This module is designed to take you through the process of assessing client(s) needs, formulating, delivering and evaluating an intervention. Key to this process is an understanding of the appropriate application of underpinning psychological models and theories combined with the ability to build a positive therapeutic relationship and to effectively communicate (listen, teach, feedback) with clients (and other health professionals).

Sessions will be interactive in nature, and will incorporate reflective practice. Content will cover: Assessment and formulation, approaches to developing a theory-based intervention, developing, maintaining and ending a therapeutic relationship, intervention techniques (1:1 and group as well as face to face and distant delivery), communication skills, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and disseminating interventions.

Break out rooms for individual tutorials and drop in sessions.
CD-ROM and web based databases to review current relevant literature in electronic database format.
Internet access.
Thompson library, Resource rooms
Computer terminals

Forshaw, M. and Sheffield, D. (2012). Health Psychology in Action. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2007) Behaviour Change: the principles for effective interventions. London: NICE.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2014) Behaviour Change: Individual approaches. London: NICE.
Simons-Morton, B., McLeroy, K.R. and Wendel, M.L. (2012). Behaviour Theory in Health Promotion, Research and Practice. London: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

You must satisfy these admission requirements:

1. Hold an honours degree recognised by the British Psychological Society as offering Graduate Basis for Chartership.
and
2. Have completed British Psychological Society Stage One training in Health Psychology (a BPS accredited MSc in Health Psychology) at Merit or equivalent.

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities (24 hours)
Normally 24 hours of interactive teaching sessions with registered Health Psychologists. The sessions are designed to be interactive so that in addition to benefitting from the experience and knowledge of the professionals delivering the sessions, you will also draw from your own and your peer experiences. Some of the sessions will require preparation from you in advance – this will be made clear in the module documentation and handbooks. Completing this preparation will enable you to gain the maximum from the in-class session.

Continuing students will participate in an Action Learning Workshop (a timetabled session) during which members of the group will share their own real-life challenges and issues related to this unit in confidence with one another. Students will be taught how to make the most of such a workshop. The workshop will be facilitated by the module leader. Benefits of this exercise include opportunities to:
• Apply learning from programmes to real-life situations
• Gain from the rich resources of an experienced peer group
• Use a safe environment in which to explore potentially sensitive issues
• Formulate and test the viability of actions prior to implementing them

Guided Independent Study (426 hours)
426 hours will include reading, literature searches, reflection on practice, writing the two reports, and reflection on communication skills.

There are THREE assessments for this module:

(1) A Case Study of a Behaviour Change Intervention (maximum 3,000 words excluding References and Appendices). This will be a reflective report of a case study that the students have carried out, and will include all elements of the process: assessment, formulation, intervention and evaluation.
Weighted at 50%.
Maps to LO's 1-5.

(2) A Reflective Report (maximum 3,000 words excluding References and Appendices). This report will compare and contrast the application of two models in relation to an assessment and formulation students have carried out.
Weighted at 50%.
Maps to LO's 1-3.

(3) A report from the trainee’s supervisor detailing direct observation of the candidate in practice working one-to-one*. Weighted at 0% (pass/fail) Maps to LO's 3-5.

*(note, to complete this assessment, more than one observation may be required).

All elements of assessment must be passed.

Additional Assessment Details
There will be opportunities for formative feedback on one draft of the first two assessments given by (1) the module leader and (2) the supervisor. Formative feedback on communication skills practice will be given in the training sessions.