Find out about Maisie Hammerton BSC (Hons) Psychology on placement as a Support Officer at St Edmund's Catholic School
What motivated you to pursue an optional placement year?
I attended the Psychology Careers Conference during my second year which included talks from previous placement students. Hearing their stories and experiences about completing a sandwich placement year motivated me to start looking for psychology placements, especially knowing that experience in the psychological field is necessary post-graduation.
What were your main concerns or uncertainties about taking a placement year, and how did you address them?
Honestly, my main concern with completing a placement year was not being able to graduate with my course friends and being behind a year. However, it turned out that all my friends also managed to secure a placement, whether it was a sandwich placement or a postgraduate placement. I have no regrets doing a placement year and I wish I wasn’t concerned about this during my second year as everything worked out in the end.
What challenges have you faced during your placement, and how have you overcome them?
My job role involved conducting 1:1 mental health support and leading targeted groups and workshops for specific audiences. The topics that could come up in these pupils 1:1s could be sensitive topics. It was a challenge hearing such personal experiences and knowing the correct procedure regarding safeguarding, however the more you do this procedure, the more you get the hang of it. It was also important to take time for myself too, as I initially found it challenging to separate myself at the end of the working day.
What has been the most rewarding part of your placement so far, and why?
I have very much enjoyed my placement year! I felt massively supported by my line manager and other staff members, any problems I felt comfortable to bring up straight away. The most rewarding part of my placement year was seeing the progress from the pupils I saw. Each assigned 1:1 I would see around 6-8 times, so by the end of their 1:1s, it was amazing to see their confidence grow. It was also rewarding to see the pupils’ ideas as Youth Mental Health Ambassadors and how they wanted to help other young people in the city and promote mental health support.
Has your placement experience influenced your perspective on your chosen career path or field of study?
Definitely! Before completing my placement year, I was unsure on what field of psychology I wanted to pursue – I was torn between forensic, clinical or educational psychology. My placement was related to Educational Psychology with clinical aspects too. Completing my placement made me realise I loved working with older children and in the mental health field. Since my placement, I have researched more about becoming an Educational Psychologist, which is something I definitely want to pursue now.
Would you recommend the placement program to other students? If so, what advice would you give them?
I would definitely recommend completing a placement during university as it has changed me as a person. I have improved in confidence, gained an immense amount of experience and it has made me realise what field of psychology I want to pursue.
I would advise to make sure you are signed up to receive emails from the Careers and Employability Service and also to cater your CV depending on the job application. Having a tailored CV I believe helped me, so I would recommend spending some time to update your CV.