The Certificate in Personnel Practice (CPP) is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Attend Academy have been working in partnership with the CIPD to develop a CPP programme suitable for those managing volunteers. Those completing the course qualify for ‘Associate’ membership of the CIPD.
How the programme is delivered:
The programme involves:
- 10 days workshop attendance (two blocks of five days that are four months apart)
- Approximately eight months duration in total
- Three written assignments and two skills assessments
Who it is suitable for:
The programme is suitable for:
- Those new to volunteer management, and seeking to develop key skills and knowledge
- Those responsible for delivery of volunteering programmes who are seeking formal recognition of their experience with a professional body
- Those preparing for a new role in volunteer management
- Both paid staff and volunteers with responsibility for managing volunteers (NB it is also suitable for those responsible for managing both volunteers and paid staff)
Resources issued
- All professional training & assessment
- Course materials
- Telephone help-line
- On-line resources
- A CIPD accredited qualification
- Initial life-time registration with the CIPD
- Enthusiasm and encouragement
Assessment
There are no exams, and the course is assessed through:
- Two written assignments (2000 words)
- Two skills assignments (completed during the workshops)
- A management report (3500 words)
- A management report proposal (relating to above report)
All work is assessed by Attend Academy. The CIPD also moderate a selection of written assignments, although this is to monitor marking standards, and does not affect the original mark awarded to students.
Induction
The induction to the programme is incorporated into the first workshop.
Day 1 - Introduction to people management
- The development of people management
- Roles involved in people management
- Information management and people management
- Human resource planning
NB The induction to the programme is incorporated into the first workshop.
Day 2 - Systematic recruitment & selection/matching
- Equal opportunities and diversity
- The systematic recruitment process
- Role analysis
Day 3 - Systematic recruitment & selection/matching (cont.)
- Recruitment advertising
- Selection/matching
- Making a decision and offer
- Induction
Day 4 - Legislative issues
- Employment legislation: Impact on volunteer management
- Contract Law (distinction between employee and volunteer status)
- Dismissal/Exit strategies
- Health and safety
- Risk management
Day 5 - Essential skills in volunteer management
- Skills assignment 1 – interviewing
- Management report proposals
Day 6 - Training & development
- Attitudes and approaches to T&D and volunteering
- Developing a learning organisation
- Principles of learning
- Systematic training & development
- Training/learning needs analysis
- Design & delivery of training
- Evaluation of training
Day 7 - Enhancing volunteers’ contribution
- Motivation for volunteering
- Aligning people contribution
- Communicating objectives and standards
- Reviewing volunteer contribution
- Reward and recognition
Day 8 - Enhancing volunteers contribution
- Impact of external/internal factors on volunteering
- The influence of organisational culture on volunteer development
- Adapting T&D approaches to organisational culture
Day 9 - Introduction to employment relations
- An introduction to employment relations
- Causes of conflict
- Managing individual conflict
- Managing group conflict
Day 10 - Essential Skills in volunteer management
- Skills assignment 2 - training delivery
For applications please email academy@attend.org.uk
What is the nature of the support provided?
“The tutor was supportive, professional and gave good assistance with assignments”
“Feedback always prompt and assistance constructive and useful“
“Relationships formed with other delegates during the workshops proved to be an invaluable support”
“The out-of-hours contact was particularly useful as not easy for me to study between 9 & 5”
How relevant was the CIPD course?
“Each subject area was directly linked to managing volunteers“
“The course helped me to validate some areas of volunteer management and develop others”
“It was useful to understand the HR remit and its interface with volunteers”
What was it like doing the assignments?
“It was initially daunting but amazed by the results!”
“Each assignment has changed working practices in some way”
“Because the assignments had to be tailored to my own situation, it allowed time to focus on relevant current issues”
“I have found my ability to write report has been developed as the course progressed”
Has the course helped to develop volunteer management practices?
“I have been able introduce volunteer reviews in a way that has been welcomed by volunteers”
“We are becoming more inclusive and positively celebrate the diversity of volunteers”
“Volunteer interviews are much more focused now and we are more able to select appropriate volunteers, which has resulted in better retention”
“The course has helped to reinforced where good practice was already in place”
Were there any unexpected benefits?
“I found that I was taken more seriously by colleagues, partly due to involving them in research I was doing to feed the assignments”
“The qualification is respected and practical nature of the management report raised my profile with staff”
“I found I was taken more seriously when job-hunting!”
True affinity and beyond - An outline of the philosophy of the program and an evaluation of the initial set of cohorts.
Free to feel good - An article that profiled this new initiative in People Management magazine
This section is examples of some of the work produced during the CPP course
Written Assignment 1 & 2
Work-based Project Proposal
Work-based Project Proposal
Work-based Project Reports