ARA is committed to staff training and development, and in 2008 was re-accredited the Investors in People standard, confirming that it is fully committed to developing staff and understands the positive impact investment has on staff.

Typically, ARA spends £500 per employee per year, compared to an average of £375 per employee in other voluntary sector organisations (CIPD 2007).

Our approach to training has three dimensions:

- Learning and Development
To ensure that staff have the relevant competencies to successfully perform their role, staff will be supported to undertake relevant training.

- Qualification Support and Study Leave
ARA will support staff through funding and/or time off to develop their skills over and above those required for their work; this may include obtaining advanced qualifications.

- Personal Development
ARA will support staff as part of its retention approach in undertaking studies not directly linked to their work, either through more flexible work arrangements or unpaid time off.

A

A

- Therapeutic Development

Effective practise as a counsellor requires in ARA’s view, a period of personal therapy. Therefore, ARA will assist Counselling staff financially to undergo individual therapy as a means to improving their effectiveness in the workplace.

N.B. This applies to therapeutic staff only.
Aa

- External Clinical Supervision

A

External Clinical Supervision in line with the British Association of Counsellors and
Psychotherapists’ guidelines is provided for all staff employed in Counselling posts.

A

- Traineeships
A

ARA provides trainee placements, as well as working in partnership with other
agencies including CEED (Centre for Employment and Enterprise Development).

a