Forensic Psychology

tiptap · 20-02-2008 4:34pm #1

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone has experience of the above, or getting into it in Ireland. After doing some research, I believe the only way of becoming a professional forensic psychologist is to do a Masters in Cork which runs every 2 years, and then to work under someone in the UK for 2 years.

Always been interested in this but do you think you can have a good career in Ireland with this and are there any other avenues you can take without going to the cork or the UK ?

Hope I wasn't too broad in my questions.

Many Thanks

The Black Oil · 20-02-2008 10:51pm

Were you at the careers conference in Trinity college on Feb the 9th? There was a presentation about it there, the last one of the day of course.

The UCC course is academically based rather than for professional training so the UK is really your first port of call for the Master's and probably work experience too.

I'm interested but I'd say the options in Ireland are very limited.

mc-panda · 23-02-2008 4:55pm

Hi.

I'm currently doing the MA in Forensic Psychology in Cork.
There are no jobs in Ireland. Currently, there are only four Chartered Forensic Psychologists in this country. Two are working in Universities. One is working in the HSE and the other is working with the prison service. Only one of these has a dedicated forensic function.

On finishing the MA, it is necessary to complete two years supervised experience under a Chartered Forensic Psychologist. This is currently unavailable here at the moment. The infrastructure simply is not available.
If you're serious about it, then do the MA. It is simply a brilliant course. Also look to England. The University of Kent has a good course that offers the option of rotating you in a supervised role after successful completion.

You should contact Dr. John Bogue of NUIG also. He's a very nice man and is a Chartered Clinical Forensic Psychologist. He's very helpful and freindly and should be able to offer you advice.

If you have any further queries, don't hesitate to ask me.

tiptap · 26-02-2008 2:02pm

mc-panda wrote: »

Hi.

I'm currently doing the MA in Forensic Psychology in Cork.
There are no jobs in Ireland. Currently, there are only four Chartered Forensic Psychologists in this country. Two are working in Universities. One is working in the HSE and the other is working with the prison service. Only one of these has a dedicated forensic function.

On finishing the MA, it is necessary to complete two years supervised experience under a Chartered Forensic Psychologist. This is currently unavailable here at the moment. The infrastructure simply is not available.
If you're serious about it, then do the MA. It is simply a brilliant course. Also look to England. The University of Kent has a good course that offers the option of rotating you in a supervised role after successful completion.

You should contact Dr. John Bogue of NUIG also. He's a very nice man and is a Chartered Clinical Forensic Psychologist. He's very helpful and freindly and should be able to offer you advice.

If you have any further queries, don't hesitate to ask me.

Thanks a million for the info, much appreciated.

maedhbh · 13-04-2008 2:29pm

As the Masters in UCC is not recognised by the BPS, is it possible to go onto stage 2 of chartership in Britain?

mc-panda · 14-04-2008 1:12pm

The Masters in Cork got accredited by the PSI at Christmas. There should be no problem meeting the BPS criteria, but this would have to be checked individually by each person similar to the way it used to be with all undergraduate degrees.

England would be a better option for doing the Masters as most colleges have existing links with prisons and forensic hospitals making the securing of a supervisor much easier.

maedhbh · 14-04-2008 4:12pm

Thanks for your reply. I am interested in the course in UCC, but am a little anxious as the syllabus seems to be different than that required of the BPS, but I may be misunderstanding it.

Is the course running next year? I heard a rumour it was not.

mc-panda · 15-04-2008 11:45am

As far as I'm aware, there will be no intake in September/October 2008. The next intake will be in September/October 2009.

It covers all the same areas as courses under the BPS. However, the following modules are elective rather than mandatory:

*Treatment and management of violent offenders
*Treatment and management of sexual offenders

laoispsych · 13-07-2008 6:06pm

Just came across this thread, just to add a different option to the discussion, have you thought about clinical psychology. I'm a clinical psychologist who works alot in forensic psychology. Most people working in the forensic psychology area in Ireland come from clinical backgrounds. In your clinical training you have the opportunity to complete a specialist placement and you can choose a forensic speciality (as i did) if you want to. Its a long training route but there is lots of work available privately in the forensic area once your done.

The Black Oil · 13-07-2008 10:50pm

Yeah, but how many forensic settings are there in Ireland, realistically?

laoispsych · 14-07-2008 3:19pm

Realistically there are plenty of opportunities and more are coming up. There are a number of jobs in the central mental hospital, within the prison system, within sex offender treatment centres in the community, adolescent detention centres, adolescent sex offender treatment programmes and as I mentioned within the sphere of private work, undertaking assessments for solicitors or directly for the courts which is more common.

Nulty · 10-10-2008 1:24pm

Hey Folks,

Im on your page now technically and realistically. I am hoping to apply for a forensic course for 09/10 and I was looking at Cork. Im from Dublin so I figure if Im going all the way to Cork I may as well check out the English side of things. Theres, what looks like, a very good couse at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Im at the beginning of my investigation but found the information here very helpful. I'll be in touch with this thread for a while so any additional info is more than welcome. Ill keep you posted on my progress.

I've got a 2.2 in Psychology Hons. Im not sure that I can get in to an English Uni with that but I'll try, and ill post the results here. Also, You need to be a graduate member of PSI before you can apply for the Cork course. If your not, you'll need two member referees to back you for membership. I havent got this yet either but shouldnt be a problem if your lecturers are nice.

I'm hoping for a tidal wave of info here, dont let me down:)

Iain

Climate Expert · 10-10-2008 1:27pm

More sexy TV courses for aspirational students that actually have zero job oppurtuniites.

Try and look past tv shows for inspiration in your career.

mc-panda · 10-10-2008 2:54pm

Climate Expert wrote: »

More sexy TV courses for aspirational students that actually have zero job oppurtuniites.

Try and look past tv shows for inspiration in your career.

That's a ridiculously misinformed opinion to be blurting out. Educate yourself on the reality of the situation before making stupid remarks.

eth0_ · 11-10-2008 12:45am

You can do a MSc in Forensic Psychology with the Open University now, too.

Climate Expert - you clearly have no idea what a forensic psychologist does, so butt out.

maedhbh · 18-10-2008 6:48pm

I heard that there is someone training in Ireland. does anyone know if this is true and if so are they in the North or South?

eth0_ · 20-10-2008 12:55am

maedhbh wrote: »

I heard that there is someone training in Ireland. does anyone know if this is true and if so are they in the North or South?

Did ya read the thread? UCC have a forensic psych course.

maedhbh · 20-10-2008 9:10am

Yes I did read the thread. I was referring to stage 2. A masters is not sufficient to allow you become a forensic psychologist.

eth0_ · 20-10-2008 11:12am

Well perhaps you should have phrased your question better!

I haven't heard of any training programs in Ireland, I thought you still had to go to the UK. Maybe ring UCC and ask them.

GlenmoreMark · 29-06-2009 9:17pm

I am one of the 4 Forensic Psychologists working in the field in Ireland. I understand the difficulties in obtaining Chartership in Ireland and currently the Prison Service does not have any trainees. I heard that there have been efforts to recruit Forensically trained people in the CMH but I cannot be sure of this. I know people have gone to the North to get their supervised practise, being supervised by Geraldine O'Hare. There is a masters at the University of Leicester which is distance learning and also very popular. In time there should be avenues for people to get the training in Ireland but at the moment the best bet is to go to the UK or the North. There does seem to be a lot of private work out there in forensic field but the issue is to get supervision by a Chartered Psychologist. Best of luck and happy to answer any questions that you have.

alanjfinn · 30-06-2009 2:22am

I see the Uni. of Coventry is also offering distance MSc. in Forensic Psy.,its one i was looking at and its a mere snip at £4560
To be specific they are
MSc Forensic Psychology and Crime,
MSc Applied Forensic Studies
The former is accredited by BPS as fulfilling stage 1 towards specialist Chartered Psychologist status,,both courses Part -Time Online learning
and advertised in current edition of The Irish Psychologist.

sparkling sea · 17-02-2010 7:50pm

Has anyone here started and/or finished the OU's MSc in Forensic Psychology and Criminology, I am would be grateful for any information on this course.

I have an hons degree in Criminal Justice Sudies and have studied Criminology for 3 to an advance level and really enjoyed this.

Any info at all would be appreciated

KateOHara · 08-03-2010 4:52pm

Hi all,

Ive just applied to do forensic psychology in York and Leicester hopefully ill get one of the courses... I have an undergrad in psych and have been doing work experience since september... Ive worked with female offenders, im doing an internship with the IPRT at the moment and am a befriender in Cloverhill..

In terms of jobs in Ireland in the future I was wondering does anyone have any more insights?

Is doing clinical the best route for getting a job?

Just wondering if anyone has thoughts about how ireland has come on in terms of Job oppertunities in forensic settings ?:)

KateOHara · 08-03-2010 4:53pm

Yes I heard of two people training in the north

aliceayres · 12-04-2010 9:21pm

Hi,

I know all of the related posts here about forensic psychology were a few years ago now, but i was wondering if anyone knows whether or not anything has changed since then? Is UUC or the open university the only pkaces that it can be done as a postgrad course? Is it still definately necessary to go to England for experinece in the field? and does it appear to be a transferable postgraduate course that could be applied to other careers if you decided to change direction a few years down the line?

Any info or help would be appreciated.

KateOHara · 12-04-2010 9:33pm

well Cork is not running the course this year nor did they last year so it seems to be dead in the water for a while anyway....

It seems that you do have to go to the UK although Queens in belfast have nearly their course up and running but they will have to get it accredited then probably after the first year... you never know it could get going this year??

I heard that there are two working as assistant forensic psychologists in the north but i do not know what the funding would be in the republic in the next few years we'll have to wait and see.. although i have been in contact wit the prison service and others and they are positive about jobs in the future.

well the masters would be one of the criteria for clinical i know a few who have got into clinical with a forensic masters with other experience also though

Hope it helps somehow..

OliviaSwan · 22-08-2011 9:44am

Hi Kate
I'm about to start my final year of a BA(Hons) Psychology and am looking at Leicester University to do an MSc Forensic. Can you tell me if you got into Leicester or York and how it has been for you? Also I see you did some work experience within the prison service here in Ireland, can you advise me on how to apply for this.
Thanks in advance
Olivia

KateOHara · 23-08-2011 11:23am

Hi Olivia,

I have just finished my masters in York. I was accepted to Leicester but chose York instead. It was a good course. I got to do some placement, but I was one of the lucky ones not everyone had the opportunity. York is a good uni, its has a good reputation. I am applying for jobs in the area at the moment but have had no success yet, hopefully I will be able to get something.

In Dublin I volunteered with the St Vincent dePaul (their head office is on Sean McDermott Street) they have volunteers that go into prisons in Dublin and also work in the visitors centre of Mount Joy. DePaul Ireland was where I did my placement with female offenders, this was brilliant I would highly recommend it.

Forensic Psychology in Ireland is really non existent so you would have to be prepared to move and work in the UK or elsewhere. just to keep that in mind. Hope this helps I'm happy to answer any other questions you may have.

Kate

elfan · 23-08-2011 6:13pm

Hi Olivia,
I am currently doing the doctorate in Nottingham. I would advise you to look at this and the one in Birmingham as they qualify both stages 1 and 2 of the BPS diploma. Kate is perfectly correct about how difficult it is to get opportunities in Forensic Psychology in Ireland at the moment. I did my experience in Dublin at Youthreach with disadvantaged youths who had a history of criminality. I am currently on placement in an adolescent forensic psychiatric hospital so Youthreach was useful experience. If you have any questions I am happy to answer them.
Kevin

adastra · 24-08-2011 8:34pm

Hi elfan,

Could you tell me if there is any funding for your doctorate? And if not, do you mind me asking how you manage financially? I would love to do forensic psychology, either a masters or doctorate, but I just don't know how I would be able to afford it right now

elfan · 24-08-2011 11:34pm

Adastra,
I have sent you a pm.

Forensic Psychology

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