Educational Psychology Training Award Scheme For Doctorate in Educational, Child & Adolescent Psychology Queen's University Belfast

Transcription

1 Educational Psychology Training Award Scheme For Doctorate in Educational, Child & Adolescent Psychology Queen's University Belfast TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1.0 Definitions In these Conditions the following terms have the following meanings: Course Director means Dr Harry Rafferty or other such person appointed by the University. DECAP Course means Doctorate in Educational, Child and Adolescent Psychology at Queen s University Belfast. Lead Supervisor means an Educational Psychologist nominated within an education and library board to supervise the Trainee. placement organisation means an Education and Library Board or such other organisation nominated by the University where a Trainee undertakes a work placement. SEELB means the South Eastern Education and Library Board. Training Award means: (1) Queen s University Belfast tuition fees, (2) Bursary, and (3) approved travelling and conference expenses. Trainee means a student in receipt of a Training Award University means Queen s University Belfast. 2.0 Interpretation: The interpretation and construction of these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the following provisions: words importing the singular meaning including where the context so admits the plural meaning and vice versa. words importing the masculine include the feminine and the neuter. headings shall not affect the construction of these Terms and Conditions.

2 3.0 Purpose of Training Award All funding for the training of educational psychologists at the University is made available from the Northern Ireland education budget and is done so to secure the supply of Educational Psychologists to enable the Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland to fulfil their statutory duties in relation to children with special educational needs. To be eligible for a Training Award, Trainees must as a minimum: (a) (b) (c) (d) Possess an honours degree in Psychology or such other qualification which in the opinion of the British Psychological Society (BPS) provides the Graduate Basis for Chartered Status (GBC) as a member of the BPS. Have a clear police check in respect of offences or convictions which would make a candidate unsuitable for work with children or young people or people with learning disabilities. Have obtained a place on the DECAP Course at Queen s University Belfast. Undertake to apply, from the date of the commencement of the final year of the training course and for a period of 3 years following successful completion of the DECAP Course, for all educational psychology posts for which they are eligible within any of the Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland or any statutory successor body and if successful in obtaining a post, work for one or other of the Education and Library Boards for a period of three years following the date of commencement of employment. The provision of a Training Award does not imply the guarantee of employment on completion of training. In the event that the Training Award is not made available for the second and third years of the DECAP Course, the above requirement to apply for posts and to work for a Education and Library Board for three years will not apply. This requirement will extend to any body or bodies which may replace existing Education and Library Boards. (e) Be eligible to work in Northern Ireland. 4.0 Source of Funding The funding for your Training Award is made available by the Department of Education (Northern Ireland) to the five education and library boards. During the tenure of the award the Department of Education as the source of funding should be acknowledged if you are publishing articles, presenting papers, accepting prizes etc. The South Eastern Education and Library Board is responsible for administering on behalf of the education and library boards the Educational Psychology Training Award Scheme and ensuring probity of public expenditure. The SEELB reserves the right to withdraw your Training Award and to require the repayment of all payments made in connection with the award if any information provided by a funded Trainee relating to eligibility is later found to be inaccurate.

3 5.0 Duration of Training Award ( ) This Training Award is to cover the period 1 st September st August Financial support for the periods September 2014 August 2015, September 2015 August 2016 The Department of Education (Northern Ireland) may make available funding to the South Eastern Education and Library Board to provide financial support for Trainees in Years 2 and 3 of the Doctorate in Educational, Child and Adolescent Psychology (DECAP) course but this cannot be guaranteed. To be eligible for consideration for financial support in Years 2 and 3 Trainees must, as a minimum, have successfully completed Years 1 and 2 respectively. 6.0 Value of Training Award The Training Award for the year covers University tuition fees, a bursary to cover maintenance paid monthly approved travelling expenses for practical placement on terms to be designated and expenses up to for approved conference/study visit expenses. The bursary element of the Training Award for this coming academic year (September 2013 August 2014) is 15, National Insurance Contributions and Superannuation These are not included in the monthly bursary payment. It is recommended that Trainees should seek independent advice regarding these. 8.0 Working hours The DECAP Course demands full time study and working by Trainees. Working hours are as required by the University and by placement Lead Supervisors and by work submission dates. Trainees should expect to have to work flexibly, depending on course demands, workload and the requirement of private study. Trainees will be required to attend outside normal office hours and beyond normal term times. The base at which the Trainee performs his duties under this Agreement shall be Queen s University Belfast and such other work placement locations as the Course Director shall from time to time direct within Northern Ireland. The Trainee shall in the performance of his duties travel to such place or places within Northern Ireland as the Course Director and or Lead Supervisors may from time to time direct. 9.0 Study Duty The Trainee shall as part of his duties attend the DECAP Course diligently and apply the whole of his energies during the DECAP Course to the acquisition of the skills and knowledge taught or otherwise made available in connection with the DECAP Course and to the successful achievement of all work, tests and examination and placements set in connection with the DECAP Course.

4 The Trainee agrees that the South Eastern Education and Library Board may inquire of any institution or tutor as to the progress and attendance of the Trainee at the DECAP Course and as to the result of any examination Supervision During the period of training, the Course Director shall be considered to be the Trainee's supervisor. While on placement this supervision may be shared with a designated Lead Supervisor Leave Trainees will be entitled to 25 days leave per annum plus 12 statutory holidays. The leave year is from 1 st September to 31 st August. Leave may only be taken at a time approved by the Course Director. Untaken leave cannot be carried forward from one year of study to the next and no payment shall be made to the Trainee at the end of the study year if the Trainee s leave entitlement for that year has not been taken Travelling and Conference Expenses The Trainee is not entitled to claim expenses unless expressly authorised by the Course Director. If the Trainee has been authorised to do so and has incurred expenses, the Trainee will be reimbursed only on the presentation of original receipts, vouchers or other evidence of actual payment, as required by the Course Director and or the South Eastern Education and Library Board Payment of Expenses is made at the end of each month, and claims not submitted by the end of the month immediately after that in which they are incurred will be disallowed Illness Trainees who are ill should always, on the first day of illness, notify the Course Director through the Course Administrator or Course Secretary and when on placement the Lead Supervisor. On return after illness, a Sickness Absence Report form (Form SAR 1 available from the Course Administrator) must be completed. For absence in excess of 7 days, a Medical Certificate must be forwarded to the Course Administrator and a further certificate in each successive week of absence. Absence other than illness will need to be approved by the Course Director in advance, except in case of emergency. Where the absence is for some other reason other than illness or injury, the Trainee shall supply such evidence about the absence and its cause as the Course Director may from time to time reasonably require Other Work The Training Award is provided for full time study and you must not therefore be engaged in any employment (paid or voluntary) which may affect your ability to carry out full time study. Prior consent of the Course Director should be obtained before any other employment is undertaken.

5 The Trainee shall not use or otherwise turn to his advantage his knowledge of or any connection with any of the clients of placement organisations so as to take any direct or indirect advantage of the business and other connections of the placement organisation except for their advantage Continuity of training It is expected that the 3 years of training will be continuous. Any breaks in training will have to be justified and will normally only be allowed in cases of: Maternity Leave Certificated sickness Some other unavoidable emergency (agreed as such by the Course Director) Training Award payments will normally be suspended from the end of the month following the approved break in training. Following an approved break in training, the Trainee will be expected to resit the year or if granted permission that part of the year which has been missed. When a funded Trainee resumes the DECAP Course after an approved break, the Training Award or any element of the Training Award may continue until the end of the current funding period, at the discretion of the SEELB. In the case of resumption after an approved break, the number of bursary or other payments may be greater than 12 so as to allow the Trainee to finish the affected year of the training programme. These payments will resume at the discretion of the SEELB and will be subject to the availability of funding. Funding cannot be guaranteed Withdrawals: If a Trainee chooses to withdraw from the DECAP Course the Trainee shall immediately cease to be entitled to any further Training Award payments and shall be required to repay the SEELB all previous Training Award payments made up to the date of withdrawal which for the avoidance of doubt includes all University tuition fees, bursary payments, travelling and course expenses In the case of a Trainee at risk of Failure There is an agreed university structure which deals with Trainees who are at risk of failure. These may include any or all of the following: Formal Review of Progress (by the DECAP team) Board of Examiners Progress Review Committee (by the School of Psychology) Fitness to Practise Procedures (by the University) University Appeals In the case of a Trainee at risk of Failure, the Course Director may require the Trainee to attend a Progress Review Committee, in compliance with University Procedures.

6 18.0 University Requires Trainee to Withdraw If, following the University Procedures, the University determines that the Trainee shall be required to withdraw from the DECAP Course for any reason other than poor attendance without reasonable cause, the Trainee will immediately cease to be entitled to any further Training Award payments. The Trainee shall be required to repay to the SEELB all previous Training Award payments made up to the date of withdrawal which for the avoidance of doubt includes all University tuition fees, bursary payments, travelling and conference expenses, save where the Course Director recommends to the SEELB that the obligation to repay the Training Award should be waived and the SEELB accepts the Course Director s recommendations Failure to fulfil DECAP Course attendance requirements In the case of poor attendance without reasonable cause, the Trainee shall be required to withdraw from the DECAP Course. The Trainee shall immediately cease to be entitled to any further Training Award payments, and shall be required to repay the SEELB all previous Training Award payments made up to the date of withdrawal which for the avoidance of doubt includes all University tuition fees, bursary payments, travelling and conference expenses Interest If the Training Award shall not be repaid on or before the date fixed for repayment, then interest at the rate of 6% above the UK clearing bank base lending rate as fixed from time to time by the Bank of England shall run from the date repayment was due on the amount of Training Award owed until the day of actual repayment.

7 Trainee Educational Psychologists Training Award Contract I (person s name) of (insert home address) confirm that to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information I have provided to the University and the SEELB is true and complete. If it is not, I understand I might be refused the Training Award or prosecuted and my Training Award withdrawn. I agree to give the University and the SEELB any information they require to process my application and agree to tell them immediately if my circumstances change in any way that might affect my entitlement to the Training Award. I understand that if I do not do this, I may not receive any further payments, and may have to repay the Training Award I have already received. I agree that in the event of receiving an overpayment of Training Award, I am obligated to repay this in full and I agree that such overpayment may be recovered by deduction from any future entitlement to Training Award. 1. I have read and understood the document entitled Educational Psychology Training Awards Terms and Conditions, hereinafter referred to as the Terms and Conditions. 2. I acknowledge, accept and agree that any Training Award made to me by the SEELB (which includes any person exercising functions on behalf of SEELB) will be on the terms set out in the Terms and Conditions including these declarations. 3. I agree and undertake to apply for all Educational Psychologist posts for which I am eligible within the Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland* during my final training year of the DECAP Course and for a period of three years following successful completion of the DECAP Course and, if successful in obtaining a post, I undertake to work for an Education and Library Board* for a period of three years following the date of commencement of my employment. Any absences, save for annual leave, will not count towards the computation of the said three year period. 4. I agree that in the event that I have satisfactorily completed the first year of the DECAP Course and I am eligible to proceed to the second and or third year of the DECAP Course and the Training Award is not made available for the second and third years of the DECAP Course, the requirements (set out in 3 above) to apply for posts and to work for in Education and Library Boards for three years, shall cease to apply. If I were, in these circumstances, to withdraw from the DECAP Course after the first or second year, there shall be no obligation to repay the first or second year Training Award.

8 5. I acknowledge and agree that if I withdraw from the DECAP course I shall repay to the SEELB all Training Award payments made up to the date of my withdrawal together with all interest and all costs (including legal expenses) incurred. 6. I acknowledge and agree that if I am required by the University to withdraw from the DECAP course due to my poor attendance without reasonable cause, I shall repay to the SEELB all Training Award payments made up to the date of my withdrawal together with all interest and all costs (including legal expenses) incurred. 7. I acknowledge and agree that if I am required to withdraw from the DECAP course by the University for any reason other than poor attendance without reasonable cause I shall repay to the SEELB all Training Award payments made up to the date of my withdrawal together with all interest and all costs (including legal expenses) incurred unless the SEELB releases me from this obligation. 8. I acknowledge and agree that in the event that: I fail to apply for any Educational Psychologist posts for which I am eligible for within the Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland during my final training year of the DECAP course and for a period of three years following successful completion of the DECAP course, or I fail having obtained such a post to work for an Education and Library Board for a period of three years following the date of commencement of my employment I shall repay and reimburse the SEELB any Training Award made to me in accordance with the following scale: Failure to Apply for Post as an Educational Psychologist within Education and Library Boards in time scale referred above Failure to complete three years of employment as an Educational Psychologist within an Educational Library Board from date of commencement of employment. Period in which employment ends: between 0 12 months after commencement of employment between months after commencement of employment between months after commencement of employment between months after commencement of employment between months after commencement of employment After the third year mentioned above Whole Whole* 90%* 80%* 60%* 50%* Nil Proportion of Training Award to be Reimbursed

9 *together with all and any interest which may apply and all costs (including legal expenses incurred). I understand that I shall not be liable to make any repayment under this Agreement if my employment is terminated as a result of dismissal by the employer other than on grounds on which the employer became entitled to and did terminate my employment summarily. 9. I agree that any Training Award made as a consequence of the acceptance of my application for a Training Award by the SEELB is a contract between me and the SEELB which binds me from the payment to me of any element of the Training Award and that the repayment of any such Training Award together with all and any interest which may apply and all costs (including legal expenses incurred) will be due by me to the SEELB as a debt. 10. I agree that any action for repayment and/or in respect of or in connection with my Training Award and/or all and any interest, penalties and charges which apply, will be brought before the ordinary civil courts in Northern Ireland and shall be governed by the general rules of civil procedure as applicable in Northern Ireland. 11. I agree that my request for a Training Award, the Training Award and the contract between me and the SEELB shall be governed by the law of Northern Ireland. 12. I agree that from the date I submit this form until such times as I am no longer obliged to repay the costs of the Training Award, I will notify SEELB of any changes in my personal details (including National Insurance Number) and contact details I have provided. 13. In the event that I leave the United Kingdom to reside outside the United Kingdom or that for any other reason I am outside the UK tax system, I undertake to provide the SEELB or any statutory successor with my new and any subsequent contact details until any obligation to repay the Training Award, together with all and any interest, penalties and charges which apply ceases. 14. I understand that the SEELB will check my National Insurance Number and personal details with the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland or the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). If I do not know my National Insurance Number, or if the number I provide cannot be authenticated, the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland/DWP will trace and give my number to the SEELB. 15. If I have broken the terms of this contract I agree that the SEELB may share information held about me with any person, including the government or a government agency of another country, the Health Professions Council or any successor body who may assist in establishing my whereabouts and/or in taking action to recover any Training Award paid to me.

10 Name Printed Signature Date *South Eastern Education and Library Board Southern Education and Library Board Belfast Education and Library Board Northern Education and Library Board Western Education and Library Board Or any statutory body or bodies which replace the said Boards.