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Student UpdateMay 2014 No. 21

Mental Health Awareness Week, 12th to 18th May

Did you know that 12th to 18th May 2014 is Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK?

Every year the Mental Health Foundation campaigns around a specific theme for Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme this year is anxiety, one of the leading causes of mental ill-health in the world.

For more information visit the Mental Health Foundation website.

Level 4 Diploma in Life Coaching

We are pleased to announce that CPCAB's Level 4 Diploma in Life Coaching is now on the Qualifications & Credit Framework and is eligible for funding under the same terms as the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (please see our item “Funding - things you might not know” for more information). Upon successful completion of this qualification, learners will be able to practise as an independent life coach.

New video project - would you like to be involved?

How has training to become a counsellor had an impact on your life?

Over the years we have heard many inspirational stories from students about how training to become a counsellor has changed their lives. At present we are in the process of making a short promotional video for our CPCAB website about our qualifications and the progression route to becoming a counsellor and we would love to capture the essence of some of these stories.

If you are a former student who has completed the whole CPCAB progression route and would be interested in participating in the video, we would love to hear from you! If you're selected, we would need to film with you for up to two days over the next few months - we're very flexible about dates and can arrange them to suit you. What we would like to know is how training to become a counsellor has had an impact on your life and, if possible, would like to film with you in both your personal life and working environments. A fee and expenses will be paid and will vary according to the level of commitment required - we're happy to discuss this with you if your application is successful.

If this sounds like something that would interest you please contact Jacinta, the video producer. We look forward to hearing from you.

Equal Opportunities and regulation

As a nationally-accredited awarding organisation CPCAB is subject to regulation by Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation.

From time to time Ofqual undertakes an investigation into a specific area of practice, to ensure that standards are maintained and any training that may be needed is put into place. Last year, for example, CPCAB took part in a ‘thematic review’ into awarding organisations' ways of dealing with malpractice and maladministration. The results of the review will be shared with awarding organisations next month.

The next thematic review will be based on equal opportunities, at a date that is still to be announced. We don't know yet whether we will be selected to take part but look forward to sharing the findings of the exercise - it is an area in which we take a particular interest, with a dedicated team monitoring equal opportunities in assessment, in employment and as a formal policy.

Funding - things you might not know...

The full range of funding options for each of our qualifications and awards is set out on pages 2 – 5 of our recently updated Funding Guide for Students.

But in addition to the better-known options within this range - such as full funding from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) for learners aged 19-23 and studying for our Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills as their first full level 2 qualification - there are some newer (or lesser-known) options that you or your training centre may not be fully aware of...

Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2):

  • Learners aged 24 or older: co-fundable with the SFA ... unless the learner qualifies for full funding because they're in receipt of one of the several eligible benefits cited below for CST-L3. With co-funding, an employer or learner is expected to contribute towards the costs of learning alongside the SFA.

Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3):

  • Learners aged 19–23: full funding (fee remission) from the SFA for those (needing help to move into work, progress in work or remove a barrier to getting into work) who are ...
    - Receiving Job Seekers Allowance or Employment & Support Allowance or (in some cases) Universal Credit.
    - In custody, but are released on temporary licence (RoTL) following learning outside a prison environment and not funded through OLASS; or ...
    - Unemployed and receiving any state benefits not listed above but who want to enter employment and believe skills training will help them to do so.
    In this instance full funding is at the centre's discretion (relating to the learner and not the type of benefit they are receiving), but the training centre must be satisfied that the learning is directly relevant to both the individual's employment prospects and the needs of the local labour market.

Level 3 Certificate in Life Coaching Studies (LCS-L3):

  • For learners at eligible centres the same funding options apply as per CST-L3, namely (depending on the learner's age and benefits status) either co-funding, full funding (fee remission) or a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan.
  • Learners aged 19–23: full funding (fee remission) from the SFA for learners who are studying for TC-L4 as their first level 4 diploma without having already achieved a first full level-3 qualification. (Note: none of CPCAB's prior level 3 qualifications are defined as being as ‘full’.)
  • Learners aged 19–23: full funding (fee remission) from the SFA for those (needing help to move into work, progress in work or remove a barrier to getting into work) in receipt of one of the benefits cited under CST-L3 above.
  • Learners aged 19–23: co-fundable ... unless the learner qualifies for full funding as described above. With co-funding, an employer or learner is expected to contribute towards the costs of learning alongside the SFA.

Level 4 Diploma in Life Coaching (LC-L4):

  • The same funding options apply as per TC-L4, namely (depending on the learner's age, prior qualification history and benefits status) either co-funding, full funding (fee remission), 24+ Advanced Learning Loan, or Professional Career Development Loan.

Humour - with a twist

Instead of making you laugh this month, we're hoping you'll smile sweetly when you see this wonderful picture of ‘Brecon’, the Springador puppy who has recently joined the family of our very own Stephen Spraggon. All together now ... ‘aaaaw ...’ !