Further Information

Title of Post: Course Leader – Professional Doctorate in Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling (DProf) & Foundation Certificate course

Hours: Part-time .7 position, 3.5 days per week

Responsible to: Director of Doctoral programmes, Principal and Deputy Principal

Salary: Pro Rata of £38 049 per annum        

Background

The New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling is a post-graduate Higher Education and training college that provides courses in psychotherapy, counselling, coaching, pastoral care, autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions, working with diversity,  and related topics.  Two of these training programmes lead to doctoral degrees awarded by Middlesex University, and five lead to masters degrees, validated by Middlesex University.  It also offers a foundation course and short courses. The Professional Doctorate in Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling (DProf), was first started in 2008.  It is a joint programme with Middlesex University and is accredited by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association (UPCA), leading to professional registration with these bodies. The programme was revalidated both with Middlesex University and with the UKCP and UPCA in 2018.

For more information about NSPC and its courses see our website at: www.nspc.org.uk

Location and ownership

NSPC is based in West Hampstead  in purpose built premises within easy reach of West Hampstead Thameslink, West Hampstead Capital Connect, and West Hampstead Jubilee line stations. The building is a twelve minute walk from Hampstead Thameslink, West Hampstead Capital Connect, and West Hampstead Jubilee line stations. The139 and 328 buses pass the front door. There are secure facilities for bicycles. NSPC has a green transport policy and encourages staff and students to avoid the use of private cars.

NSPC presently has a student body of about 300, 70 part-time teachers, 30 part-time research supervisors, a part-time librarian, and four full- time administrative staff in addition to its two directors. It is wholly owned by Septimus Ltd, which also owns Dilemma Consultancy Ltd, a sister company which provides psychotherapy, counselling, coaching, supervision and psychiatric assessment services;  Ask the Therapist, which provides an online environment for therapy and supervision; and the Existential Academy, a not for profit community interest company that provides educational services to the public and to the wider profession. Emmy van Deurzen (principal of NSPC) and Digby Tantam (deputy principal) direct all three companies. 

The position of course leader

We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic and committed psychotherapist/psychologist with an interest in joining NSPC to help us manage and further develop this now well-established doctoral programme and its feeder course: our foundation programme in psychotherapy, counselling and coaching. The ideal person for this position will have enthusiasm and knowledge about the existential approach, an ability to work in a close and mutually supportive team, and a commitment to NSPC's mission to increase the availability of existential psychotherapists.

The part time position of course leader is available from 1^st September 2018.

At least one and a half days will be spent on course and other administrative tasks with the remainder taken up by teaching, the design and development of course materials, clinical supervision, and research supervision.  The candidate will be involved with our Existential Research Academy (ERA) and should have an interest in developing this further.

The successful applicant will spend at least two days in the office each week on administrative duties, interviewing and meeting with students to resolve problems. It would be helpful if one of these days could be a Tuesday, when the course leader for the other doctoral programme is also in the office, as collaboration between the two course leaders is essential.  The course leader also needs to be available to attend core staff meetings that occur approximately once a month during term time, usually on a Wednesday.  The course leader also needs to be able to attend UKCP and UPCA meetings several times a year and be available to attend the Middlesex graduation ceremony and occasionally other MU meetings, exam boards and boards of study. The DProf course leader is also course leader for our foundation course, which is the feeder course to this programme and to its sister programme, the DCPsych in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy.  This will mean working with the principal and the course coordinator to ensure the smooth running of the foundation course.

There is room for creativity and initiative in this post, though the course leader has to work in close collaboration with the Director of doctoral programmes, who currently is Prof. Emmy van Deurzen. He or she will also work closely with the admin staff and with other course leaders and the clinical coordinator.  

Qualities of the Successful Candidate

Successful candidates will have:

• a doctorate in psychotherapy or equivalent.
• expertise in existential psychotherapy and counselling
• administrative and managerial skills to organize the program with support from the directors and the administrative staff
• the vision and ability to assist and support senior management in developing the program
• the sensitivity and firmness to deal with complaints and disciplinary issues
• a professional qualification in psychotherapy, counselling or coaching
• eligibility for BACP as well as UKCP registration and preferably both of these
• previous and current experience as a psychotherapist or counselling psychologist
• knowledge of a number of settings and client groups
• previous and on-going teaching and tutoring experience
• a supervision qualification and several years of experience in providing clinical supervision to trainees
• previous experience of supervising doctoral research to completion
• some experience in course administration
• an ability to manage and inspire other part time staff members
• a passion for learning and training
• a willingness to help us develop NSPC and create a positive and collaborative learning environment
• contract to adhere to NSPC policies and guidelines including the teaching contract (which is attached)
• experience of online learning, or willingness to develop that experience in order to use the online learning and assessment environment developed by NSPC to be complementary to its face to face courses

Your job will involve you in a broad range of duties, such as helping us to produce the programme handbook and validation documents as well as annual reports, attending board meetings and progression boards, representing NSPC at professional bodies and with our partner University: Middlesex University. You will work with us on advertising, admissions and interviewing new students as well as being available to solve a wide variety of student queries, problems and complaints. You will be expected to teach at least one academic course each term, to remain in touch with the students as part of the job and run one clinical supervision group each term. Additional teaching may be available over and above this and would be paid for separately, at the usual part time teaching rate.  You will be directly accountable to the Director of Doctoral programmes and to the Principal and Deputy Principal of NSPC.

 Academic & Admin Responsibilities of the Deputy Course Leader:

1. The Course Leader is expected to teach one full module per term and offer one full clinical supervision group per term
2. Any additional teaching will be treated as additionally reimbursable
3. Attending Boards of Study and Progression and Exit Boards (twice yearly).
4. Interviewing applicants and being part of their induction into NSPC. This also applies to candidates for the foundation course.
5. Assisting the Administrators and NSPC Principal in revising syllabi and producing various documents, such as leaflets, brochures and handbooks for validation and accreditation exercises as well as for annual updates. This also applies to the foundation course.
6. Assisting in the development of new course outlines and in helping to improve the courses as they evolve.
7. Working with part time staff, occasionally sitting in on their lectures to help them review their courses or teaching methods.
8. Organise lecturer peer evaluations.
9. Taking responsibility for problem solving with students on the courses when difficulties arise and guide students through the various hurdles, giving them appropriate guidance and feedback at each point.
10. Take part in relevant meetings with Middlesex University and complete relevant MU documentation (including annual returns)
11. Help to establish or maintain and develop professional accreditation and links with the relevant professional bodies and representing NSPC on these bodies where relevant.
12. Participate in general NSPC meetings and be part of the management team, helping us to develop new courses or teaching methods and considering improvements to systems.
13. Deal with relevant correspondence, websites and databases.

Salary and Holidays

The salary for this position is based on .7 of an annual salary of £38,049

Academic staff employed by NSPC are entitled to 5.6 weeks of statutory and non-statutory leave. Academic staff leave is normally scheduled outside term time and staff coordinates their leave dates.

Any teaching or supervisory tasks taken on in addition to the three modules and three supervision groups per year, will be remunerated on a part time basis and should in no case prevent the candidate from fulfilling the administrative responsibilities of this position.

Probationary period

There will be a probationary period of six months.

Applications

Please complete our online application form https://www.nspc.org.uk/courses/staff-application-form-2018.htm attaching a copy of your CV and a letter demonstrating how you qualify for this position, together with the names and telephone details of two referees we may contact by telephone. Applications need to be received by NSPC before 27 June 2018.  Interviews will be held on Wednesday 11 July 2018, and any offer of employment will be subject to two satisfactory references being received. The starting date will be 1 September 2018, or as soon as possible after.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.

Further information or enquiries to:

Dawn Farrow (Office Manager)

NSPC

61-63 Fortune Green Road,

London

NW6 1DR

Email: admin@nspc.org.uk

Tel: 0203 515 0223/0207 435 8067

NSPC strives to be an equal opportunity employer