Course overview

Developing trauma informed services have become a key strategic and clinical aim within the NHS and healthcare sector based on the specialist trauma services increasing awareness of trauma and the needs of people requiring specialised care with traumatic backgrounds.

This course has been developed in partnership with the Centre of Developmental and Complex Trauma, here at St Andrew’s Healthcare and The University of Buckingham.

• This MSc is an accreditable postgraduate course by the British Psychological Society (BPS), which provides health professionals the theoretical understanding and professional competences to provide psychological services to those who require specialised trauma care
• This MSc operates within a framework of understanding the idiosyncratic care needs of service users in order to provide an integrated and holistic approach to specialist trauma care whilst equipping students with skills to develop trauma informed practice within their organisations and team
• This is a taught, part time MSc, offered over two years
• The structure and content of this MSc follow the level three ‘trauma expert’ competencies outlined by the British Psychological Society for working with people with psychological trauma related needs

Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on the importance of increasing core skills of self-awareness, including an awareness of one’s own professional and academic needs, as well as promoting self-care and accessing appropriate supervision.

In recognition of the challenges of working with traumatised and complex populations, students are assigned a personal tutor who will offer support during the course, with a minimum of two meetings per semester. Group reflective practice and support sessions also run throughout the MSc.

To support the developing research competencies and completion of the dissertation components of the MSc, the Centre of Developmental and Complex Trauma research portfolio and its wider research network is available to students.

Teaching will be delivered at the Centre of Developmental and Complex Trauma, St Andrew’s Healthcare, Northampton in our postgraduate education centre. Our dedicated post-graduate teaching centre provides an exceptional learning space with large lecture and seminar rooms, student resource centre, break out areas, a kitchen, relaxation area and study rooms.