, A., & McGauley, G. (2010). Forensic Mental Health: concepts, systems, and practice.Oxford: Oxford University Press

Sturmey, P., & McMurran, M. (2011). Forensic case formulation. Chichester: Jon Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2014). Introduction to forensic psychology: Research and application. Sage Publications.

Hart, S. D., Michie, C., & Cooke, D. J. (2007). Precision of actuarial risk assessment instruments. Evaluating the margins of error'of group v. individual predictions of violence. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 190(49), s60-s65.

Helyer, R. (2010). The work based learning student handbook. Palgrave MacMillan, New York.

Purvis, M., Ward, T., & Willis, G. (2011). The Good Lives Model in practice: Offence pathways and case management. European journal of probation, 3(2), 4-28.

Students will be directed to primary sources prior to lectures.