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Specialised Practitioner Training CoursesSpecialised Tutor Training Courses
The Social and Health Education Project has developed a range of Practitioner Training Courses. These provide advanced training in the specialist application of facilitation skills and are intended especially for those who wish to be able to offer developmental supports in the community. Normally, completion of the Generic Facilitation Skills Course (or its equivalent) will be considered an entry requirement for any of the Practitioner Training Courses. Places on these courses are limited and participants will be interviewed prior to selection. In allocating places, consideration will be given to trainer-assessments.
Specialised Tutor Training Courses
The Specialised Tutor Training Courses offered by the Project cover the information content appropriate to different types of community course, along with the required skills for course delivery.
Specialised Tutor Training courses have so far been developed in the following areas:
Only some of these courses can be offered each year, the selection being made on the basis of the prevalence of specific problems in the community, the requirements of community course organisers and the interests of prospective community tutors.
In addition to course work, tutor training involves a supervised apprenticeship in which each trainee co-facilitates a community course with an experienced community tutor.
Specialised Tutor Training Courses provide participants with an opportunity for the further development of their facilitation skills, as well as of the skills specific to the design and delivery of training courses.
The aim of the courses is to build the capacity of participants to design and safely deliver effective entry-level training courses in social and health education in community settings. At the same time as developing their theoretical understanding, participants are expected to be prepared to explore and work on personal issues related to the topic-area of the specific course they are undertaking.
A variety of training methodologies are used in the delivery of the Specialised Tutor Training Courses, including formal teaching, practice sessions and structured project assignments.
Some written work is generally required of participants undertaking these courses.[1] They are required to prepare and present short inputs on relevant material. They must also design, write-up and facilitate experiential learning sessions. Participants are asked to record their learning during the course in a personal learning journal. While this journal is private, at the end of the course participants are required to present to the trainers a Learning Progress Report in which they give an account of their major learnings. Towards the end of the course-work there is a self-, peer- and trainer-assessment of each participant’s readiness to go on to the apprenticeship component of the course. Those who proceed to this part of the training are responsible for identifying a group to which they can deliver training. Project staff then nominate an experienced tutor to work alongside each apprentice. During their apprenticeships, arrangements are made for apprentices to receive periodic supervision.[2]
A final trainer-assessment takes place following the apprenticeship component of the course. Those who successfully complete both the course-work and apprenticeship components of a Specialised Tutor Training become eligible to register as Community Tutors with The Social and Health Education Project and to deliver courses through its Community Training Programme.
Specialised Tutor Training Courses generally involve between eighty and eighty-five hours of group-work, spread over around twenty weekly sessions, and at least two week-end workshops. Participants also spend additional time in small learning groups.
Integrated Specialised Tutor Training Course
In addition to Specialised Tutor Training Courses with a single topic focus, an extended Integrated Specialised Tutor Training programme is available through which participants are prepared for the delivery of a range of community courses, including Introduction to Personal Development, Assertive Communication for Better Relationships and Managing Stress in Our Daily Lives. This substantial course runs over 15 months and consists of weekly evening sessions of 2½ hours (around 47 sessions in all), as well as 7 weekend workshops (each comprising 2 x 7 hours) and 8 weekend day workshops of 7 hours (Saturdays or Sundays). Participants are also expected to undertake a total of 44 hours of collaborative study, design and practice work in small groups.
Specialised Community Advocate Training Course
This training programme was originally developed to prepare participants for work as volunteers with the Cork Older People’s Advocacy Service. The course helps participants to develop the skills needed for determining and addressing the information and service needs of disadvantaged or vulnerable people through personal contact and appropriate interaction with established service providers.
The course consists of 20 weekly morning sessions of 2½ hours and a short placement experience. A variety of training methodologies is used during this course, including formal teaching, talks from visiting resource people, experiential exercises and skills practice sessions. A limited amount of written work is required of participants undertaking this course.[3]
Specialised Training in Organisational Development Mentoring with Community and Voluntary Groups
The Specialised Training in Organisational Development Mentoring with Community and Voluntary Groups is provided for those who wish to develop the skills required to support organisations working for worthwhile social ends. The aim of the course is to prepare previously trained facilitators with the knowledge, skills and awareness to enhance the capacity of organisations in the community and voluntary sector for values-based participatory governance and effective programme delivery. The course will combine formal teaching elements with a collaborative, participative and experiential learning design.
Key areas covered in the course will be:
The course will be assessed using a combination of personal, peer and trainer reviews and set course assignments. Participants who successfully complete the programme will be eligible to apply to join SHEP’s panel of organisational development mentors and to work through the Project’s Community Governance Enhancement Programme.
The course involves 31 weekly evening sessions (7.30–10.00pm) and 8 weekend days (10.00am–5.00pm). Course participants will also form small learning groups meeting at least once monthly. Special arrangements will be sensitively put in place for participants who experience literacy difficulties. [2] The cost of supervision sessions is not included in the initial cost of the course. [3] Special arrangements will be sensitively put in place for participants who experience literacy difficulties. |
