Last Updated on 11/08/2022

Staff actively encourage trainees to develop professional interests and expertise via various means including attendance at external conferences, online training and accessing personal therapy. Therapy for continuing professional development differs from therapy that would be indicated by an occupational health referral. The latter concerns therapy accessed to address issues around capacity to practice whilst the former pertains to enhancing practice. To discuss further the first point of contact is Claire Anderson, Clinical Tutor, c.l.anderson@lancaster.ac.uk

There is a formal procedure for determining use of your funds, to maintain equity in the distribution of funding and to ensure financial accountability.

Applications should be submitted to Katherine Thackeray, Programme Administrator.

  • Trainees joining from 2022 onwards are entitled to a £500 budget over three years, this budget is called a ‘Training Budget’. This budget can be used for activities of the trainee’s choice, such as attendance at external conferences, online training, accessing personal therapy and must also cover research related expenses. Please see the research expenses section of the handbook for more detail on example expenses. £100 of this budget is ring fenced for the payment of experts by experience; this will pay for up to 5 hours of involvement in research in an advisory capacity (further information on the payment structure for this element). Plans for involving experts by experience should be discussed with your supervisor and cost implications agreed in advance.
  • Trainees in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 intakes are entitled to £400 over the three years. This budget can be used for activities of the trainee’s choice, such as attendance at external conferences, online training, accessing personal therapy and must also cover research related expenses. Please see the research expenses page of the handbook for more information on example expenses.
  • Money unspent at the end of training remains within the programme budget. It is not possible for money to be spent after the completion of the three years training, or for it to be used for books as these can be requested or accessed through the library. If the activity exceeds the budget the trainee is required to cover the excess.
  • Only in exceptional circumstances will programme staff allow attendance at a conference or non-programme activity if this involves missing part of the DClinPsy teaching programme (such as one-off conferences that are of specific relevance to the trainee’s individual learning needs, or events where the trainee will be presenting). If trainees wish to attend an event which clashes with DClinPsy teaching, they must agree to this with their individual tutor pair. In addition, the trainee should send apologies, in advance to the lecturer scheduled to deliver the teaching, assuming it has been agreed that they can miss that session. Ongoing commitments, such as personal therapy sessions should be scheduled within study time.
  • All trainees must submit the details of the CPD activity, and costs of attendance to the Programme Administrator. An application form (see appended) should be completed for each activity. Research related expenses, including expert by experience involvement, should be approved through the Research Coordinator instead.
    • Details should include promotional literature if applicable, dates of the event, and whether the trainee has gained the relevant approval (e.g. from a placement supervisor) to attend the event.
    • All rough costings must include, where relevant, fees and for conferences only travel accommodation and subsistence.
  • The Programme Administrator will organise the approval system and consult with tutor pairs as required.

2017 and 2018 intake:

The CPD entitlement depends on programme finances at the time of your entry to the programme: trainees joining in 2017 or 2018 are entitled to £300 over the three years.

Vitae

Lancaster University is a member of Vitae, so all staff and students have access, they just need to sign up using their university email. For some of the events this means a discount rather than free access, but the resources on the website are open access.

Vitae login page
About vitae
Application to access programme CPD funds