Leader: Dr Wendy Crouch

Offered

Clayton First semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

The aim of this unit is to provide students with advanced theoretical understanding and training to extend their ability to conduct clinical assessments and develop formulations and treatment plans for the mental health problems of infants, children, adolescents, and their families, in a variety of mental health and community paediatric settings. Skills in the analysis, synthesis, and interpretation of complex clinical and cognitive profiles and report writing will also be developed.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students will be familiar with the selection of appropriate tests for infants, children and adolescents and will have developed their skills in administration of a wide range of cognitive and projective techniques to children and adolescents. They will be able to score the tests, interpret the results and write comprehensive reports of child assessments. At the end of this units students will be expected to:

1. have knowledge of the administration, scoring and interpretation of the following tests:
1. Bayleys Infant Development Scales
2. Vineland Adaptive Scales
3. WRAML, Children's Memory Scale and other memory tests
4. Rey Complex Figure;
2. have increased their skills in the interpretation of complex WISC profiles;
3. have learned to use and interpret projective techniques with children and adolescents;
4. show awareness of, and be sensitive and responsive to cultural/ethnic diversity in their clinical work;
5. be more familiar with specialised assessments, such as crisis assessment, and assessments in a consultation-liaison context.

Assessment

1. Log book documenting observation/practical work (hurdle requirement); A 3500 word report of a comprehensive assessment of a child or adolescent conducted as part of the internship (60%); proposal for analysis and evaluation of a group program 2500 words (30%); Class participation (10%) each semester.