Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Theory and Practice (Mode M)

WPF Therapy

Programme Manager

Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Theory and Practice (Mode M)

Psychodynamic psychotherapy qualification in once weekly psychotherapy

The appointee will be a key member of a successful training team and will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running and continued development of the psychodynamic psychotherapy training. The main purpose of the role is therefore to ensure highest professional service standards for the training; to have shared responsibility for the trainee experience; to manage and support staff in delivering the training to a high standard and in line with professional requirements.

Job Description and Person Specification

The Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Theory and Practice (WPF Therapy’s professional qualification in once weekly Psychodynamic Psychotherapy) is accredited by the BPC, BACP and UKCP. The course is validated by the University of Roehampton.

The Postgraduate Diploma is a 4 year course. Trainees have a choice of two training routes, modes A and M. The modes are managed separately by the Senior Programme Manager and the Programme Manager (Mode M) who work closely together, with the Senior Programme Manager taking overall responsibility for leadership, standards and coordination of this training.

The modes are organised as follows:

M - Students attend approximately 1 day a week for four years

A - Students attend 1 afternoon and evening each week for four years

The Training Department Management team consists of 3 Programme Managers and a Selection Manager. These Managers are supported by an Office Manager and three training programme administrators.

The Programme Manager for mode M and the Selection Manager report to the Senior Programme Manager. A designated member of the programme administration team reports to the Senior Programme Manager. The Senior Programme Manager Mode A is accountable to the Director of Training who is accountable to the CEO. The remaining Training Managers including the Office Manager work to the Director of Training who is part of the Senior Management Team and who is accountable to the CEO. The Senior Management Team consists of the Director of Finance, the Director of Training and the Director of Clinic. The CEO is accountable to the Trustees who form the Board of Trustees.

Overall Purpose of the Post

The appointee will primarily be responsible for Mode M of the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Theory and Practice although there are other tasks which cross both Modes. The appointee will work to sustain high academic, professional and clinical standards of the work delivered by the relevant trainees and to further develop the programme as agreed. They also oversee the every-day management and administration of their programme assisted by a designated administrator. Approximately 120 trainees are enrolled on the whole programme and approximately 60 of these are on the mode M route.

The Postgraduate Diploma/MA Programme Manager (Mode M) line manages approximately 30 staff working on a sessional basis.

The Programme Manager is responsible for liaising with the professional bodies (UKCP, BPC and BACP) and the validation and revalidation of the whole programme (Modes A and M) with the Director of Training. The Programme Manager will also be responsible for the validation with Roehampton University. This task includes the regular cycle of reporting (for example the Programme Annual Review documents) as well the revalidation of the training which occurs on a regular cycle (every 5 years). The revalidation includes preparation of the validation documents, organising visits and meetings.

The appointee will sit on the Training Management Group and Strategic Planning Group and the relevant University of Roehampton committees (held at WPF Therapy).

The programme currently runs on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (Mode M) and Thursday and Friday (Mode A).

Core Training meetings occur on a Monday and the appointee must be available to work on a Monday and Tuesday. It is expected that the appointee will also work on either a Friday or a Thursday. Availability to meet with the Selection Committee varies.

Job Description

Accountability

The Programme Manager (Mode M) is accountable to the Senior Programme Manager who is accountable to the Director of Training, who is accountable to the CEO.

Responsibilities and Tasks

Validating Bodies

·  The training is validated by UKCP, BPC, BACP and University for Roehampton.

·  Each body has a cycle of evaluation and revalidation, mostly 5 yearly

·  Responsibility for managing the cycle of validation is with the Director of Training and the Programme Manager Mode M is expected to work collaboratively on the validating cycles

·  Preparation of validating documents with the Director of Training and Programme Administrator

·  Organising visits and meetings with the various validating bodies

·  Attending core meetings with the validating body (including meetings of UKCP and BPC). Please note that these meetings mostly take place on Saturdays.

·  Preparation of a Programme Annual Review submission to the Roehampton Board of Examiners and preparation of other documentation for Roehampton University as required.

Contact with students

·  Delegated ‘Duty of Care’ responsibilities for Mode M trainees. This involves oversight and awareness of trainee progress and well-being and direct interventions in support of trainees as necessary.

·  Disciplinary oversight

·  Student assessment

·  With Finance and Administration colleagues, ensuring that trainees meet their fee obligations

·  Review of trainees in debt and working with the Training Managers to obtain payment

Line and Operational Management and Performance

·  Line management (including performance management) of approximately 30 employees and a number of visiting lecturers and consultants.

·  Ensure that they are up to date with employment practices and procedures

·  Management of fortnightly supervisors’ groups (meet on Mondays and Tuesday lunchtimes)

·  Responsibility for the day to day operational management and administration of Mode M

·  Involvement in the recruitment and appointment of relevant programme staff as agreed with the Director of Training and working closely with the Human Resources team.

·  Implementation of organisational policies and procedures

Finance and Reporting

·  Reporting as required by the organisation including trainee numbers, drop outs and evaluation statistics

·  Contribution to budget setting and management as required.

Teaching and Supervision

·  Teaching seminars if appropriate (subject to expertise). Usually the Programme Manager will teach the Practice and Techniques seminar

·  Undertaking a supervision group on Mode A (on either a Thursday or Friday) and being a tutor / academic tutor (for this work the Programme Manager must have a supervision qualification or experience of supervision)

·  Stepping in as required to cover supervision or seminars due to staff absence

Training Department and Academic Committees

·  Participating fully in the activity of the Training Management Group, Strategic Planning Group, Therapy Advisers and other meetings as required.

·  Participating fully in the relevant Roehampton University meetings (Academic Standards, Roehampton Board and Roehampton Exam Board) as well as being involved in the development of the Postgraduate Diploma / MA in Psychodynamic Theory and Practice.

·  Participating in Selection Committee meetings.

·  Participation in Curriculum Committee

Quality Assurance

·  Working to the requirements of the Roehampton validation in terms of course standards and requirements, as agreed with the Director of Training.

·  Regular consultation with the Senior Programme Manager (Mode A) to work with the Senior Programme Manager in their role as overall Postgraduate Diploma co-ordinator on whole-course administrative processes and longer term resources, policy and planning issues for the course, e.g. Curriculum development.

·  Ongoing evaluation and review of the training – including collation of evaluation forms and preparation of PARs for Roehampton

·  Responding to trainee feedback

Trainee Selection Process

·  Working and consulting with the Selection Manager in relation to selection of trainees for the relevant course.

·  The Programme Managers will participate in the relevant student selection process, by attending Selection Committee meetings, meeting with some applicants and the Programme Managers will assist the Chair of the Selection Committee who is currently the Selection Manager, with difficult selection decisions

·  Consult as necessary with the Selection Manager.

Clinical issues

·  Consultation and co-operation as required Clinical Services

·  Attendance at client allocation meetings (usually on a Tuesday)

·  Liaison with Clinical Service Staff in relation to Clinical Services policies and Clinical Services requirements.

Joint Responsibility of Programme Managers

·  Working with the Senior Programme Manager who has overall responsibility for the coordination of the full Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Theory and Practice programme to ensure that there is the maximum effective use of resources on the Modes of the Postgraduate Diploma.

·  Centralised administrative tasks including communication with staff and trainees, managing assessment process, developing materials, assisting with marketing.

·  Attendance at staff meetings (outside normal times) as required.

·  preparation and dissemination of pre-course material; timetabling and arrangement of seminars; organising, timetabling and arranging supervision and other trainee groups; communication with staff and trainees; management of individual trainee difficulties etc.

·  responsibility for organising and managing the tutorial system.

·  membership of Assessment Committees (1), (2) and (3) of the Postgraduate Diploma Assessment Process. Committee 3 is the Central Assessment Committee and may be convened for extraordinary meetings during the year.

·  Participation in Open Evenings (note these are usually held on Friday evenings during Reading Week) to promote the training to potential applicants

·  Participation in Further Training Meetings (to promote the training to introductory course students) usually held in Reading Week

Attendance

The programme currently runs on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (Mode M) and Thursday and Friday (Mode A). The postholder is required to attend on Mondays and Tuesdays. Note that there are requirements for attendance at WPF Therapy outside normal core working hours. The Programme Manager must attend training department and organisational staff meetings (usually Friday evenings), Open Evenings and Further Training Meetings. In addition attendance at BPC, UKCP and / or BACP meetings take place normally on Saturdays.

Equality and Diversity

The post holder is expected to demonstrate leadership in ensuring the implementation of WPF Therapy’s Equality and Diversity Policy.

Codes of Ethics

The appointee must be familiar with the WPF Therapy Codes of Ethics and the BACP Ethical Framework and work within them at all times. S/he must ensure that all staff and trainees are familiar with and working within said codes. Copies of the relevant Codes of Ethics are available in the Training Office.

Person Specification

Qualifications

·  Psychodynamically or psychoanalytically qualified psychotherapist

·  Registered with BPC or eligible for registration with BPC

·  A qualification in supervision and / or experience in supervision essential

·  A qualification in teaching will be an advantage, and experience in teaching essential

·  A Master’s degree will be an advantage

Experience

·  Experienced psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychotherapist and supervisor

·  Experience of teaching in the counselling or psychotherapy spheres and have a good knowledge of the training field in counselling and/or psychotherapy.

·  Experienced in preparing and developing validating documents

·  Experienced in new developments in the field of psychotherapy and training

·  Experienced in managing the evaluation and review cycle of training

·  Experience in using Microsoft Office, Email and (ideally) databases

·  Ability to work with spreadsheets

·  Some experience of monitoring budgets and expenditure.

·  Experience in managing change

·  Experience in managing teams and department

Skills and Knowledge

·  Excellent management and administration skills

·  Creative and capacity to initiate change

·  Excellent general office IT skills

·  Experienced team player

·  Highly organized with good ability to prioritise

·  Able to work independently using own initiative

·  Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

·  Excellent interpersonal skills

·  Good eye for detail

·  Interested in research and development

·  Ability to motivate, inspire and lead individual staff and staff groups

Attitude

·  Be sensitive to the financial and other issues involved in maintaining and developing a training course in a competitive environment, whilst also maintaining high professional standards.

·  Open to change and willingness to initiate new developments

·  Be pro-active and self-motivated

·  Committed to life-long learning and developments in the field of psychotherapy

·  Be able to relate sensitively to others, share in/facilitate the working of groups and teams, contain anxiety, manage staff and delegate appropriately.

·  Hold capacity for reflection and be able to contribute creatively to reflection on the aims and methods of training in counselling and psychotherapy in a changing society.

·  Be in sympathy with and supportive of WPF Therapy’s ethos and its aim to deliver equal opportunities.

Work Hours: 28 hours

Salary: £40,400 pro rata per Annum

Actual Salary: £ 32,320 per annum

Application Process

Please submit the following:

1. An up to date CV

2. A statement describing how you meet the Person Specification and what you think you would be able to bring to the post

3. Names of two referees

Please email your applications to –

Closing Date for applications is Monday, 12th June at 9am.

Interviews TBC

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