UCL in collaboration with the Anna Freud Centre

Overview The MSc in Developmental Psychology and Clinical Practice is a two-year full-time course offered by UCL, based at the Anna Freud Centre (AFC). The aim of the course is to provide a framework for developing an integrated understanding of child development and childhood disorders, and to give you an opportunity to develop practical skills for working with children and families in a clinical setting. This programme draws together theory, research and therapeutic thinking from a range of perspectives, including clinical and cognitive psychology, systemic theory, psychoanalysis and neuroscience. Theoretical learning is complemented by workshop-based seminars where you will learn core clinical skills, and in the second year of the course you will have a one-year placement in a clinical service, whilst also completing a research dissertation. In year one all modules are taught at the Anna Freud Centre in London, a worldrenowned centre for research, training and clinical practice in the field of child mental health. Students attend weekly lectures complemented by small group seminars in a friendly and supportive environment. In year two, as well as taking further modules

at the Anna Freud Centre and UCL, you will move into a 2-3 days per week placement in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in London. During this placement you will have the opportunity to develop core clinical skills relevant to working with children and families, under the supervision of an experienced clinician.

Distinctive Features Include: - An overview of child development and developmental psychopathology including a focus on key childhood disorders (e.g. autism, ADHD, psychosis and conduct disorder), taught by leading academics and clinicians in the field of child mental health - Exposure to clinical work within the National Health Service involving children, adolescents and families, under the supervision of an experienced clinician - The opportunity to develop a conceptual framework which draws together neuroscience, psychoanalysis, systemic thinking, clinical and cognitive perspectives - Practical training in using statistical analysis packages, and in developing skills to evaluate therapeutic interventions, drawing on the best aspects of both evidence based practice and practice based evidence - A solid foundation for those wishing to go on to further clinical training, or to apply for employment within the childrens workforce.

This is a ground-breaking course which offers an understanding of childhood problems along with training in the skills needed to help distressed children and families. We are delighted to be a partner in offering placement experience to students on the course.
Peter Fuggle, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director of Islington Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Year 1 Teaching In the first year you will be based at the Anna Freud Centre in Hampstead, London. As a UCL student you will have access to the facilities of a leading international university. The teaching in this first year comprises 10 modules covering: Child Development and Developmental Psychopathology These modules comprise of an overview of developmental psychology from birth through adolescence. Disorders of childhood (eg autism and depression) are explored from multiple perspectives psychoanalytic, clinical, cognitivebehavioural and neurobiological. Research Modules These modules will help you develop practical skills for analysing quantitative and qualitative data and also to critically evaluate clinical practice. These modules will also introduce the fundamentals of evidence based practice and practice based evidence. Psychoanalytic Concepts These modules provide a detailed introduction to the work of Freud, and offer an overview of some of the most significant developments in post-Freudian psychoanalytic theory. Parent-infant Observation You will undertake a weekly observation of a parent and infant (who you find yourself) in their own home. Regular seminars support you to follow the process of development unfolding and also to begin to acquire the observational skills required of a clinician. Clinical Skills Building and Maintaining Relationships In this classroom based module you will practice the skills necessary to engage young people and their families in a clinical setting, through role play, feedback on

video performance and observation of specialists. Assessment and Planning This module will begin to integrate understanding from a range of therapeutic modalities to introduce you to ways of undertaking assessments with children and families and to link assessments to case formulation and treatment planning. Year 2 Teaching Progression onto Year 2 is dependent on passing Year 1. You remain at the Anna Freud Centre and undertake two modules that will give you the opportunity to further develop core clinical skills for working with children and families, as well as a module focused on developing your understanding of the contexts in which child mental health work takes place. You will undertake a placement within a CAMHS team for 2-3 days per week. Here you will be working alongside experienced clinicians and gain exposure to a wide range of interventions with children and families. Completing this MSc does not result in an accredited qualification as a therapist. However it will help you develop several core clinical skills and provide direct supervised experience of work in a child and adolescent mental health service, placing you in a very strong position to apply to a doctoral-level clinical training, such as Clinical Psychology, Child Psychotherapy or Family Therapy. University College London (UCL) UCL is one of the foremost teaching and research institutions in the UK. It was founded in 1826 to provide higher education for all who could benefit from it, regardless of religion, race or class, and is both the oldest and the largest of the various colleges and institutes that make up the University of London.

The Anna Freud Centre (AFC) The Anna Freud Centre began as the Hampstead War Nurseries, set up by Anna Freud in 1940. The AFC is a leading centre for clinical research and now houses an EEG laboratory alongside a variety of clinical projects. Its aim is to promote the emotional well being of families and children, from infancy to adolescence. Applying for the MSc The course is highly selective and takes a maximum of 12 students per year. The MSc is offered as a two-year full time course only - there are no part-time or flexible study options. Overseas students would be expected to demonstrate a high level of written and spoken English. Deadline Early applications are encouraged. Please see the website for further details. Teaching on this course will begin in September 2013 Fees 20132014: UK/ EU: 8,250 Overseas: 21,000 What to do next? For full details of the course please see our UCL website: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/psychlangsci/ students/prospective/PGT/TMSPSYSDPC01 Or email the Course Administrator: nicky.eggers@annafreud.org for further information. Student Stories Visit the Anna Freud Centre website http://www.annafreud.org/ to listen to how previous students have experienced the course. Open evening We will be holding an open evening at the Anna Freud Centre on Tuesday January 15th 2013. Please contact anwen.prendergast@annafreud.org to book a place.

The course description is correct at time of going to print but is subject to change without notice