Exploring the Psychology Workforce

Liz Jamieson

elizabeth.jamieson@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Information&Statistics DivisionNHS Education Scotland

Psychology workforce

• health policy in NHS S: recognises importance of psychological

factors in improving physical & mental health.

• psychological biological/pharmacological.

• delivery of quality psychology care:correct numbers of trained staff.

• At primary, secondary & tertiary care levels: demand for

psychological skills > > supply long waiting times, no service

input, stifled demand, search for alternative sources of provision.

• pressure to make the best use of available resources to meet service demands for psychological interventions.

psychology service planning

workforce training/education

Psychology Workforce Project

Psychology workforce

Psychology workforce

Survey: all staff engaged in delivery of psychology services in NHS S

‘Characteristics of the Workforce Supply in 2002'

‘Data Supplement 2001’

Key findings:• Inequity• Ageing population• Skill mix

Extracts fromScottish Population StatsExtracts fromScottish Population Stats

Clinical Psychology TrainingCourse Leavers SurveyClinical Psychology TrainingCourse Leavers Survey

ISD Psychology Workforce Information

Categories of all clinical staff (wte) employed in psychology services in NHS Scotland in 2002, as a percentage of total workforce in service.

72

16

4

32 3

Psychology workforce(expressed as a percentage of N= 472.0 WTE)

1465

9

54 3

All clinical staff (wte) employed in psychology services in NHS Scotland in 2002, by area of work, as a percentage of total workforce in service.

Psychology workforce(expressed as a percentage of N= 472 WTE)

75

14

20

All clinical staff (wte) employed in psychology services in NHS Scotland in 2002, by target age, as a percentage of total workforce in service.

Psychology workforce(expressed as a percentage of N= 472 WTE)

Argyll and Clyde

Ayrshire and Arran

Borders

Dumfries and Galloway

Fife

Forth Valley

Grampian

Greater Glasgow

Highland

Lanarkshire

Lothian

Tayside

31

QAPS:

20.8

6176

-

43

-

30

Population (1000s) aged 65 years per 1 WTE of all Applied Psychologists in psychology services for services for Older Adults in NHS Scotland 2002, by Health Board area.

- 70

13

2285

Psychology workforce

Population projection of Scotland by age group.

year

Pop

ulat

ion

(00

0’s) age bands (years)

Source: GAD 2001. Psychology workforce

Psychology workforce

 

Skill Mix

• other clinical staff bring a range of skills & experience to psychology services.

• majority of fully qualified Applied Psychologists work in a multidisciplinary context.

• report identifies numbers of other clinical staff: Assistant Psychologists, CBT Therapists, Counsellors & Other Therapists (non psychologists-psychotherapist; family therapist; group analytic therapist; music therapist.

• Adult Mental Health : only area with evidence of skill mix.

Psychology workforce

 

• reorganisation of psychology services & expansion of training courses.

• need for a data collection system capable of monitoring holistically the impact of developments on psychology workforce.

• on-going data collection : reliable & up-to-date information about the workforce remains essential to monitoring progress & informing future planning.

• need to move beyond a simple count of individuals or whole-time equivalents to take more account of professional activities & patterns of working.

Psychology workforce

Psychology Workforce Steering Group

Ann Smyth, Chair, National Director of Training for Psychology Services, NES.

Liz Jamieson, Project Manager, ISD.

Barbara Moore, Information Analyst, ISD.

Helen Allbutt, Research Co-ordinator, NES.

John Cameron, Clinical Director, Psychology Directorate, Greater Glasgow PCT.

Zena Wight, Director of Psychology Services, Strathdoon House, Ayr .

Hugh Toner, Area Head, Fife Clinical Psychology Services, Cupar.

George Deans, Head of Adult Mental Health Directorate, Aberdeen .

Psychology workforce

12

6

4

3

All Applied Psychologists (WTE) employed in Physical Health in NHS Scotland in 2002, by specialist area.

(expressed as a percentage of N = 42 WTE)