Coach and Mentor Training and Accreditation

Training Matrix : Overview of training options in the UK and US

Organisations based in the UK

The School of Coaching at the Industrial Society
The Oxford School of Coaching and Mentoring (OSCM)
The Newcastle College Company
The Life Coaching Academy
Academy of Executive Coaching

Organisations based in the US

CoachU
Coaches Training Institute

UK-based

US-based

• Validated means that appropriate statistical validation procedures have been applied to these assessment tools
• Recognised Qualification in the UK refers to conformance with an accredited educational framework i.e. NVQ framework or an accredited University Programme.

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The School of Coaching at the Industrial Society

In association with Myles Downey

The Industrial Society was established over 80 years ago as an independent not-for-profit campaigning body and holds a Royal Charter. It has over 10,000 member organisations from every part of the economy. Everything the Industrial Society does is driven by its members.

The School of Coaching was set up in 1998 by The Industrial Society and is operated in association with Myles Downey. The programme offered by the School has been designed to prepare coaches to work specifically in the corporate or business coaching environments, whether they are providing coaching in a line management role or an external basis. It is not necessary to have prior coaching experience. It is, however, a mandatory course requirement that participants engage in supervised 'live' coaching of clients as part of the course.

The School of Coaching programme leads to the award of the Certificate of Professional Development in Coaching accredited by Strathclyde University. A feature of the programme is the option for candidates to develop their coaching skills using a competency framework designed specifically to corporate/business coaches. This can form the basis of a formal 360 degree assessment of practical coaching skills in 'live' working environments. Written case reviews and coaching portfolio and observation also form part of the assessment process.

Information pack available from Karen Conway at kconway@indsoc.co.uk

NB Those registering on the ISNCR are provided with a discounted registration on the Coaching and Mentoring Network's International register and referral service.

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Oxford School of Coaching and Mentoring

http://www.oscm.co.uk/

Established by Eric Parsloe in 1998, it has a Board of External Examiners which includes professionals like Myles Downey and Julie Hay, both heavily involved in the UK coaching and mentoring arena. More recently David Clutterbuck has joined the faculty and expanded the resources of the school.

The OSCM offers individualised and organisational coach-mentoring development and qualification programmes. A range of programmes are offered which are targeted at preparing coach-mentors for the business, executive, community, public sector and personal coaching/mentor ing.

Successful completion of an OSCM programme at Certificate or Diploma level is linked to Masters level credits towards degrees awarded by Oxford Brookes University. The School is currently running a Joint Learning Research Project, which delivers the Professional Coaching and Mentoring Diploma 80% electronically, and 20% face to face.

All preparation to become a coach or mentor at OSCM is conducted within a one-to-one coach/mentoring relationship with a qualified professional coach-mentor and, on the 80:20 electronic programme, this is supported with telephone, email and closed Internet discussions. If a person already possesses a high degree of skill developed as part of a complementary professional accreditation or practical experience, this is taken into account. A programme usually takes approximately six months for someone with a strong background in personal and professional development and longer for those who do not.

Accreditation is dependent on the candidate demonstrating competence and knowledge through evidence that they "can deliver their promise"; "practise what they preach"; "know why they are doing what they are doing" and from feedback using a comprehensive 360 degree Benchmarking assessment process. Coaches and mentors must demonstrate practical competence across a range of client situations and with a minimum of 12 successful sessions.

Although there are no specific entrance requirements, the OSCM does scrutinise applications and CVs carefully before acceptance and do not enrol a candidate unless they have a reasonable chance of developing into a successful coach-mentor.

An information pack is available on request from Eric Parsloe at eric@oscm.co.uk

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Newcastle College Company

www.ncc-educ.co.uk

UK based organisation that has put together a distance learning course for coaches. The course is run along the traditional lines of a correspondence course where participants complete a series of six modules at their own pace. Tutors are, however, on hand and available through telephone support line.

Formal assessments are made through the completion of workbooks submitted to the Newcastle College Company for marking. Accreditation is offered via the Northern Council for Further Education and successful participants are awarded a Diploma in Performance Coaching

Information pack is available on request from Iain@ncc-educ.co.uk

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The Life Coach Academy

http://www.lifecoachingacademy.co.uk/

The Life Coach Academy (LCA) is a company dedicated to the training and development of Life Coaches in the corporate and private sectors. Led by Jonathan Jay from its Head Office in Portsmouth, Hampshire, the company reports that it has trained or is currently in training of approximately 600 students in Life Coaching skills.

The LCA undertakes to train individuals from both private and corporate backgrounds in the knowledge and skills of a Life Coach. These skills enable students to offer life coaching to individuals either face- to- face or over the telephone. An integral part of the LCA service is also to provide training in the commercial aspects of running a Life Coaching practice.

The course is registered with the Department For Education and Employment for Career Development Loan purposes. This means that students can apply for a CDL to take themselves through this course. As the LCA course also includes a twelve month membership of the Academy a student has a full twelve months before repayment of the CDL is due.

Graduation with the LCA entitles students to advertise their services on the LCA website. This free advertising helps students to gain clients. Clients are also gained via joining a Coaching Circle which operate all over the UK.

The programme runs for three months, combining a mix of residential training and distance learning. Following attendance at a two day residential workshop, students are able to schedule in the other parts of training to fit in with their personal lifestyles.

An integral part of the programme is participation in six conference calls. These are a series of structured training sessions linked to workshop activity. Students also have the opportunity to experience coaching from a senior Life Coach during the programme via six mentor coaching sessions over the telephone.

All students are asked to join a Coaching Circle which meets monthly for on-going training, discussion and sharing of ideas etc. The meetings continue once a student has graduated and, therefore, are a continuous source of support for the individual.

Information is available from the website http://www.lifecoachingacademy.co.uk/

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Academy of Executive Coaching

An organisation that focuses on the training and development of executive coaches. The programme was established by John Leary-Joyce of the Gestalt Centre. It is business focused and pitched at an advanced level so it is not possible to enrol in the programme without around five years hands-on coaching experience or senior business leadership experience. Participants are not required to have any prior formal training.

The programme is unique in the UK as it explores the relationship between advanced performance coaching skills and skills and methods from the fields of psychology and counselling. As such, participants are supervised by executive coaches who also possess recognised professional qualifications in these areas. At the conclusion of the programme participants are qualified to work with clients at a 'deeper' level than would be possible with a basic coaching qualification.

The Academy has been established in response to the need for a Masters level development programme. Candidates who complete the programme may submit a thesis and be awarded an MSc from the Professional Development Foundation at Middlesex University.

For the coach who is experienced and who meets the entry criteria, it is necessary to complete a formal group and individual assessment before being allowed to enrol in the programme. Performance is graded against a competency framework that has been adapted for the programme. If a coach completes the assessment but does not yet meet the standards set for entry to the Academy, full developmental feedback is provided.

For more information a downloadable pack is available from http://www.academyofexecutivecoaching.com/

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Coach U

http://www.coachu.com/

CoachU was founded in 1992 by Thomas Leonard. This US based CoachU training is available in the UK as it is conducted internationally via telephone. All formal 'classroom' time (as well as the coaching itself) is delivered via teleclass (teleconference). It is also recommended, as part of the training, to employ a coach so that a new coach can experience first hand how the process works. To become certified by Coach U it is mandatory that you work with a Coach U Certified Mentor Coach for a period of six months and complete 200 hours of class time.

One-to-one coaching programmes conducted alongside the training are open-ended and it is usual to set up a monthly direct debit and to have a coaching session for half an hour each week, fortnight or month. Face-to-face coaching is uncommon and does not form part of the formal training programme.

CoachU offer free introductory workshops which are facilitated by the organisation's US leaders Pamela Richarde and Sandy Vilas. UK representatives of CoachU, in addition to UK based coaches who have completed the training, are also available to field questions at these two-day events. Free teleclasses and coaching sessions are also provided to give people a 'taster' experience. The cost of the telephone call may be approximately £15.00 if you stay connected to free class for the full hour, although students have reported telephone call rates as low as 9p per minute.

This is a US based company with a very strong and distinctive business culture which tends to suit some and not others, so the opportunity to experience the process before making a commitment is very useful in making a personal choice about what is right for you.

There are no formal entrance requirements for those who are considering this training option. Any person wishing to undertake coach training is accepted upon payment of course fees. It is also possible to complete the training and commence practising as a coach without having to pass any 'exams'. A certification process is, however, available and subject to an assessment process.

Information available from http://www.coachu.com/

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Coaches Training Institute (CTI)

http://www.thecoaches.com/

US based coach training organisation founded by Laura Whitworth and Henry Kimsey-House who describe themselves as having a Co-Active philosophy. The two and a half day introductory workshop includes an overview of the profession and practice of coaching, provides examples of coaching relationships, skill building exercises, worksheets and exercises to use with clients. Four advanced courses are also available. Both introductory and advanced courses are pre-requisites for the certification programme during which it is necessary to undertake one-to-one coaching with a Certified Practising Co-active Coach.

The workshops are facilitated jointly by the US founders and their UK based associates. These experiential workshops are limited in size to enhance learning. Their book, Co-Active Coaching, provides an excellent overview.

UK representatives of CTI, in addition to UK based coaches who have completed the training, are happy to have a no obligation discussion about the course structure and benefits. This is a US based company and, as with most training providers, their style will suit some and not others, so the opportunity to discuss the process before making a commitment is very useful in making a personal choice about what is right for you.

The structure of training in which it is encouraged to have a Co-Active Coach, particularly for those in the certification programme means that when students have graduated, they have a potential supply of clients as new students join. With the increasing number of people interested in becoming coaches this seems to represent a significant proportion of income for graduates of the programme.

There are no formal entrance requirements for those entering the workshop programme. Any person wishing to undertake coach training is accepted upon payment of course fees. Entry onto the formal certification process is dependent on completion of the se workshops, maintaining a minimum of five paying clients and employing a professional coach.

In 1999 two introductory workshops held in the autumn were followed up with three 'advanced' workshops from December through to February 2000. We have been informed that more workshops will be available in the autumn of 2000, pending finalisation of arrangements with new UK hosts.

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Disclaimer

The Coaching & Mentoring Network endeavours to maintain accurate and up-to-date information about the programmes described here. However, we cannot accept any responsibility for any inaccurate or misleading information contained within these pages or the website as a whole. We strongly recommend prospective training delegates to contact the training provider direct and to satisfy themselves of the course quality and suitablity. Please contact Pauline Willis on +44(0)870 733 3313 or paulinew@coachingnetwork.org.uk if you need any further assistance.