DD310 Consolidation Weekend: Counselling and Forensic Psychology: 2024

DD310 Consolidation Weekend

OUPS have been running residential weekends now for 50 years, so we know from experience exactly what students want and need in order to give them the knowledge and skills, as well as the confidence, to improve their grades. The weekend will be of benefit to all students taking the OU DD310 course on Counselling and Forensic psychology.

Aims of the Consolidation Weekend

A weekend of lectures which aim to consolidate themes across the module and build understanding of the material. The sessions explore key issues and themes to help you to see how the course fits together and how some of the chapters link together, supported by advice on how to tackle the EMA at the end of the module. These will allow you to construct an informed and intelligent view of the topics covered, which will help you with your approach to both the TMAs during Blocks 4 and 5 of the module and your final EMA. This residential weekend at Warwick University is an excellent way to achieve all these aims as well as meeting other students who are studying your module. 

Many students find that these weekends inspire their studies, offering a different channel to distance learning by providing lectures and social opportunities that are a highlight of traditional "brick" universities. Students always comment on how friendly and supportive the atmosphere is at our weekends so there is no need to feel nervous about coming on your own.

The provisional timetable is as follows:

Friday: 8-9.30pm: Session 1. How prison and mental health services developed: 1200 - 2018 (block 1) (Georgina)

Saturday

9.00 - 10.30am (Babak) Identities: Age/race/gender/class (block 2)

11.00-12.30pm (Georgina) Sexual offending - key areas and challenges (block 3)

2-3.30pm (Georgina) Rehabilitation of offenders - understanding the therapeutic approaches (block 4)

4-5.30pm (Babak) Paraphilia's / sex work (block 3)

Sunday

9-10.30am (Babak) Memory / self-harm & suicide / contexts / prevention (block 5)

11.00-12.30pm (Georgina) Therapeutic and sexual issues in forensic settings

1.30-3.00pm (Babak) Assessment strategy and writing for different audiences

Please note that we cannot give answers or advice on the actual assessed work (TMAs and EMA) that is set in the current presentation of the module.

Tutors

We have a team of two very experienced tutors on the weekend.

Dr Babak Fozooni is an Associate Lecturer at the Open University and the author of What is Critical Social Research? Volumes 1 and 2 (published 2012, 2017 respectively). His most recent book is entitled Psychology, Humour and Class: A Critique of Contemporary Psychology (Routledge, 2020). He has obtained six degrees in psychology and affiliated disciplines. His PhD is in Psychology from Manchester Metropolitan University. He has taught at the University of East London, the University of Westminster, Birkbeck College and the Open University. Babak has been tutoring at The Open University since 2007. Alongside DD310 he also teaches on DD317, DE300, DD210, and DD801. His current research interests are in: the politics of football; the contemporary applications of the Welsh thinker Raymond Williams; and film therapy.

Dr Georgina Barnett is an Associate Lecturer at the Open University and also has her own private practices for therapy, coaching and weight-management (Psychology and Lifestyle, and Weight Management and Lifestyle).  Prior to this she worked in Forensic environments both as a Forensic Psychologist and Prison Officer across the London prisons HMP Pentonville, HMP Holloway and HMP Belmarsh. Later she worked as Managing Director for a luxury dating agency which used a psychological model for matchmaking!  Georgina has been teaching at the Open University since 2007.  Alongside DD310 she teaches on DD210 Living psychology: from the everyday to the extraordinary, D241 Exploring mental health and counselling and E104 Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology.  She is currently completing a History and Politics degree through the Open University so truly understands the joys and challenges of being an OU student!

Feedback

Here are some of the things previous students have said about some of our previous weekends.

"An excellent weekend - well organised, well worth the money, time and effort"

"Excellent! Enthusiastic lecturers who deepened my understanding of the course and helped me to focus on the exam."

"Very good , interesting, engaging, made me realise I knew more than I thought I did! Would definitely attend a weekend for future course. It has set me up to continue with the module with more confidence."

"I was impressed with the quality of the teaching, with how each lecturer knew their subject in such depth yet could keep it simple".

"Really helpful. Good overview of chapters and approaches to take. Very supportive lecturers, able to convey a good balance re hard work and fun and importantly their enthusiasm for their topics."

"It has given me a motivation and confidence boost, I can't think of any improvements."

"Fantastic . So happy I did it!"

"Sadly this will be my last Warwick Revision Weekend as I graduate this year. Over the last 3 years I have found them to be indispensable and credit them with helping me achieve great grades. Thank you. I will miss being part of it."

What to expect

The lectures are conducted in management conference seminar rooms within the University campus, and you will have been provided with a timetable of talks and lecture notes before you arrive. Attendees can arrive any time after 3pm on Friday afternoon, with dinner served at 6pm. The weekend finishes at 3pm on the Sunday

You can choose how you spend your time. If you book the residential package then you will have a very comfortable ensuite room in management conference facilities complete with bedding, towels, a hairdryer, coffee-making facilities and desk. Wifi is also included. The training centre has a small exercise room within the buliding and you also have complimentary access to the gym and pool on campus, so if you do need to relax then there is the option to do so.

The full cost is inclusive of all meals, including Friday night and Saturday night dinner. There are no extra costs involved (except for drinks at the bar!). As well as your room and all meals this includes refreshments at break times, extensive handouts which are only available to attendees, revision of key course material, advice on revision techniques and assessment, welcome drink on Friday night. Non-residential places are available for a reduction, and the same breakfast, lunch, dinner and all tea/coffee/snack breaks during the day are still included. Please contact us for details if you are interested in this option.

The welcome drinks and psychology book stall  are both excellent places to meet the tutors and other students.  Our OUPS committee member will also introduce themselves so you'll know who to contact if you have any questions. You can enjoy your meals with a group of students in the comfortable dining room. The food is fresh, healthy catering, and there is something to entice everyone.

Finally, whilst most students leave exhausted from the learning and socialising, they comment that it is such a worthwhile weekend, and we see many of them each year as they progress their studies!

Free places

We will be offering 2 free places on this weekend event. This offer is only open to OUPS members and the students will have to pay their own travel expenses. Students can only apply if they have not received a free place from us previously. The applicant will need to be able to demonstrate that they have financial hardship and will need to provide proof of current receipt of benefits (such as a scan/photo of the front page of the pay award letter, giving name, address and the date of the award)  or evidence of low income (for example a screen shot of a bank statement showing salary and carers allowance) as well as a covering letter with a short personal statement of no more than 500 words.

Applications should be made before 11th December and we will inform applicants if they have been successful the following week. Please email your applications to info@oups.org.uk. Any queries should be addressed to info@oups.org.uk

Venue

The weekend takes place at Scarman Conference and Training Centre, University of Warwick. Both accommodation and lectures are located in the same building unless you have been informed otherwise.

Warwick is an award winning conference venue with excellent facilities. Access to the sports facilities, including the swimming pool, are included in the price. The university's central location with excellent transport links makes it easily accessible from all over the UK and Europe. There is ample free car parking.

Accessibility

Click here for information on accessibility, parking and other related facilities.

Travel and directions

Click here for satnav postcodes and directions to the University of Warwick.

For campus maps go to Warwick Campus Maps.