Essential Criteria
Desirable Criteria:
| Criteria | Note |
|---|---|
You must hold either:
| We will not accept any other qualifications or class of degree different to these. |
| Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) from the British Psychological Society (BPS) | Candidates from non-GBC accredited courses need to apply themselves for membership on the basis of GBC. |
| Clinical experience | There is no required amount, but you must have some relevant experience. |
| Two Satisfactory References | One reference MUST be academic and the other a relevant experience reference. |
| Personal Qualities and Values Consistent with the NHS Constitution | You must demonstrate that you can give the highest standards of professional care. You must demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice and to the values in the NHS constitution. |
| The Right to Work in the UK | NHS England commissions the course and provides trainees with financial support. You must ensure before applying that you are eligible for NHS funding for both tuition fee and salary support (standards are set by the bursary specifications) and Home Fee status. We do not offer any self-funded places. |
| An Adequate Level Of English (if this is not your first language) | Candidates will need to provide evidence of English language proficiency at the higher level required by the University of Oxford, See https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/applying-to-oxford/application-guide?wssl=1
Certificates must be dated to within two years of the start of study. |
| Ability to Drive | All Trainee Clinical Psychologists on the Oxford Course will be required to attend multiple teaching and placement locations, supported by reasonable adjustments for those with disability, as required. This forms part of trainees’ training contracts. Attendance at multiple locations in the Thames Valley and beyond is an essential criterion of the role, with reasonable adjustments, if required. Except where reasonable adjustments are arranged, access to a car or other motorised vehicle for the duration of training is considered to be essential for the role. For candidates offered a place on the course in need of reasonable adjustments to enable attendance as a result of a disability, evidence explaining the travel-related restrictions will be needed, so that these can be taken into consideration in base and placement planning. Please note, this evidence is neither shared with those interviewing a candidate, nor is it used to inform decision making about whether an offer is made or not. Further details below: 1. Please note this role is community-based. Trainees are expected to travel to a placement location anywhere in the Thames Valley footprint and beyond as required, and travel to see patients clinically. As such, applicants to the course, and trainees on the course, must be able to attend teaching and placements, supported by reasonable adjustments for disability, if required. This is an essential criterion of the role. 2. Trainees are allocated a base and may have placements that are not well served by public transport. As such, reliable access to a car or other motorised vehicle is essential for the role. 3. The need for disability adjustments for trainees will be considered and reasonable adjustments provided in line with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. 4. Any penalty points on your licence must be declared. 5. Trainee Clinical Psychologists on the Oxford Course must be able to drive and have access to a car for the duration of the three-year training course. This forms part of trainees’ training contracts and is an essential criterion for the post. Candidates must have a full UK valid driving licence, and submit evidence of this to the Oxford Course, by 31st December 2026. Candidates selected for interview are required to bring their valid driving licence with them. Trainees on the course are eligible for the Trust’s car leasing scheme. Travel expenses are given for trainees’ journeys to clinical placements and / or teaching where that journey distance exceeds the distance from trainees’ home to base. If trainees choose to live away from the designated base (after receiving Director’s or appointing officer’s approval), then placement mileage is subject to review based upon this. Expenses are also provided for required travel within placements (e.g., community visit to a client’s home). NHS travel expenses policy does not reimburse travel from home to base, however travel to placements is currently reimbursed subject to the NHS policy for mileage in excess of the usual home to base journey. |
| Criteria | Note |
|---|---|
| Appropriate Research Experience | This must be in addition to an undergraduate project. We are looking for candidates who show a continuing commitment to improving the quality of health care and contributing to the evidence base of the profession. Suitable experience would include an MSc, PhD or other relevant research, service audit or evaluation. Research experience can occur in the context of an undergraduate placement year. Developing/coordinating research and applying for ethics approval will be rated more highly than data collection/entry. |
| Appropriate Work Experience |
We give credit for the amount and range of experience gained, and are particularly interested in what candidates have made of the experience they have had, in particular how it has shaped their career aspirations and made them a stronger candidate for clinical psychology training. Appropriate clinical experience can include that gained within the context of a research role that involves work with people who present with psychological needs. |
| Publications | We give credit for authorship of publications in peer-reviewed journals. We also give credit for other forms of dissemination such as oral and poster presentations at national conferences and contribution to substantive health service publications. |
| Additional Skills and Competencies |
We value a range of additional activities, skills and training (such as postgraduate certificate level training and counselling courses). Valued indirect skills include:
|
Academic Scoring System
| Qualification | Grade | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
A-Level or equivalent A maximum of 3 A-levels or equivalent are considered Maximum total A-level score = 18 |
A or A* |
6 points |
| B | 4 points | |
| C | 2 points | |
| D or below | 1 point | |
| Undergraduate Psychology Degree |
First class |
10 points |
|
Conversion Course (MSc) Scored in place of undergraduate psychology degree |
Distinction |
10 points |
|
Other Postgraduate Qualifications Candidates will only be allocated points for their highest qualification in this category |
Distinction at Masters |
5 points |
| PhD beyond 2 years | 5 points | |
| Completed PhD | 10 points | |
|
Maximum Total Academic Score = 38 points |
||