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UpdateFebruary 2016 No. 53

Here at CPCAB Towers we’re hoping that you’ve all enjoyed your festive season and that the new year has started well for you. We’re finding it very encouraging that the days are getting noticeably longer now and the spring flowers are starting to poke their heads above ground, even though it is still rather cold!

There’s a warm welcome here, though, for our latest member of staff: Karen Deeming has joined us this year as a Counselling Professional, providing much-needed support for our hard-working team. Karen is familiar with CPCAB and our qualifications; she lives nearby and she has a huge variety of interests, from arts and crafts to more sporty pursuits such as yoga, cycling and even cross-country. She is a counselling consultant for the media, UKCP accredited psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher with private practices in Bristol and Somerset. She holds a master’s degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and was previously a tutor at Wiltshire College on their CPCAB TC-L4 course. As they say, if you want something done, ask a busy person and we’re delighted to have her here!

CPCAB Assessors' vacancy

We are currently looking to increase the number of our Assessors for the higher levels, ie levels 5 and 6. If you have substantial experience of teaching at this level, some assessment and ideally some moderation/verification under your belt we would be interested in hearing from you.

This would require you being able to commit to marking a number of case reviews which have been submitted during the June and November external assessment windows. The volume is variable and often significantly lower in November. We will offer you standardisation training and support to familiarise you with the requirements of the role.

Please contact either Caroline Waite, Qualification Leader for Levels 5 and 6, or Marina Richards.

Or contact us by phone on 01458 850350 ... we are keen to hear from you even if it’s just for an exploratory chat!

Extension of Eligibility for Advanced Learning Loans

Good news: Advanced Learning Loans will soon be available for a wider range of learner-ages and qualification levels!

Advanced Learning Loans were previously only available for learners aged 24+ in relation to eligible Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications. But now the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has decided that these loans will be available to learners aged 19 or over (on August 1st 2016) in relation to eligible qualifications at Levels 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The courses concerned must start after August 1st 2016, but the loan applications can be made by learners (to Student Finance England) from May 1st 2016 onwards. As before, the training centre must be one that is loans-eligible.

So for the 2016-17 teaching year (as well as the current teaching year for those aged 24+) the following CPCAB qualifications are eligible for these loans for learners aged 19+:

  • Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
  • Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
  • Level 4 Diploma in Life Coaching

And for the 2016-17 teaching year we will soon be applying to the SFA to have the following CPCAB qualifications additionally eligible for these loans for learners aged 19+:

  • Level 3 Certificate in Life Coaching
  • Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
  • Level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Skills & Theory
  • Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision

Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling – external assessment

Level 4 tutors are reminded that the preferred method of submitting recorded sessions for external assessment is via WeTransfer. Guidance is included in your assessment packs and the WeTransfer website contains instructions on how to use it. Please contact Marina if you have any difficulties at all.

More about external assessment

Dates for next year’s external assessment windows are now available on the CPCAB website. Please remember to add them to your calendars as soon as possible.

New fees from September 2016

Please note that our new fee structure comes into force with effect from September 2016. These fees apply to the UK only. For overseas charges please contact CPCAB.

CPCAB logos

We’d like to remind our registered centres that if/where they make use of the CPCAB logo, they should use the newest version of this (rather than the older version). To obtain the newest version right-click this link choose ‘Save target as...’ and then choose where you want the image file to be saved for later use.

Advertising CPCAB courses

Please remember if you are planning to run a CPCAB qualification for which you have not yet had approval you may not advertise the course without prior discussion from CPCAB.

Understanding Substance Misuse

A 2-day CPD workshop will be held on Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st February, at CPCAB’s HQ in Somerset.

The workshop will provide the subject knowledge and understanding needed to deliver CPCAB’s Understanding Substance Misuse qualification. It will also be useful for practitioners, students and anyone with an interest in the field of substance misuse. Download a booking form or for more information email Jackie Rice or call 01458 850350.

Here's some feedback from previous attendees:

“Wonderful experience – how often can you say that about training?”
“Very informative and Traci created a relaxed environment to deliver something as emotive as the subject can be.”
“Very inclusive, relaxing, fun, sensitive and caring. Also very knowledgeable about counselling and addiction.”

The nightmare of adolescent mental health care: one girl’s story

The Counselling Channel recently recorded a podcast titled "The nightmare of adolescent mental health care: one girl’s story". Voiced by an actor, the podcast features the account of a girl's journey through the UK's mental health care system. Listen to it below.

CPCAB counselling videos

Did you know that you can rent and watch any of our collection of full length counselling videos online? You can watch a trailer for each title and rental costs £6.49 per week. Visit vimeo.com/counsellingchannel for details.

The Open University

Our partners at the Open University have produced a series of short animated films on 'Key Ideas in Therapy' (Naomi Moller, Meg Barker and Andreas Vossler) that are now released on youtube.

They are meant for practitioners, trainees but also the general public and the Open University hopes they will help to inform and encourage people to use counselling/therapy services.

Humour

First person: “I’m having counselling now, you know - trying to learn how to be less unkind to people.”

Second person: “Unkind to people? Is it working?”

First person: “Not really. At yesterday’s session I asked her “And how does it feel to know I’m not making any progress?”