Overview

Permanent Post (Appointment will be either one full-time post or 2 x part-time 0.5 FTE posts)

Applications are invited from those interested in joining the training team on a new and innovative Doctor of Clinical Psychology programme at UCC. The appointment will either be for one full-time post or two part-time (0.5FTE) posts, depending on the interests and profiles of applicants. Appointments will be made at either Lecturer (Above the Bar) or Senior Lecturer level, depending on factors such as clinical or other relevant experience and how the application profile matches academic profiles at UCC.

You will have clear interests in shaping, and contributing to, the training of Clinical Psychologists and will have relevant teaching, clinical supervision, research and clinical practice experience. The successful applicant will be expected to pro-actively contribute to our accredited Doctor of Clinical Psychology programme and to shaping our teaching and research in that subject area.

Applicants must have an honours degree, or equivalent, in Psychology, a postgraduate professional qualification in Clinical Psychology, or an equivalent, recognised by the Psychological Society of Ireland, and have a track record of clinical practice, teaching and research as outlined in the post specification.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to D.Clin.Psych. Acting Programme Director, Dr Christian Ryan.

Further information on the Doctor of Clinical Psychology programme at UCC can be found on the School website.

This position is being filled as part of UCC Futures - Collective Social Futures.

What is UCC Futures – Collective Social Futures

UCC Futures - Collective Social Futures is re-imagining and addressing the complex and intertwined societal, environmental and political challenges faced across the world. These include social and gender-based inequalities, geopolitical shifts, migration, health and climate change and the urgent need to foster a more caring and liveable world for all. The imperative to develop more collective and social visions of the future is more pressing than ever. By driving innovative, critical, theoretical, participatory and community-engaged research, UCC Futures – Collective Social Futures will foster excellence in social research to understand, re-envision and enact our collective social futures.

Duties of the post

In accordance with the University’s strategic objective as a research led institution, the duties of all academic staff will include research, research-led teaching and contributions to the university, the discipline and the community. The academic staff member shall teach and examine, undertake administrative duties and carry out other duties appropriate to the post under the general direction of the Head of the School of Applied Psychology.

Specific roles in relation to this post include to contribute to the postgraduate professional training of Clinical Psychologists including academic, clinical practice, research and personal and professional development components.

The roles and responsibilities outlined below are to be interpreted in the context of the relevant Statutes and where there is any difference arising from interpretation, that statutory provisions take precedent. For the sake of clarity, the relevant elements of the statutes not already incorporated in the numbered sections are appended in italics under each subheading.

Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions

Teaching and Examining

1. Contribute to and assist in the delivery of research led teaching, assessment and examining on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and where appropriate adult and continuing education courses;
2. Assume delegated responsibility for organisation, management and evaluation of clinical psychology training within a relevant specialty area;
3. Supervise research projects for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes;
4. Undertake the development and regular evaluation of modules with reference to content, delivery and assessment;
5. Monitor the clinical progress of trainees (including the undertaking of placement visits) in order to ensure that clinical competencies are achieved effectively and efficiently. To liaise with clinical supervisors across the region and elsewhere in order to achieve these goals for individual trainees;
6. Provide consultation to supervisors / services where expert opinion and advice on issues related to training of Clinical Psychologists is required and to participate in the organisation and delivery of a structured supervisor training programme;
7. Keep up to date with developments in the professional practice of Clinical Psychology;
8. Participate in the development of new curricular initiatives (particularly postgraduate) at UCC;
9. Demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Applied Psychology and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
10. Contribute towards the maintenance of academic standards within his/her discipline;
11. If appointed at Senior Lecturer level, take a leadership role on one or more agreed aspects of clinical psychology training such as formulation of the overall taught curriculum, placement coordination, personal and professional development, selection, patient and public engagement, supervisor training, continued professional development and any other school initiatives as agreed:

• to give the students attending his/her ordinary lectures assistance in their studies, by advice, by informal instruction, by occasional and periodic examination, and otherwise, as s/he may judge to be expedient; also, to make such arrangements as s/he sees fit to make to meet students who have individual queries;
• to give instruction to his/her students and assist them in the pursuit of knowledge;
• to hold, or assist at, all University examinations in the subjects with which s/he is an examiner.

Research

12. Engage in productive research and scholarship and contribute to the advancement of knowledge, participate in research activities and publish the research in appropriate peer-reviewed publications, creative works or other forms of scholarship appropriate to the discipline;
13. Supervise postgraduate research students (particularly Doctoral students);
14. Undertake initiatives in generating research income as appropriate to the discipline;
15. Engage in other scholarly activities relevant to the research discipline;
16. If appointed at Senior Lecturer level, have the potential to take a leadership role in a programme of research in terms of ownership, concept, project management, application and securing of research funding and dissemination with impact.

Contributions

17. Participate in the administrative activities of the department/school and the academic life of the College and University;
18. Participate as a member of such committees as may be required by the University;
19. Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;
20. Promote the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
21. Carry out other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the head of discipline/department/school;
22. If appointed at Senior Lecturer level, mentor and advise newly appointed and junior academic staff;
23. If appointed at Senior Lecturer level, serve if required as Head of one of the College’s academic units subject to relevant University regulations, statutes or management requirements:

• to carry out administrative and other appropriate duties lawfully allocated to them within their department or other academic unit;
• if a member of the Academic Council, to attend its meetings;
• to serve upon all the committees to which s/he may be appointed by the Governing Body or the Academic Council, and to assist and co-operate with the Governing Body in such other reasonable ways as the Governing Body may prescribe, for the maintenance of discipline and good conduct among the students, or for the general business of the University.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will be expected to meet the following essential criteria:

Qualifications | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions | Other

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A professional qualification in Clinical Psychology recognised by the Psychological Society of Ireland, or equivalent;
2. A doctorate, equivalent professional qualification or research experience leading to publication in the relevant discipline.

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

3. Relevant teaching experience or evidence of teaching potential;
4. An ability to contribute across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes both in and outside the area of research specialisation;
5. Evidence of a commitment to excellence in research led teaching;
6. Evidence of an understanding of and willingness to use modern teaching technologies and potential for innovative teaching and curriculum development;
7. Evidence of an ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment.

Along with the above, the following appointment criteria also apply should appointment be made at Senior Lectureship level.

Desirable Criteria

8. Significant experience in lecturing, examining and supporting students across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes both in and outside the area of research specialisation;
9. Where the opportunity has existed, to undertake postgraduate supervision to doctorate level;
10. Evidence of a significant contribution to innovation in the area of teaching and examining, curriculum design, review and development.

Research

Essential Criteria

11. Evidence of research activity related to the discipline and practice of clinical psychology – e.g. research which contributes to the knowledge base of the discipline or research which contributes to service design and development. Evidence of appropriate dissemination;
12. Potential to attract funding through competitive research grants or other sources as relevant;
13. Experience of or potential for research supervision (particularly Doctoral students);
14. Ability and willingness to collaborate with colleagues on research projects, as appropriate to the discipline.

Desirable Criteria

15. Evidence of other relevant scholarly activity.

Along with the above, the following appointment criteria also apply should appointment be made at Senior Lectureship level.

Essential Criteria

16. Experience of leadership or leadership potential in the area of research, in addition to research grant applications, success in achieving competitive research grants or other sources of funding and the ability and willingness to collaborate with colleagues on research projects, as appropriate to the discipline.

Desirable Criteria

17. A record of conducting research contributing to the knowledge base of Clinical Psychology and with associated publications or disseminations.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

18. Administrative experience or evidence of ability to contribute to academic administration;
19. Experience of participation in relevant academic and / or professional practice associations/bodies as appropriate;
20. The ability to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large.

Along with the above, the following appointment criteria also apply should appointment be made at Senior Lectureship level.

Essential Criteria

21. Evidence of ability to undertake academic administrative responsibility within the School/College at a high level;
22. An ability and willingness to support mentor and advise junior staff.

Other

Essential Criteria

23. Significant supervised clinical practice in an area or specialism related to clinical psychology;
24. Supervised clinical practice, either during training, or post-qualification, with all core care groups (adults with mental health difficulties across the life span, children and young people with mental health difficulties and people with an intellectual disability). Supervised experience with each care group should be of at least 60 days duration;
25. The capacity to choose, use and interpret performance based, and self-report, psychometric evaluations;
26. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with working alongside a team of committed academic and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
27. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
28. Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
29. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
30. A commitment to the long term development of the discipline.

Desirable Criteria

31. Management / supervision of trainee clinical psychologists and / or other grades of psychologists or multi-professional staff;
32. Experience of leading on projects or initiatives related to the delivery of clinical psychology or related services.

Along with the above, the following appointment criteria also apply should appointment be made at Senior Lectureship level.

Essential Criteria

33. Management / supervision of trainee clinical psychologists and / or other grades of psychologists or multi-professional staff;
34. Experience of leading on projects or initiatives related to the delivery of clinical psychology or related services;
35. Evidence of leadership potential.

The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.

For appointment at Senior Lecturer level

• The successful applicant will be required to participate in a relevant IMI/UCC Senior Leadership Development Programme (or equivalent programme) to further develop your leadership development capabilities. Please contact Staff Wellbeing & Development directly on taking up your position to find out arrangements for forthcoming programmes.

The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.

Salary Information

Applications for this post

How to apply

Applications for this post are received through UCC's online application portal. You'll be required to set up a profile (if you don't already have one). 

You can find the posts associated with UCC Futures - Collective Social Futures by selecting 'Academic UCC Futures' in the search by vacancy type field.

Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to uccfuturesrecruitment@ucc.ie, quoting the job title.

What to include in your application

Applications should consist of your academic CV and a cover letter demonstrating your academic and research achievements. We would also like to hear about your research ambitions and how your academic and research profile aligns with the UCC Futures - Collective Social Futures initiative.

Details of the following should also be included, as appropriate:

• Publications
• Research Interests
• Grants and Funding
• Teaching Interests and Abilities
• Teaching Objectives and Methods

Who to contact

We encourage all applicants to contact us prior to making an application for the position. 

• Contact: Informal queries about this post can be made in confidence to: D.Clin.Psych. Acting Programme Director, Dr Christian Ryan.

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Thursday, 29 June 2023. No late applications will be accepted.

Equality statement

University College Cork is committed to being a fully inclusive global university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are core values under our UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028. UCC holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advancing equality in higher education. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of age, care-giving status, disability, ethnicity, gender and/or gender identity or expression status, nationality, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/creed, and/or sexual orientation. We are committed to supporting all staff through flexible working schemes, family-friendly policies, training and development, and staff networks. We value the enrichment that comes from a diverse community and seek to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of each individual in line with equality legislation. We encourage applicants to consult our Dignity and Respect Policy and learn more about our EDI related initiatives.