General Course Information

BESPOKE CPD PROGRAMMES

The Centre for Stress Management and affiliated Centres bespoke programmes have been designed and developed specifically as continuing or initial professional development programmes (ie CPD or IPD) recognised by leading professional bodies including the British Psychological Society Learning Centre and International Society for Coaching Psychology. Some courses and programmes provide eligibility for membership of professional bodies including the International Stress Management Association (UK). The IAFPD programmes also provide eligibility for Associate and Full membership of the Institute of Leadership. Our Centre and IAFPD courses and programmes are not regulated by Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and do not provide university credits. If you wish to apply for accreditation with a professional body that does not accredit, approve or recognise our programmes, then you may wish to consider an alternative training provider that has their course recognised by the relevant professional body.

WHO ARE THE PRIMARY & CERTIFICATE PROGRAMMES SUITABLE FOR?
Generally the programmes are suitable for psychologists, psychotherapists, coaches, trainers, managers, personnel staff, management consultants, health and caring professionals who wish to learn more about stress management, wellbeing, problem-solving, cognitive behavioural therapy, rational emotive behavioural therapy and health coaching. However, Learners also include those interested in a career change. It is important that potential applicants check that the programme is suitable for their level of experience and qualifications.

PROGRAMME ATTENDANCE & GENERAL CONTRACT

Learners should attend over 90% of an individual programme to satisfy the attendance requirements. If this is not possible then Learners are advised to apply when they can meet the criteria.

Learners attending programmes are expected to switch off their mobile phones (or turn on to silence) during lectures and workshops. Normal rules of confidentiality apply to all of the programmes therefore recording of the workshops is not permitted. A short homework assignment may be set at the end of the first day of the course such a reading a book chapter and/or an article. Unless stated otherwise, all of the programmes are not opportunities to work out personal issues which may need the support of personal coaching or therapy but a commitment to self-disclosure in relation to programme learning, skills training and personal awareness will be expected.

If we cancel a programme, workshop or conference, Learners will be offered the choice of a 100% refund or a direct transfer to another event run by the Centre and Academy. No liability is accepted for any consequential loss or any other expenses directly or indirectly incurred by any cancellation.

ACCREDITED PRIOR LEARNING
We are aware of most of the other programmes available in stress management, therapy and coach training the UK and do not under normal circumstances accredit prior learning as the majority of these differ in their content. However, we do not recommend that experienced coaching professionals take our introductory courses without first discussing the course content with the Training Director, Peter Ruddell. Learners may wish to demonstrate their knowledge through the International Academy for Professional Development’s Certificate in Work Based Professional Development or Certificate in Professional Development or apply for a higher level programme. Experienced qualified coaches or psychologists with advanced training in coaching or coaching psychology can in the first instance send their CV to the Course Director in order to discuss their coaching qualifications and experience and course suitability.

POST PROGRAMME REVIEWS, RESOURCES & CERTIFICATES FOR COURSES
Certificates of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) are issued to Learners who attend a primary certificate or certificate programme. Most taught programmes include the completion of a Post Programme Review (PPR) (completed at home). If satisfactory, this will lead to the issue of a certificate of achievement verifying the programme has been completed. We supply referencing guidelines to aid this process. The majority of programmes have a printed manual supplied. Each programme has an online resource webpage where articles and other relevant documents can be read or downloaded before, during or after the programme. Some courses include a book supplied and others require Learners to purchase a book prior to the programme (see individual programmes for details).

A primary certificate or full certificate of achievement is only awarded to Learners who successfully complete a Post Programme Review (PPR) after the programme at the Learner's home or office within 42 days of the programme. An extension can be negotiated if necessary otherwise a late submission fee of £20 plus VAT is charged for late assignments. If the submission arrives later than 60 months, then the fee is £50 plus VAT due to the additional administration costs. Please note that as external programme accreditations may vary overtime, there is no guarantee that they will still apply if a programme assignment is submitted 18 months after a programme has been attended.

All manuals contain references and bibliography: the items contained within this are not supplied (except as above). While Learners may wish to follow up one or more of these, they are not essential to satisfy the programme criteria.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
For Learners who attend the course for the purpose of Continuing Professional Development, there is no need to complete the home assignment unless a full certificated award is required

PROGRAMME LEVELS

Our courses are at introductory, intermediate and advanced levels. Please visit our Course levels page for additional information.

PAYMENT OF PROGRAMME FEES

All course fees must be paid six weeks prior to the commencement of the course. Before purchasing non-refundable flights, train tickets, etc. students are strongly advised to confirm with the Centre that the programme has sufficient enrolments for it to run.

If you have any queries about the programme fees and structure please contact Peter Ruddell, the Training Director.

WHAT MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED FOR THE COURSES?

All of the CPD courses have a printed manual provided. The Certificate in Coaching and the Primary Certificate in Stress Management each have a set book provided by the Centres, the cost of which is included in the programme fees. Many of the programmes have pre-reading provided in electronic format and hard copies of articles provided during the course. Any materials including manuals that are provided as hard copies are not provided in electronic form.

The Centre for Stress Management and International Academy for Professional Development retain copyright of all materials and course design. Learners are given permission to photocopy client/coachee handouts/worksheets for their clients and coachees. Material is not licensed for electronic distribution.

Professional bodies that accredit, approve or recognise our courses have assessed our programmes and are knowledgeable of the programme contents. However, if a Learner chooses to apply to a different professional body for accreditation that we have no contractual or confidential agreements with, we will not provide the course workbooks or other Intellectual Property to those organisations beyond what is on the website.

PLAGIARISM

Apart from our CPD programmes, the majority of our courses do involve assignments. Plagiarism is a form of cheating which applies to all assessments. It is important not to intentionally nor unintentionally use someone else’s intellectual work and present it as your own. See our Plagiarism page for more information.

INSTITUTE OF LEADERSHIP
The majority of our taught International Academy courses can also lead to Institute of Leadership (IoL) Approved Development Programmes which provide eligibility for IoL membership. These involve programme attendance and participation generally without the written assignments.