In this module you will undertake a single case design based on methods developed in psychological and behavioural research. The module will introduce you to assessment, formulation, intervention and evaluation when working in a range of contexts and settings, with people with complex needs or diversity requiring creativity and flexibility in how intervention is approached. You will learn how to apply single case methodology collaboratively and systematically with people to ensure that your interventions are ethically sound and that you can take responsive action to ensure that you are not placing people at risk of further harm. Within clinical workshops trainees will use generic psychological meta-competences to apply psychological methods to complex casework. You will learn how to write up n=1 designs and how to use single case methodology in practice as a method of evaluating your practice with individual clients and ensuring that people receive high quality clinical services, based on their individual needs.

The trainees will undertake a 4,000 word single-case study during their clinical placement using a systematic methodology. Trainees will be given the opportunity for formative feedback on their work via a timetabled session in which they are required to deliver a short presentation of their single case and a formative opportunity for feedback on their single case report. Trainees will be further supported through assignment workshops with the module lead to facilitate the development of their single case design, analysis and write-up. [LOs 1,2,3,4,5].

In class teaching comprising of lectures and interactive seminars both on single case design and assessment, formulation and intervention with clients with complex and diverse needs and when working in different settings and contexts, group discussion, practice exercises to consolidate learning. Timetabled skills workshops will form part of the scheduled teaching in which role play and video feedback will be used to further develop trainee assessment and therapeutic skills. All of the workshops, seminars and lectures are supported by supervised clinical practice and independent study. Independent study is guided by the module lead and specialist lecturers who teach on the module.

1. Demonstrate the ability to enquire about the needs of a service user and to use the body of psychological knowledge (a bio-psycho-social approach) to show a clear understanding of the clinical issues.

Knowledge & Understanding; Enquiry.

2. Learn from the evidence base to implement a psychological intervention that has been developed collaboratively in response to service user need.

Learning.

3. Problem-solve collaboratively with the service user and or service system and to respond to their needs, in an ethical manner, which takes risk into account. To conduct a piece of clinically relevant research, and to reflect upon its outcomes in a way that enables the profession to develop its knowledge base, to monitor and improve its effectiveness.

Problem Solving; Analysis; Reflection.

4.Communicate this work through the presentation and writing up of a clear single case methodology report in accordance with the HCPC Standard of Ethics.

Communication.

5. Demonstrate generalizable Meta-competences: To apply a psychological model of assessment, formulation and intervention from a different model than in Year One.

Application.

A large room in which lectures and workshops can be held; potentially breakout spaces and smaller rooms for discussion and skills practise

Relevant audio visual equipment or MS Teams for presenting single case designs

Web cams for recording skills practise and audio visual equipment for playback for learning

Internet and library resources

Service user involvement in teaching and skills sessions

Barlow, D.H. Nock, M.K. & Hersen, M. (2009). Single case experimental designs (3rd edition). Pearson

HCPC (2016). Standards of conduct, performance and ethics. https://www.hcpc-uk.org/globalassets/resources/standards/standards-of-conduct-performance-and-ethics.pdf?v=637171211260000000

Kazdin, A.E. (2010). Single case research designs: methods for clinical and applied settings (2nd edition). Oxford University Press.

Kratochwill, T.R. Hitchcock, J. Horner, R.H. Levin, J.R. Odom, S.L. Rindskopf, D.M. & Shadish, W.R. (2010). Single case technical documentation. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED510743.pdf

‘Small-N designs’ in Barker, N. Pistrang, Elliott, (2016). Research methods in clinical psychology. An introduction for students and practitioners. Wiley Blackwell.

Morley, S. (2018). Single case methods in clinical psychology. A practical guide. Routledge.

Tate, R.L. & Perdices, M. (2019). Single-case experimental designs for clinical research and neurorehabilitation settings. Planning, conduct, analysis and reporting. Routledge.



Additional reading is contained in the module handbook and will also be provided throughout the module.

The module will introduce you to assessment, formulation, intervention and evaluation when working in a range of contexts and settings, with people with complex needs or diversity requiring creativity and flexibility in how intervention is approached. Within clinical workshops trainees will use generic psychological meta-competences to apply psychological methods to complex casework. For the assessment, you will complete a single case design based on methods developed in psychological and behavioural research.