The CIPD Foundation Certificate in Human Resource Practice is designed for those who want specialist Human Resource Management (HRM) knowledge combined with practical skills development. Successful completion of the programme leads to the IPA Certificate in Human Resource Management Practice and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Foundation Level Certificate in Human Resource Practice.

A key feature of this programme is that it is highly practical allowing participants ample opportunity to acquire and practice new skills. This programme will specifically address the key HRM challenges of the "Transforming Public Services" modernisation agenda.

The programme is also designed to reflect the CIPD HR Profession Map, with successful completion giving you the underpinning knowledge for the new CIPD Associate professional level of membership (Assoc CIPD). This is a new professional grade of membership recognising the skill, knowledge and approach needed to make a significant supporting contribution, and deliver excellent results in the workplace.

Who Should Attend?

This Certificate is ideally suited to:

• Staff who have recently moved into the field of Human Resource Management
• Line Managers and Supervisors to whom HRM responsibility has been devolved
• Staff eager to update their HRM knowledge and skills
• Those wishing to pursue a career in Human Resource Management
• Those wishing to pursue CIPD Membership.

Objectives

The overall objective of this certificate programme is to help participants develop as effective HRM practitioners and utilise the key skills required in this specialist area. At the end of the programme participants will have:

• A greater awareness of the organisational context of HRM
• An understanding of the key issues that impact on HRM
• Practiced and developed, under expert guidance, a range of skills relevant to HRM
• Increased their knowledge of the legal, economic, environmental, social, technological and labour related developments that impact on the HRM field.

Content

This Certificate programme covers the following areas:

• Organisational Context of the HRM Function
• Key Personal Skills/Competencies for HRM Practitioners
• HRM in the Public Sector - Implications of "Transforming Public Services" change agenda
• Recording, Analysing and Utilising Information
• Performance & Development and Reward Management
• Human Resource Planning
• Recruitment & Selection Policies and Procedures
• Skills in Recruitment and Selection Interviewing
• The Public Appointments Service - its role and services
• Induction and Probation
• Employee Relations
• Employment Law.

Delivery, Duration and Location

The course is delivered by way of blended learning. Participants will be provided with access to workbooks, action learning sets, podcasts, videos and an interactive web site and will be required to attend a minimum of 8 days of workshops over the period October 2011 to May 2012.

Attendance at the action learning set meetings is a central requirement if participants are to maximise their opportunities for learning. These meetings are to be scheduled by members of the action learning set to take place for 3 hours each between each Unit Workshop – 6 in total. Most employers recognise the value of these meetings in the blended approach to programme delivery and allow participants time for travel to and attend at such meetings.

Participants will be assigned an individual tutor who will support the participants as they progress through the programme. Participants will be required to have an email address and internet access. Workshops will take place at the Institute of Public Administration in Dublin but can also be delivered in-house or on a regional basis.

Workshop Dates

Accreditation and Assessment

The Certificate in Public Sector HRM Practice is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). There is no written examination for this programme. Assessment is by means of unit assignments, a combination of which are written and skills based and subject to classroom / workshop verification and assessment.

Programme fee

The fee per participant will be €2,200. Where 3 or more participants from the same organisation enrol on the programme a 10% discount will apply. The fee includes attendance at workshops, all IPA course materials, tutor support and refreshments. Individual CIPD membership fees are separate from the programme fee.

Membership of the CIPD

While studying for ‘Certificate in Human Resource Management Practice’ participants must join as student members of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Successful completion of the CIPD Certificate in Human Resource Practice, in addition to relevant work-based experience, will enable participants to apply for new Associate level membership of the CIPD. Participants will be encouraged and equipped throughout the programme to be application ready for the upgrading process. On attaining associate membership status participants will be entitled to use the “Assoc CIPD” designation.