Why Us?
IT IS ALL ABOUT REAL STANDARDS!
This information is not necessarily
the shared opinion of any third party and is the sole responsibility of the
author. Information from third parties is quoted and source declared.
Independent qualifications
can be awarded by anyone, and vary in value and standard. You are advised
by the author to look for awards that carry national accreditation through
one of the routes mentioned below. When confronted by letters and
diplomas, always ask who accredits them and look for accreditation from an
appropriate national body.
1. Qualifications and Standards
Appropriate professional qualifications are attainable in
a number of ways. These include accredited university Courses, NVQ Awards,
ASET awards, VTCT awards, Medical Training Modules, Training recognised by a Statutory
Organisations (such as the BPS).
In Vocational training and assessment (e.g. NVQ) Levels 3
and 4 are levels associated with competence. Some subjects have level 4
awards (roughly equivalent to a first year at university in that one
subject), others have the Level 3 award (roughly equivalent to a
non-university professional qualification e.g. HND / BTEC).
As a guide look for QCA and NQF (National
Qualification Framework) accredited awards / awarding bodies. (This used
to be NCVQ / TDLB). These bodies, statutory bodies and accredited
universities provide a verifiable standard of qualification.
Scotland has additional accreditation through their
national versions of the above: SQA (rather than QCA) and SQCF (rather
than NQF).
Therefore check where an award comes from: For example a
college or training company. Check their accreditation. Someone should
accredit them, and that accreditation body should be a reputable body
(such as City and Guilds, ASET, VTCT, University, NVQ) who are SQA or QCA
accredited bodies. The accreditation body should themselves be properly
accredited as an awarding body, otherwise their patronage does not mean accreditation
or recognised standards!
Either the award itself, or the awarding body should be
accredited.
NVQ Level 4 awards are accredited as National
Vocational Qualifications.
The ASET accreditation information is listed
(offsite) at
http://www.aset.ac.uk/intro_to_aset.php#credentials
and a short excerpt is below:
"ASET Qualifications are approved
by QCA (England), ACCAC (Wales) and CCEA (Northern Ireland) and by the
Secretary of State for Learning and Skills and are part of the National
Qualifications Framework (NQF).
ASET also provides National Awards
(designed by ASET) and accredits Awards (designed by Centres)."
Source: ASET internet site: http://www.aset.ac.uk/intro_to_aset.php#credentials
VTCT is an accreditation body with
similar standards, again with QCA and SQA approval.
http://www.vtct.org.uk
Life Coaching is a form of training / coaching. Therefore the
life coach should be a qualified training and qualified therapist, both to
recognised standards.
With business related issues and change management again seek
appropriate degree or vocational accreditation.
Paul has also written professional advanced training courses under subcontract for an ASET accredited college:
- CBT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (ASET Level 5 award)
- Anger management (ASET Level 4 award)
- Stress managment (ASET Level 4 award)
- Advanced Life Coaching course (ASET Level 4 award)
- Holistic Healing Practitioner course (ASET Level 4 award).
- NLP Practitioner Diploma (Advanced) (Awaiting external accreditation)
2. Professional Standards and Registrations
All therapies are provided to appropriate
standards, whether provided alone, or in combination.
Both Paul and Denise are professionally registered and insured as required for
practice. Both are
committed to National Occupational Standards. (see end of webpage)
Information related to National Occupational Standards (NOS)
will be accessible on a new website called SkillsPlus UK from 15 May 2006.
Information quoted from government website (bookmark before going please) HERE
In General Social Care and Social Work Advocacy we abide by the National
Code
of Practice for Social Service Workers. (except
for where main therapy standards take priority)
Paul Morgan-Ayres is SFTA registered and an Advisory Board
Menber.
3. Ongoing Professional Development
Not all areas have nationally accredited awards with any of the
methods mentioned. Therefore we are committed to ongoing industry training to add new skills
and techniques. This enables both therapists to stay "current"
in up to date techniques. As the number of accredited courses increase,
so we will be able to choose accredited courses only.
It is good practice for all therapists to engage in ongoing
professional development (usually referred to as CPD or OPD). It helps
to ensure that therapists stay abreast of new developments and continue
to improve their service.
4. Supervision
Paul has gained accredited supervisor status, and both therapists have access to
supervision themselves.
Having access to supervision is very important for therapists, since
like all other people they experience certain difficulties in life.
Supervision, which can take many forms, enables the therapist to
maintain professional levels of well being, thus protecting their
clients.
5. Experience
As well as the experience that is being gained through practice and
continuous training, Paul has over 12 years professional experience,
Denise has over two years of job shadowing and voluntary experience
prior to recently gaining her formal qualifications. Clearly Paul is the
senior therapist and therefore maintains a supervisory role in all
cases.
6. Networking
Where Paul or Denise can not see a client in person, a network of
trusted professionals has been built. You will be referred to a
professional who is qualified, and has been recommended by another
trusted professional. These professionals have varying combinations of
registrations and qualifications. Where this occurs, please refer to the
individual therapist to query their qualifications and registrations.
7. Health and Safety, Anti discrimination,
Equal Access, First Aid issues etc
These are all monitored on an ongoing basis. We have back up premises
where our main buildings are not restricted access friendly. We are both
"first aiders", we monitor health and safety and fire
regulation adherence. We have active and proactive anti-discrimination
policies.
We actively assist in gay issues, abuse orientated issues, pastoral
issues, disability issues and cultural related issues.
