Lecturer; MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care

The Post

Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences is offering a Lecturer (Teaching & Scholarship) position to join the teaching and development team supporting the MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care.

Applications are invited for this employed position at Stirling University, from psychologists with a specific interest in clinical research methodology and expertise in cognitive‑behaviour therapy for common mental health disorders in adults.

This taught postgraduate degree was developed in partnership with the University of Dundee, NHS Education Scotland (NES) and local NHS Scotland Health Boards. The course is jointly co‑ordinated by Dr Stephanie Chan and Dr Leeanne Nicklas and there are five other part‑time academic staff (some of whom have fractional contracts and also holding clinical NHS posts) who contribute to the formal teaching programme, complemented by a number of visiting lecturers.

It also has a part‑time course administrator with support from the wider Psychology Department team.

The MSc was developed around a number of Scottish Government priorities, including the need to improve access to evidence‑based psychological interventions for adults, including elderly people, presenting with common mental health disorders of mild to moderate severity in primary care. In response to emerging pressures faced by health boards, a new focus of the programme is providing training in psychological therapy for people with long‑term physical conditions.

The strengths of the Masters programme include particularly close links with the commissioners, NES, NHS clinical psychology services, and related applied psychology training programmes in Scotland. The core purpose and philosophy for the Universities of Dundee and Stirling/ NHS (Scotland) MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care is to train psychology graduates to Masters level and to impart the range of competencies essential for the graduates from this programme to deliver cognitive behavioural treatments as part of a stepped or matched‑care delivery of psychological therapy services for patients with anxiety, depression, interpersonal and behavioural disorders of mild to moderate severity across the adult age spectrum, in tandem with clinical psychology services.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Stephanie Chan ().

Teaching responsibilities will be to the MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care and the successful candidate will be a practising Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with experience of supervising trainees undergoing CBT based training. They would be expected to have a commitment to high quality training and in evaluating evidence‑based practice.

Teaching alternates monthly between Dundee and Stirling and the course team must have a strong commitment to working flexibly ensuring availability during university based teaching blocks and supporting students. The successful candidate will be expected to undertake the following tasks:

• Design, deliver, assess and evaluate clinical research methodology teaching and learning, supervision and assessment activities on the Research, Evaluation and Outcome module
• Clinical supervision after being given appropriate training
• Contribute to curriculum review and enhancement, in a manner that supports student learning and is underpinned by evidence based scholarly activity
• Enhance the quality of teaching provision and programme development, drawing on leading practices from the Higher Education sector
• Develop and apply new, effective and appropriate teaching and learning techniques and material, which create interest, understanding and enthusiasm amongst students
• Contribute to enhancement of the student experience and employability
• Mentor students and staff as required, providing direction, support and guidance
• Engage in individual and collaborative pedagogical research and scholarly activity, which aligns to the strategic direction of the University, and disseminate results through regular publication in a manner appropriate to the work
• Work to influence the higher education agenda in this specific disciplinary area
• Lead, participate and develop networks and collaborations both internally and externally to the Division/Faculty/University
• Participate in the administrative processes for this course including quality assurance procedures and attending relevant meetings
• Evaluate own practice, continue to maintain professional practice and undertake continuous professional development appropriate to the role
• Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post