Diversity and Involvement within Clinical Psychology Training

Diversity is a term which is increasingly being used to focus on the differences between individuals and across groups - such as race, culture, ethnicity, spirituality and religious beliefs, sexuality, education, gender and age.

Appreciating the diversity of self and others is to value difference as enriching rather than as a problem or difficulty that needs to be overcome. The Sheffield DClin Psy training programme recognises that difference can be at the root of discrimination and oppressive practice and takes steps to address this through clinical training placements and teaching and developing links with the wider community.

Valuing and understanding diversity can help service users and carers, Trainee Clinical Psychologists and staff to work together creatively in order to develop health care education and public services such as the NHS, which better and more realistically meet the needs of the people who use them.

Involvement (often referred to as 'Public and Patient Involvement within the NHS) harnesses diversity through a mutual and valued collaboration between people who use services and health care professionals, in research, education, service commissioning and delivery. Both diversity and involvement issues have their own forum, currently in the Patient & Public Involvement (PPI) Subcommitee which has a membership of Trainee and qualified Clinical Psychologists, service users, members of community groups and teachers. We have plans to expand this group, so please do get in touch. All other sub-committees on the Sheffield DClin Psy training programme have diversity and involvement as standing agenda items.

For further information regarding Diversity and Involvement, please contact the Co-Chairs of the Diversity Action Group - Andrew Thompson, tel: 0114 222 6570, email: a.r.thompson@sheffield.ac.uk or Kath Boon, tel: 0114 222 6633, email: k.boon@sheffield.ac.uk