The Minster Centre
Deputy Director of Training
Job Description
Salary:
£42,000 pro rata
Hours by negotiation, minimum 14 per week.
At least 1 day per week to be spent at the Minster Centre in this role
Holidays:
33 days including bank holidays pro rata
Reports to:
Director of Training
Key working relationships: Director of Training, Training Committee, Director of
Operations and Registrar
Responsible for:
Heads of Year
Course Leaders
Tutors
Background
The Minster Centre is a registered charity based in Queens Park, NW6, providing
psychotherapy and counselling training and services. Its courses are accredited by the UK
Council for Psychotherapy, the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and
Middlesex University.
The Minster Centre is run by a Senior Management Team (SMT) comprising the Directors of
Operations, Services and Training. The Director of Training is responsible for all aspects of
training delivery and development at the Minster Centre.
The Minster Centre is now seeking a Deputy Director of Training to support the Director in
the delivery of this work. The new Deputy Director will take responsibility for specific areas
of the work and work with the Director of Training and the Training Committee in developing
others. Early tasks are likely to include contributing to preparations for the BACP reaccreditation process in early 2013 and the Middlesex revalidation in 2014, ensuring the
Intranet and the key documents on it reflect current course requirements, are clear and
accessible and are updated, and taking the lead on student recruitment and selection in
2013.
Job description
Main purpose of role
Working with the Director of Training to take lead responsibility for key areas of the delivery
and development of psychotherapy and counselling training at the Minster Centre. The
exact areas of responsibility will be agreed with the Director of Training and are likely to vary
over time.
Depending on previous experience and interests, in the first instance they are likely to
include: lead responsibility for updating, maintaining and developing content for the Intranet
(including the Handbook and Aids to Study); supporting the Heads of Year for two of the
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main training years (being Foundation, First, Second, Third and Finalist) in dealing with
novel or particularly difficult student and staff issues; taking overall responsibility for
admissions (promotion of courses, information for applicants, selection processes and
numbers), taking the lead in managing the relationship with one key partner (UKCP, BACP
or Middlesex) and contributing to preparations for upcoming re-accreditations.
Main areas of responsibility
1. Contribute to the planning of counselling and psychotherapy training at the Minster
Centre.
2. Take overall responsibility for specific areas of training maintenance and delivery to
be agreed with the Director of Training.
3. In conjunction with the Director of Training and the Training Committee, identify and
develop opportunities to improve existing training courses.
4. In conjunction with the Director of Training, identify opportunities for and lead
development of new training programmes, in line with the Minster Centre ethos.
5. Contribute to managing key relationships relevant to Minster Centre training,
especially UKCP, BACP and Middlesex University.
6. Deputise for the Director of Training, as required.
Specific tasks
1. Support the relevant Heads of Year in handling any novel or difficult student, staff or
curriculum issues that arise for two year groups. (The Director of Training will cover
the other three years).
2. Working with the Training Committee to maintain oversight and development of the
main training curriculum (content and standards). To include consideration of the
relationship between weekend courses and weekly teaching.
3. Lead on the relationship with one key partner (UKCP, BACP or Middlesex). This will
include keeping abreast of developments and their implications for the Minster
Centre, identifying opportunities, communicating with key contacts, attending
meetings, preparing annual reports.
4. Working with the Registrar and IT Officer to ensure that the Intranet and the key
documents on it reflect current course requirements, are clear and accessible and
are updated. This will include conducting an annual review of the Handbook, Aids to
Study and the Intranet before the start of the academic year and then ensuring that
they are regularly updated to reflect changes.
5. Oversight of course promotion and student selection. This will include working with
the Training Admin staff and others to review and update, as necessary, the overall
approach to promoting our courses, the information about courses on the website
and provided to applicants, the programme of open events and the standards and
procedures for student selection.
6. Oversee and participate in staff recruitment as necessary.
7. Undertake shorter-term development projects (working alone or in teams with other
staff) as agreed with the Director of Training – initial projects likely to arise from the
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forthcoming BACP re-accreditation (early 2013) and the Middlesex revalidation (late
2013/early 2014).
Person specification
Essential
Proven organisational skills, in order to plan and schedule multiple projects, respond flexibly
to opportunities, and hit deadlines. This is likely to be demonstrated by previous substantial
experience of senior management and organisation, ideally in a training organisation.
Knowledge and understanding of the key environments in which the Minster Centre
operates: psychotherapy and counselling, mental health and public policy, the voluntary
sector.
Strong interpersonal skills, able to build good working relationships with people at all levels,
including representatives of academic and regulatory organisations, freelance staff and
consultants and Minster Centre staff.
Excellent communication and negotiation skills, verbal and written.
Proven ability to bring a practical approach to problem solving.
Good IT skills (MS Office)
Ability to work in a multi-cultural setting and to appreciate and respect diversity and
difference.
A commitment to the Minster Centre’s ethos and values.
Desirable
Practicing UKCP registered psychotherapist or other appropriate professional membership.
Creative thinking, with the ability to identify opportunities, put forward ideas and turn them
into workable plans for training development and income generation.
Previous experience of teaching and course leadership, ideally in the field of psychotherapy
or counselling.
A proactive self-starter who is also a good team player.
A high degree of numeracy and financial acumen, in order to prepare budgets, prepare
accurate costings, monitor income and expenditure, determine pricing policy, and ensure a
return on investment.
Please apply by sending a completed Application Form.
The closing date for applications is noon Wednesday 2nd January 2013. Interviews will be
held on Friday 11th January.
For further information or to discuss the post contact Lissie Wright via email:
lissie@minstercentre.org.uk
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