DCP Resources
Documents, guidelines, and additional resources produced by the DCP and its sub-faculties.
Adult Mental Health
- Clinical Psychology in the Early Stage Dementia Care Pathway
Recognising the challenges inherent in responding effectively to the needs of people developing dementia and living with early-stage dementia, members of the FPOP Dementia Workstream embarked on an initiative to provide evidence-based guidelines to support clinicians and clinical services. - Commissioning and Delivering Clinical Psychology in Acute Adult Mental Health Care document
The purpose of this document is to inform commissioners and managers about the contribution of clinical psychology to the acute care pathway and to provide a toolkit for service managers, psychology managers and clinical psychology practitioners to demonstrate how psychological expertise support key areas. - Communicating a diagnosis of dementia
This document offers practical suggestions about good practice guidelines and updates existing guidance with a checklist to help support a personalised approach to sharing the diagnosis. - Family Interventions in Psychosis
These guidelines provide an overview of the current state of practice and knowledge regarding family interventions in psychosis and provide a guide for psychologists and other family work practitioners, regarding how to support and deliver these family interventions in services. - Mindfulness-based approaches: A guide for psychologists
This document is for all psychologists, clinical and academic, who have heard about mindfulness and want to know more. Experts in different specialties share their knowledge and views on the use of mindfulness-based approaches with some degree of scholastic rigour rather than just advocacy for mindfulness. - Psychological services within the Acute Adult Mental Health Care Pathway
This guidance outlines the context of the acute mental healthcare pathway, the role of psychologists in the pathway, and their contribution to care quality. It concludes with recommendations for service standards and staffing levels to meet the psychological needs of people accessing the acute care pathway. - Understanding Depression
This document is for everyone who has an interest in depression - those of us who experience it, our friends and family, and those of us who provide services to help. It is an up-to-date summary of what the research says, written in everyday language. - Understanding Hoarding: When our relationship with possessions goes wrong
This document is intended for people with hoarding disorder - a recognised mental health issue which can cause significant problems - and their friends and families. - Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia (revised)
This revised version provides an overview of the current state of knowledge about why some people hear voices, experience paranoia or have other experiences seen as 'psychosis'. It also describes what can help. - Working with individuals who have engaged in stalking
The purpose of this resource is to support psychologist practitioners in engaging with individuals who have stalked or are stalking, to help them alter their harmful behaviour, improve their wellbeing and encourage desistance.
Children and young people
- Attachment Theory into Practice
This briefing paper was developed as a guide for clinicians interested in the development of interventions based on an understanding of Attachment Theory. The range of interventions being developed is explored together with discussion of the theoretical, practice and evidence base for these interventions. - Child Clinical Psychologists and on-call work
This paper aims to discuss the nature of, and issues surrounding, various types of 'on-call' work, in order to ensure that our members are properly informed of the implications of undertaking or not undertaking such work. - Co-production with young people - a quick reference guide
This document has been designed as a quick reference guide to offer an outline of what co-production with children and young people can look like for clinical psychologists, to encourage partnership working and co-production practices. - Evidence-based Guidelines for the Management of Invasive and/or Distressing Procedures with Children
These guidelines are based on the premise that 'needle phobia' is uncommon and an inappropriate term for the distress and/or anxiety experienced by children/young people when subject to invasive procedures. - Looked After Children: Improving the psychological well-being of children in the care of the local authority
This document is a guide for clinical psychologists working with or considering the development of psychological services for looked after children and their carers and has been written to draw together the current state of understanding about the psychological and emotional needs of looked after children and to discuss how clinical psychologists might be involved in the development of services to meet these needs. - Supporting children with their feelings about needles
As well as the Covid-19 vaccination, the guidance is also aimed at supporting routine medical procedures such as standard childhood vaccinations and blood tests. - Teasing and bullying in children and young people with cleft lip and/or palate: A framework for formulation
The purpose of this paper is to link a range of theoretical frameworks to a lifespan formulation, and to provide a guide to enhancing clinical intervention where problems with teasing and bullying occur. - Top tips for working with children, young people, and their families
With a wealth of practical tips, advice and tried-and-tested resources as suggested by young people, pre-qualified clinicians and qualified clinicians, we hope that this publication will help to support trainees, their supervisors and other pre-qualified clinicians working in services for children and families - Top tips for seeing a Clinical Psychologist
Information about how Clinical Psychologists work, why people see them, and how to get the best out of the relationship. - Understanding Formulation for Young People
A formulation is just a way of describing problems and ways out of them. It's a joint effort between you and a psychologist to try to understand the good reasons why you are struggling, distressed or feeling stuck. - Understanding Psychosis - a guide for young people and their supporters
This document is designed to explain psychosis in a way that is simple and easily accessible and to answer a number of frequently asked questions the experience of psychosis. - What Good Looks Like in Psychological Services for Children, Young People and their Families (2015)
The DCP Faculty for Children, Young People and their Families has produced this review to provide much-needed guidance on the provision of good quality psychological services and the roles that clinical psychologists and other psychological practitioners can play in those services. - What good could look like in integrated psychological services for children, young people and their families
As well as outlining the difculties currently faced within psychological services for children, young people and their families, this brieng paper offers case studies of best practice and recommendations for improving service
What Good Looks Like - Leaflets
- Babies and pre-school children: Psychological services in Early Years mental health and emotional wellbeing settings
- Children and young people in schools and colleges: Guidelines for good quality psychological wellbeing and mental health services
- Children and young people with physical health needs: How psychological services contribute to the care pathway
- Children, young people and families experiencing psychological difficulties: Delivering psychological services in inpatient settings
- Clinical and applied psychologists in child and adolescent mental health services: Recommendations about numbers, gradings and leadership
- Community Psychology approaches with children, young people and families: Working with whole communities
- Delivering psychological services for children and young people involved with the criminal justice system, those at risk of involvement, and their families
- Delivering psychological services for children and young people with neurodevelopmental difficulties and their families
- Delivering psychological services for children, young people with learning disabilities and their families
- Delivering psychological services in specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
- Psychological services for children, young people and families with complex social care needs including looked after children
Climate and environment
Clinical Psychology and planetary health - changing course in the storm
A call for change amid the climate and ecological emergency
Download our guidance on Clinical Psychology and planetary health
Covid-19
General resources
- Wellbeing resource links
- Steps to prepare and self care
- Top tips for psychological sessions by video (adult patients)
- Considerations for people from minority groups
Children and young people
- Talking to children about illness
- Advice for key worker parents - helping your child adapt
- When your parent is a key worker - advice for children and young people
- Managing uncertainty in children and young people
- Working therapeutically with parents and infants during pregnancy and postpartum using remote delivery platforms
- Shielding advice for children and young people
Older people
- Psychological impact on older people
- Supporting older people and people with dementia during self-isolation
Preparing for a blood test or vaccine
- Preparing for a blood test or vaccine - advice for children aged 5-11
- Preparing for a blood test or vaccine - advice for young people aged 12-18
- Preparing for a blood test or vaccine - information for parents and carers to support children and young people
- Preparing for a blood test or vaccine - guidance for medical professionals supporting children and young people
Professionals and practitioners
- Guidance for psychological professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic
- What psychologists can offer
- Working with children and young people using online video platforms
- Psychological insights for cancer services recovery planning
- Psychological assessment of adults with learning/intellectual disabilities undertaken remotely
- Encouraging hand hygiene in the community
- End of life care guidance
- Taking trauma-related work home: reducing the likelihood of secondary trauma
- Reconnecting school communities
- Use of talking therapy outdoors
- Meeting the psychological needs of children in shielding families
- Responding to HIV care challenges presented by Covid-19
Racial and Social Inequalities
- Racial and Social Inequalities in the time of Covid-19
- Racial and social equalities in action document.
Students and trainees
Digital Practice
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion
- After the speeches: What now for NHS staff race discrimination?
Roger Kline is research fellow focusing on workplace culture, primarily in the public sector. He authored The Snowy White Peaks of the NHS (2014) and designed the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES). Here he writes about the need for decisive, practical action to counteract racism in the NHS. - Considerations for people from minority groups in the Covid-19 pandemic
This paper is ambitious in its scope and is presented as a working document that will be added to as the pandemic unfolds further. The 10 protected characteristics in the Equality Act are considered, including individuals who are at high risk of physical complications or fatality related to Covid-19 and those caring for and/or living with someone physically at high risk from Covid-19. - DCP Representative Assembly Statement on Black Lives Matter and the death of George Floyd
We bear witness to the shocking and tragic news of the killing of George Floyd on 25 May 2020 while in police custody in Minneapolis. We condemn the racial violence, discrimination and persistent structural racism that underpins society in the strongest terms, and stand with our colleagues and others in speaking out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. - Issues impacting on leadership for those from minority groups
To gain a better understanding of the issues relating to leadership for those from minority groups the Clinical Psychologists as Leaders project sent out a survey to DCP members. This document provides the result, rationale, and a preliminary analysis of the survey. - Racial and social equalities in action - what can possibly go right?
This paper highlights a number of key themes and comments that have emerged, raising awareness, naming barriers to change, and sharing the words and personal experiences of people from a diverse range of perspectives. - Racial and Social Inequalities in the times of Covid-19
This position paper is intended to begin conversations and engagement with stakeholders to co-produce a change strategy to counter racial and social inequalities. It offers initial thoughts on the risks and impact of Covid-19 on pre-existing racial and social inequalities and structural racism.
Good Practice
- Good Practice Guidelines for UK Clinical Psychology Training Providers: Training and Consolidation of Clinical Practice in Clinical Health Psychology
- Criminalisation of HIV transmission. Guidelines regarding confidentiality and disclosure
- Delivery of psychologically-informed care and psychological therapies in maternity services
- Good Practice Guidelines on the Use of Psychological Formulation
- Guidance for Psychological Therapists Enabling conversations with clients taking or withdrawing from prescribed psychiatric drugs
- Guidelines on Language in Relation to Functional Psychiatric Diagnosis
- Guidance for trainee and qualified clinical psychologists working with people with eating disorders
- Guidelines for Psychologists on Disclosures of Historical Sexual Abuse
- Guidelines for psychologists working therapeutically with sexual and gender minority clients
- Good practice guidelines for the training and consolidation of clinical practice in clinical practice in HIV/Sexual Health Settings
- Incorporating Attachment Theory Into Practice
- Job planning for practitioner psychologists in the NHS and social care
- Perinatal Service Provision: the Role of Perinatal Clinical Psychology
- Positive Behaviour Support
- Psychological best practice in inpatient services for older people
- Psychological interventions for people with Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, and multiple sclerosis
- Psychological Therapies and People Who Have Intellectual Disabilities
Intellectual disabilities
- Guidance on the Assessment and Diagnosis of Intellectual Disabilities in Adulthood
- Commissioning Clinical Psychology services for adults with learning disabilities
- Training and consolidation of clinical practice in relation to adults with intellectual disabilities
- Psychological interventions for severely challenging behaviours shown by people with learning disabilities
- Dementia and People with Intellectual Disabilities
- Good Practice Guidelines for Clinical Psychologists when assessing Parents with Learning Disabilities
- Guidance on Neuropsychological Testing with Individuals who have Intellectual Disabilities
- Incorporating Attachment Theory Into Practice: Guidelines for Clinical Psychologist working with People who have Intellectual Disabilities
- Learning Disability: Definitions and Contexts
- Psychological Therapies and People who have Intellectual Disabilities
- Working with Autism - best practice guidelines for psychologists
- Information leaflet - Therapy with a psychologist: understanding formulation
Capacity guidelines
Leadership / Management / Professional Development
- Alternative Handbook 2022: Postgraduate Training Courses in Clinical Psychology
- Building a Caring Work Culture
- Continued Supervision
- Leadership Development and Support for Clinical Psychologists Working in Health and Social Care
- Supporting and valuing lived experience of mental health difficulties in clinical psychology training
National Assessors
The role of a National Assessor is to advise employers on whether applicants meet the standards for appointment for the role of Applied Consultant Psychologists, Band 8C and above.
In particular, they assess whether candidates have the necessary skills and competencies to fulfil the job description associated with the post.
They also advise on the relative strengths and weaknesses of candidates in relation to the required competencies. However, the final decision ultimately remains with the employer.
In addition, national assessors may give advice on the development of the job description, person specification and recruitment advert.
Network Leads
- DCP publications process - guidance for authors creating new content
This document provides guidance and information for authors creating new content on behalf of the DCP.
Older people
- ACP FPOP Webinar - NHS Community Mental Health Transformation (emerging older adult service models)
- ACP FPOP Webinar - Structured Clinical Management and Older People
- A guide to psychosocial interventions in the early stages of dementia (second edition)
- Ageing well with dementia. Past legacies and future promise - Esme Moniz-Cook
- Alternatives to antipsychotic medication: Psychological approaches in managing psychological and behavioural distress in people with dementia
- Clinical Psychology in the Early Stage Dementia Care Pathway
Recognising the challenges inherent in responding effectively to the needs of people developing dementia and living with early-stage dementia, members of the FPOP Dementia Workstream embarked on an initiative to provide evidence-based guidelines to support clinicians and clinical services. - Commissioning Clinical Psychology Services for older people, their families and other carers
- Communicating a diagnosis of dementia
This document offers practical suggestions about good practice guidelines and updates existing guidance with a checklist to help support a personalised approach to sharing the diagnosis. - Complex Emotional Needs - Setting the standards for inclusion (Kathryn Dykes & Natasha Lord)
- Conference Symposium 2021 - Older people and complex emotional needs
- Dementia and People with Intellectual Disabilities
- Dementia Pathways
- Evidence briefing - Behaviour that challenges in dementia
- Evidence Briefing - Dementia, accessibility, and minority groups
- Evidence Briefing - Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Evidence Briefing - Psychological therapies for people with dementia
- Evidence Briefing - Timely Support After a Diagnosis of Dementia
- First line psychosocial alternatives to psychotropic medication for behaviours that challenge in dementia care
- FPOP COVID-19 response
- Older Adult Complex Emotional Needs - Standards for Services (Kathryn Dykes, Dr Natasha Lord, Polly Kaiser)
- Psychological best practice in inpatient services for older people
- Psychological interventions for people with Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, and multiple sclerosis
- Responding to the coronavirus - psychological impact on older people
- Services for younger people with dementia and the role of Clinical Psychology
- Supporting older people and people living with dementia during self-isolation
Perinatal
- Delivery of psychologically-informed care and psychological therapies in maternity services
This document will be relevant for all staff in maternity services and mental health professionals working with them. It will also be relevant for women and birthing people seeking care for the psychological consequences of a traumatic childbirth. - Perinatal psychology provision in specialist perinatal community mental health services
This briefing outlines the important role perinatal psychology plays in specialist community teams and provides guidance on the staffing levels required to meet service demands for psychological therapy and supervision of other practitioners, ensuring a psychologically-informed perinatal mental health care pathway. - Perinatal Service Provision: The role of Perinatal Clinical Psychology
This paper provides full information regarding the key role of specialist clinical perinatal psychologists in the care of women during the perinatal period (pregnancy and up to one year postnatally) and the important contribution they make to perinatal services across the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal periods.
Pre-Qualification and training
Joining the DCP
- Who are the DCP?
- Why should I join the DCP as a trainee?
- Trainee Slides - Who are the BPS and DCP?
- Trainee Slides - What can the BPS and DCP do to support you?
- Trainee Slides - What does joining the DCP mean for your professional career?
Tips for pre-qualified psychologists
- 5 tips for Self-Care
- 5 Tips for making the most of experience
- 5 tips for finishing university
- 5 Tips for Finding the right Master's course for you
- 5 Tips for Starting Training
- 5 Tips for Making the Most of Supervision
- 5 Tips for Developing Your Reflective Skills as a PQCP
- 5 Tips for In Training Members
- 5 tips for surviving IAPT
- 5 tips for applying for Assistant Psychologist roles
- 5 Tips for preparing for a Research Assistant Interview
- 5 tips for preparing for interviews
- 5 Tips for Working psychologically during Covid-19