Professional Diploma in Advanced Restorative Practice

Professional Diploma in Advanced Restorative Practice

Restorative Approaches have been used to great effect in the Criminal Justice System, and are now rapidly expanding into many diverse fields; creating exciting career opportunities, and driving the need for qualified and experienced practitioners.

With wide application in almost every field, Restorative Practice helps professionals to communicate, resolve conflict and support others more effectively, leading to more satisfying relationships at work and at home.

Developed and delivered by an award-winning team with an international reputation in the field, this professional qualification will equip you to be a passionate, capable and confident facilitator, and enable you to apply for Practitioner Registration with the profession's governing body, the Restorative Justice Council.

The course attracts students from a rich and diverse range of backgrounds, and equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare, assess and facilitate restorative processes, and embed restorative principles and practices into your day-to-day work.

The course will engage you in understanding the values, knowledge and skills underpinning effective restorative practices, while encouraging active reflection and critical enquiry throughout. You’ll be introduced to evidence-based approaches in relationship-building, problem-solving, mediation, negotiation, conflict resolution and de-escalation, in order to help others handle their own issues and achieve their own goals.

Who is the course aimed at?

Restorative Practice is employed in a wide range of settings, including the justice system, schools, hospitals, workplaces, residential settings, and neighbourhoods. The course focuses on the justice model of Restorative Practice in order to meet the requirements for Practitioner Registration with our professional body, the Restorative Justice Council. However the tools and techniques you'll learn can be applied in any setting. The course is particularly aimed at those working in the following professions, or those looking to develop or advance a career in these areas:

Restorative Practitioners, Police & Prison Officers, Probation & Youth Offending Officers, Social Workers, Anti-Social Behaviour Officers, Street Wardens, Housing & Environmental Health Officers, Youth & Community Workers, Voluntary Sector Workers, Teachers & Teaching Assistants, Doctors, Nurses, Residential Care Workers, Managers, HR Officers, Victim Workers, Counsellors, Coaches, Lawyers, Faith Groups, and recent graduates.

What qualifications will I achieve?

This course is available as either a:

• Level 3 Award in Understanding the Principles of Restorative Practice (1 yr, p/t), or a
• Level 4 Diploma in Restorative Practice (1-2 yrs, p/t)

Students who complete either qualification will also be awarded our own in-house diploma, the Justice Academy Professional Diploma in Advanced Restorative Practice, and are eligible to apply for Practitioner Registration with the Restorative Justice Council (subject to payment of RJC registration and renewal fees).

When

Both afternoon and evening options are available:

• Our evening course takes place every Tuesday during term-time (6-8.30pm) from October - June. The next course starts on 5 Oct 2021.
• Our afternoon course takes place every Tuesday during term-time (12-2.30pm) from Feb - Feb. The next course starts on 23 Feb 2021.

Where

Classes take place online (Zoom), which means wherever you are in the UK, you can join us using your computer or smartphone from the comfort of your own home. No more crowded trains, no traffics jams, no rushing back to pick the kids up. Simply grab a cuppa, put your feet up and relax while joining your friendly classmates - investing in your future has never been so convenient!

Course Length

1 or 2 years, part-time.

• In year one, you'll join us every Tuesday (during term-time) for 32 live & interactive online sessions. In addition to the Tuesday sessions, you'll also have a homework assignment to complete every other week (16 in total)...further details below.
• In your second year (Level 4 students only), we'll have 3 one-to-one meetings together to support you as you complete your casework journal. You can also dip into any of the online sessions you missed last year or would like a refresher on.

Please note, students with substantial experience and prior training can opt to bypass the taught course (Year 1) and advance straight to Year 2 in order to achieve the Level 4 Diploma, saving £570.

Syllabus (Year 1 Taught Course)

Unit 1: Restorative Values & Principles

1             Course Induction

2             What is Restorative Practice?

3             Crime – what’s the cause and what’s the cure?

4             Maintaining Discipline in Society - What Works?

5             Movie Night

6             Values & Principles A: The Basic Tenets of Restorative Practice

7             Values & Principles B: Values, Neuroscience & The Restorative Mindset

8             The Ideal Helper

9             Judgement A

10           Judgement B: Judgement Clearing Exercise

11           Mindful Communication A

12           Mindful Communication B

Unit 2: Restorative Interventions & Casework (Using the STING Model)

13          Planning & Preparation (Stage 1 Practice Checklist)

14          First Contact & Introductions (Stage 1 Practical Assessment)

15          History of Restorative Justice and Introduction to the STING Model

16          STING Steps 1 & 2 Skills Practice

17          STING Steps 3 & 4 Skills Practice

18          STING Step 5 Skills Practice, Restorative Options & Initial Meeting Script

19          Initial Meeting Skills Practice A (& Stage 2 Practice Checklist)

20          Initial Meeting Skills Practice B (& Stage 2 Practical Assessment)

21          Follow-up Meetings A (& Stage 3 Practice Checklist)

22          Follow-up Meetings B (& Stage 3 Practical Assessment)

23          Preparing for Restorative Meetings A

24          Preparing for Restorative Meetings B (Student Presentations)

25          Preparing for Restorative Meetings C (Assessing & Managing Risk)

26          Preparing for Restorative Meetings D (Stage 4 Practical Assessment)

27          Restorative Meeting Skills Practice A (& Stage 5 Practice Checklist)

28          Restorative Meeting Skills Practice B (& Stage 5 Practical Assessment)    

29          Restorative Meeting Skills Practice C (& Stage 5 Practical Assessment)    

30          Handling Difficulties: Conflict Resolution Skills & Reframing

31          Debrief, Evaluation & Monitoring (& Stage 6 Practical Assessment)

32          Next Steps & Unit 1-2 Evaluation

Entry Requirements

• All ages (18 and over) and levels of experience welcome
• No prior experience necessary
• As the Level 4 Diploma is a work-based qualification, it is important that Level 4 students are working or volunteering in a role that gives you the opportunity to facilitate restorative processes while undertaking the course. You are however welcome to start the course without this, and arrange a placement subsequently, while you train. If you would our help to locate a justice-based placement or volunteer opportunity, you can use our Placement Search service. For a one-off fee of £30, we will provide you with verified contact details for organisations in your area who may be able to offer you a volunteer placement. This service comes with a money-back guarantee, so if the contact details provided don't result in a placement, your £30 will be refunded.
• If you are unable to complete a placement for any reason, you will still receive the Level 3 Award and the Justice Academy Professional Diploma, and be able to register with the Restorative Justice Council.

For further information including course dates, booking and fees CLICK HERE

Delivered by: Justice Academy