The Post Graduate Diploma and Masters In Counselling Children in Schools is intended to equip learners to counsel children in any setting but especially in schools. In addition, it is intended to enable learners to conceptualise and develop a broad based package of therapeutic services in schools based on the Place2Be Therapeutic Approach.

The Programme is three years in total with the Post Graduate Diploma being awarded at the end of the second year. Students who do not complete the Postgraduate Diploma but do successfully complete the first year of the programme can be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate. Entry on to the Masters year will depend on successful completion of the Diploma.

The Programme combines academic with experiential learning and covers a range of topics including:

• Counselling skills
• The use of play and creativity
• Self awareness
• Child Development
• Child Observation
• Counselling theories including Person Centred, Psychodynamic and Attachment
• Emotional and therapeutic support in schools
• Assessment, referral and multi agency working

There is a clear shortage of counselling training which specialises in work with children. Recent government initiatives indicate a commitment to early therapeutic intervention in schools and the counselling and psychotherapy workforce needs to be ready for the increased demand for properly qualified therapists.

For many years the Place2Be has been delivering a package of mental health services to primary schools which includes one to one and group therapy. In addition Place2Be supports the mental health of the school by offering support to all members of the school community. This work is specialised and at the moment there is no qualification which prepares therapists for this role. Based on the Place2Be Therapeutic Approach this Diploma and Masters will train people to be competent therapists who can also enable schools to create mentally healthy environments for all children.

The clinical staff at  Place2Be come from a broad range of theoretical backgrounds. Over the years this breadth of experience has shaped how we deliver the service in schools. The service in turn has enabled a therapeutic Approach to evolve which reflects the diversity of the organisation but is also something substantial in its own right.

The core elements of Place2Be can be described under three headings: Relationship; Self awareness and Play. The quality of the therapeutic Relationship is one of the most accurate predictor of outcomes. A safe and helpful therapeutic relationship depends on a high level of Self awareness from the therapist. Play is the language of the child and a vital part of child development. The therapist needs to be playful in order to properly hear what the child wants to express. It is a combination of these three elements that bring about positive change for the child.

These three elements provide a framework of reference for every stage of the therapeutic process. The Place2Be Therapeutic Approach uses this framework to integrate ideas and techniques from a variety of approaches. It acknowledges the history and influence of psychodynamic thinking, as well as embracing systemic theory and the core conditions of the person centred approach. At the centre of the Place2Be Therapeutic Approach is an understanding of attachment theory and developments in this field and the field of neurobiology.

Place2Be works with children and adults from a broad range of social, racial and cultural backgrounds and acknowledges the need to be flexible in its approach ensuring that each therapeutic contract or referral respects the unique needs of every client. The Place2Be Therapeutic Approach’s focus is on the effective common factors of different theoretical models rather than on the different techniques used in any given intervention. The Place2Be’s three elements reflect these common factors.

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for the Programme

• First degree or equivalent professional qualifications and/or experience of working with children that, in the opinion of the selectors is indicative of ability to achieve the standards of the programme
• Successful completion of the Place2Be Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills for Working with Children OR, in exceptional circumstances and after an extended interview process, an equivalent certificate level (or above) counselling training.  (Please see the application form for more details) 
• Willingness to be playful and creative
• Willingness to be self reflective and having a commitment to self development
• Effective listening skills
• Appropriate personal qualities of warmth, genuineness and empathy
• Willingness to work in a group
• Progression to the third year Masters will depend on successful completion of the first two years
• Spoken and written English to a standard appropriate for this level of study

The majority of applicants will hold a first degree which qualifies them for M level study. Applicants who do not hold a first degree but whose life and work experience qualifies them for this programme will need to show that they have the academic skills necessary to study at this advanced level.

All successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced CRB check before they are able to take up a placement in school.

The Post Graduate Diploma Programme includes seminars, lectures, an experiential group, counselling role play, using creativity and play to communicate, case discussion groups, supervised internal work placements, a 2 - 3 weekend each year, at least one of which is residential and regular individual tutorials. The Programme combines experiential and academic learning

The Masters year involves a more flexible pattern of attendance but will include a one day placement, case discussion groups and regular individual tutorials

Below is a table detailing all the written work for the Programme. Assessment will conform to the UEL Assessment Policy.

A Place2Be placement is provided as part of the postgraduate Programme. Students are supported by experienced Place2Be supervisors who work closely with Programme tutors to ensure that learning is maximised

The Post Graduate Programme is accredited by BACP.

In the third year students will undertake a research project which will culminate in a 14,000 word dissertation.

• The Postgraduate Diploma will qualify graduates to apply for paid employment as a counsellor within Place2Be and progress through the career structure
• The Postgraduate Diploma will qualify graduates to take up paid employment as a counsellor in other multi-agency settings
• Postgraduate Diploma graduates will be eligible for registration with BACP and to work towards individual BACP accreditation.

• Regular one to one tutorials
• Study support
• Library and IT facilities
• Programme Committee

The Place2Be is uniquely placed to deliver this very rigorous and specialised training at Postgraduate level. Good communication between the training department and the placement in Place2Be schools ensures that students develop the clinical skills necessary to work therapeutically with children who present with a broad range of needs. One of the strengths of Place2Be is that we work with mentally healthy children as well as those with difficulties. This gives us a clear perspective of what it is to be mentally healthy and what helps children to achieve and maintain a sense of emotional well-being.

The Place2Be placement and the taught elements of the Programme are designed to support and complement each other. This enables students to develop a solid and coherent understanding of working as a counsellor in schools.

No other programme qualifies students to do this breadth of work in schools