Last Updated on 08/08/2023
As a programme team, we endeavour to undertake our duties in a respectful and ethical way, however there may be times when trainees wish to raise concerns about any aspect of the Programme and the following document outlines the procedures for doing so.
Trainees’ experience of training, their feedback and ideas for improvement are key elements of the programme. Trainees are represented on DClinPsy committees and development and implementation groups in order for their views about DClinPsy process/policy/assessments to form part of the strategic development of the programme. There are also two cohort tutors for each year group, including those on a ‘bespoke’ / part time pathway. Cohort tutor meetings are a regular forum for open dialogue about trainee’s experience of the DClinPsy and an opportunity to address any concerns about process/policy/assessment.
Where issues concern an individual member of staff then we would expect both trainees and staff to be committed to resolve any issues in an informal way, through discussion, mutual respect and understanding. If this does not achieve resolution then trainees should seek the support of their individual tutor pair. The tutor pair will discuss an action plan with the trainee and if appropriate facilitate further discussion with the staff member in question. Where this is not possible, or where the concern is regarding a member of the individual tutor pair, then the concern can be raised with the Directors. Again, all efforts will be made to resolve the issue without recourse to formal processes. If the issue concerns any of the Directors then the trainee should seek the advice of their individual tutor team.
Where all efforts to tackle the issue informally have not led to resolution that the trainee is satisfied with then the next step is to consider a formal complaints procedure. There are two separate routes for doing so: –
- For university aspects of the Programme
- For Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust [LSCFT] aspects
Any trainee wishing to consider a formal complaints procedure can seek the advice of Lancaster University students union and/or the Trainee Advocate.
Trainee feedback
The programme staff value feedback from trainees on all aspects of their experience in training. Some methods of obtaining feedback are very formal, for example after each teaching session trainees are required to provide feedback via an online system. Others can be less formal, such as conversations with teaching coordinators.
With placement activity trainee feedback is given on a form called the Placement Audit Form and this supplements verbal feedback to the programme staff during placement visits. There are more details relating to this in the Placements pages of the handbook.
Trainees’ views on research are sought during the teaching sessions in the formal way described. However, with research there is considerable individual tuition given by the research team and trainees usually talk very openly about their experience of their research work and their support and liaison with research supervisors.
In addition to the above, trainees are encouraged to talk more generally about their view on training, in informal settings with staff and also within the more formal context of the various programme committees. There are also the individual training plan meetings, which occur at least twice a year, and the end of training interview which, again, provide useful forums for feedback.
Feedback is received and acted upon (as appropriate) following discussion in the placement and teaching reviews, and then in the appropriate development and implementation groups. The way the programme has decided to act upon trainee feedback is detailed at Programme Board meetings. The programme feels it important that the way feedback has been used is communicated to all providers of feedback, including trainees.
University student complaint procedure
LSCFT grievance procedure