Assistant Psychologists’ experience of a reflective practice group in an Older People’s Psychology Service

Abstract

The SEPT Older People’s Psychology Service serves a population of approximately 120,000 older people and is delivered from five bases in South Essex, each staffed by one Clinical Psychologist and one Assistant Psychologist. The Assistant Psychologists are employed on a 12-month fixed-term contract. Every six weeks the Assistants meet for a reflective practice group facilitated by a designated qualified Clinical Psychologist in the team. The group is two hours long and involves one of the Assistants presenting a case study upon which the group reflects. Case presentations have included discussions of neuropsychological assessments and therapeutic work on both an individual and group basis. This is followed by a discussion of a journal article or book chapter relevant to the delivery of psychological services to older people.