Incredible Years Accreditation Process and Cost

Why become accredited?

 The accreditation process is considered to be of value for the many reasons;

 The process maximizes the quality of the performance of the group leader. It is believed that certified leaders implementing the full program will achieve results similar to those in the published literature.

 The process is considered part of the training process in that the leader will get feedback from participants and peers on his/her leadership ability.

 The accreditation as a Group Leader will grant listing as a Certified Group Leader with the Incredible Years centre. Incredible Years will promote accredited Group Leaders for potential employment as a leader of groups. Plus the accreditation is a benefit for your CV

 Accredited leaders will be invited to the Incredible Years workshops that update the program materials and provide a forum for sharing ideas with other group leaders.

 Additionally, accreditation grants eligibility for training in the advanced course in parent group leadership and/or an invitation to continue training to become an Incredible Years Certified Mentor of group leaders.

The process requirements

1) Attending a 3 day incredible years course (early years or school aged- for baby incredible years it is a 2 day workshop)

2) Following this training, conduct at least two groups; (50% of parents to have finished the groups; minimum of 6 parents completing the group). For the early years and toddler groups the protocol is a minimum 14 sessions for preventions and for school aged it is a minimum of 12 sessions

3) Complete the paperwork (see below).

4) Receive feedback on two group sessions by a certified mentor or trainer ( DVD review and assessment)

 £100 for the first DVD review – this will be the first mentors feedback report ( this takes normally around 3 hours to view and brief report given  £200.00 for the accreditation assessment DVD (they usually take about 5hrs to view the tape and write the more detailed report) This will be the mentors second report  Paperwork then sent to Seattle – charge $150 ( about £97) This is separate from the Ministry of Parenting so you will receive an invoice from The incredible years in dollars, so there will be a wiring cost via bank – if this is a problem please inform us and we can explore payment options

 Postage to US is about £57 ( group leader to arrange )

Expected cost (excluding US wiring) is £454 – however if DVD does not pass on accreditation assessment or the DVD is suitable due to IT issues , then additional reviews may be required

To reduce the cost;

 Please look at the DVD before you send it to make sure the sound is good quality. Check it against the Leader Collaborative Process Checklist - in manual

 Please make sure the DVD is formatted so it will play on another lap top

 Supervision is expected to of been undertaken and will support the accreditation process enormously –7 supervision per sessions per group programme is ideal but if this is not possible peer supervision and clinical reflection using the weekly check lists will help

 If in Essex, email [email protected] and arrange to meet for a coffee to review the paperwork/process – never charge for a coffee! If outside of Essex, find out when the mentor (Jeannie) is visiting your area for further trainings http://www.theministryofparenting.com/practitioners/trainings-outside-essex/ and request to meet after a training day – no cost to this.

 Any questions or unsure on anything email Jeannie.gordon@theministryof parenting.com

 Please read 'Becoming certified' on the web - www.incredibleyears.com for details of process Paperwork

The Paperwork requirement is like putting together a portfolio. Get a large A 4 file and section into 4 sections

Section one;

1) Application form; this is a short form stating your name address and qualifications - in manual and also on website http://www.incredibleyears.com/Certification/application.asp

2) Write a one page letter stating your experience in working with families, groups and your goals, plans and philosophy of parenting i.e.

The services I have worked in generally work with children aged 0- 5 therefore I am experienced in working with preschool age groups. My role involves…….

I have been involved in running groups for young children…..

Since qualifying as a ….. my interest has focused on supporting and empowering parents to understand and manage their children’s individual social, communication and emotional and behavioural needs ……

I completed my Incredible Years group leader training in …. my interest and passion for facilitating groups has developed… the incredible years training gave me a better understanding of group dynamics and processes and the principles have been invaluable in improving my confidence, leadership and facilitation skills. …

My goals as a group leader are to build parental confidence, self-esteem and efficacy in their parenting role, to normalize their children’s behaviours and their reactions to these so they can develop their relationships and enjoy and value the ‘incredible years’ and to reduce isolation …….

3) Provide two letters of reference – they need to be from professionals who know your clinical skills in working with families i.e. manger , work colleague ( not co leader or incredible years mentor)

4) The mentors /DVD reports; two are now required.

Section two and three the group’s paperwork; You are required to collect paperwork on 2 groups. For both groups you will need the following;

1) weekly checklist (the one where they indicate which vignettes they shown) plus you can also insert any additional session plans you have written as long as they reflect the fidelity of the session i.e. you may have planned for an extra group activity or created a new role play 2) Attendance list ( names can be marked out if concerned re confidentiality 3) Parent weekly evaluations, ( from the manual) – check the number matches the number on the attendance list 4) Incredible Years Parents Programme Satisfaction Questionnaire ( from manual) 5) Self-evaluation – this is the Peer and Self – evaluation form ( in manual) which you fill in on self 6) Peer evaluation - this is the Peer and Self – evaluation form ( in manual) which your co group leader fills in on you

Section four – this is optional but I would recommended you put in this extra section as it brings the portfolio to life  A photo of yourself

 Photos of where the group venue and the layout of the room - showing the refreshments – principles (gems) on the wall etc.

 Cards/ thank you letters from the parents

 Group photo of the parents with their certificates

 Photos of any additional resources i.e. you may of made a pig to enhance the “piggy bank “ metaphor

 Flyer for the group and/or any additional reports you have done on the groups

When you have the portfolio ready you need to send to;

Incredible Years 1411 8th Avenue West Seattle, WA 98119 USA

I would strongly advise that you photo copy the paperwork before sending in case it gets lost in the post plus email the incredible years to let them know it is on way

Send the paperwork recorded and by airmail as it is safer

Tips for a Successful DVD Review

 Review your DVD yourself with the Leader Collaborative Process Checklist (to make sure all aspects are covered).

 Send entire group session (with opening and closing session).

 Be sure your DVD shows you being group leader (and not just the group or co-leader).

 Identify you as the group leader to be reviewed and label the tape accordingly.  You must take responsibility for entire session so we can see you "in action" i.e. you introducing the topic, leading feedback, leading role plays etc.

 Your DVD should be labelled, identifying the program (Toddler, Preschool Basic, or School Age Basic)

 Do not send more than one DVD or send bits of different sessions

Common Incredible Year’s accreditation questions

• Can I use the old manual? All manuals were updated in 2008 - the old ones are still useable but the paperwork from the old manuals will not be accepted for the accreditation process

• Is the IY School Aged Training for Professionals working with Parents of Children aged 5-12 is the same course as the Incredible Years training course (for children aged 2-8 years)? The school aged training is NOT the same as the IY 2-8, the trainings and programmes were updated in 2008. If you have done the basic IY training pre 2008 or the early years 2-8 training then you can do the school aged programme but only up to 8 years only. The school aged training covers the ages 5- 9-12 years (the vigs are to that age group and the discussion topic relates more to the pre-teen issues). Also if you have already done the basic IY training pre 2008 or the early years 2-8 training early years 3 day training you DO NOT need to do the school aged 3 day course but only a one day up date . The Ministry of Parenting run these days in Colchester, Essex

• What is the difference between the updated programs and the old programs? Currently the revised and updated Preschool ( early years) and School Age BASIC programs include new topics on academic, persistence, social and emotional coaching as well as new content regarding predictability of daily routines and schedules for children and important developmental tasks of a particular age group. The Preschool BASIC program has substantial new content related to developmental tasks including ways to teach children to problem-solve, self-regulate and develop emotional literacy. The School Age BASIC program has additional content related to household chores, rules regarding computer use and drugs, after school monitoring and homework coaching. In addition to new content, there are also new vignettes showing a greater diversity of families representing different cultural backgrounds and children with varying temperaments and developmental issues. The Toddler program has been separated from the Preschool BASIC program in order to emphasize specific developmental tasks for this age range and home toddler-proofing one’s home, to promote Preschool Readiness and language skills and also to remove strategies inappropriate for this age range (e.g., incentives, time- out and problem solving). Again, added multicultural vignettes are provided and new activities for toddlers include less costly everyday items such as kitchen utensils, pots and pans, water and rocks.

• I am trained in more than one parent program; is it acceptable to combine parents of children of different ages in the same group? It is important that groups are not comprised of parents of children ages ranging from 0-12 years. Separate groups should be recruited for the baby program (babies 6 months or younger at first meeting), toddler program (ages 1-2 ½ years), preschool program (3- 6 years), early school age (6-8 years) and preadolescence (9-12 years). Each of these programs focuses on the major developmental tasks of these specific age groups and helps parents learn about normal development and to have age appropriate expectations and discipline strategies. While families will have other children of different ages and group leaders will help them learn strategies for these children as well, the main focus of the training is on one specified age range. Combining strategies for older children with younger children can be confusing for parents and they may start to mix up strategies in developmentally inappropriate ways. In order to assure the soundest learning, it strongly recommended that the training remain more focused on one developmental age and not become too complex.

. Do co-facilitators need to be IY trained? It would be better if they were and the outcomes would be better.

Could two group leaders co-facilitate together and that group be used by two group leaders for accreditation? Yes definitely- They can use the same group paperwork but need to submit individual DVD’s for review and assessment DVD of them group (showing them as group leader)

Does the accreditation paperwork for 2 groups have to be on the same programme? Yes with the only exception being you can do a 12 week school aged (for under 8’s) and a 14 week early years