Fitness to Practice for Trainee Psychologists: What No One Tells You

Could one badly judged email, social media post, or rough patch at work put your psychology career at risk before it even begins? In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent joins Nicholas Stöckling to explore fitness-to-practice proceedings for trainee psychologists and other pre-qualified healthcare professionals.

They unpack what actually triggers FTP concerns, how the process differs across universities, why communication issues and unmanaged health conditions are common flashpoints, and how neurodivergent trainees can be disproportionately affected. Nicholas shares practical advice on social media conduct, self-disclosure, engaging with proceedings, and when to seek legal support. A must-listen for trainees, supervisors, and anyone supporting students through clinical training.

#FitnessToPractice #TraineePsychologist #ClinicalPsychology #FitnessToPractise

Highlights

00:00 Introduction 00:20 The pre-qualification "grey zone" explained 01:52 Why there's no standardised university FTP process 04:15 Juggling training, placements and personal life 05:34 Common examples of FTP issues for trainees 11:01 What kind of psychologist should training produce? 12:20 Cultural norms, swearing and miscommunication 15:44 The stress of undergoing an FTP investigation 16:51 Are universities there to support or to protect the public? 20:09 Why FTP processes vary so much between universities 22:01 Employer vs university: who's really accountable? 27:01 Can stage one concerns be resolved without escalating? 27:45 How careful do trainees need to be on social media? 29:31 Does a "views are my own" disclaimer protect you? 31:15 Do failed assignments lead to fitness to practise? 34:11 AI note-taking: help or new FTP risk? 36:16 Can a trainee refuse to engage with proceedings? 37:57 Should you self-disclose struggles early? 42:08 Advice for trainees facing FTP concerns 45:49 Where to find Nicholas Sterling

Links:

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