Released on: 04 April 2012

NCT, the UK’s largest charity for parents, and the University of Worcester have joined forces to provide university-accredited training for those wanting to support parents in the transition to parenthood. NCT College admissions are open for courses beginning in September 2012.

The new training creates exciting opportunities for anyone with an ambition to build a rewarding career, supporting parents at a unique and important time in their lives, to become an NCT practitioner.

The courses allow students to learn flexibly through a mixture of tutorials, one-to-one time with tutors, self-directed study and online learning. With tutorials run across the UK and study days hosted regionally, students can complete the majority of their studies without the need to travel to Worcester – making the courses ideal for women with families looking to return to study and work in an equally flexible career.

In the climate of an ever-increasing birth rate and overstretched maternity services, there could not be a better time to build a fulfilling career as an NCT practitioner working alongside midwives and other health professionals to support new and expectant parents. As one of the UK’s largest network of practitioners working with new and expectant parents, students are supported to find work quickly and easily through the charity’s national operation.

NCT is well-known for the information and support it provides to parents through antenatal courses, breastfeeding counselling and facilitated postnatal groups, enabling them to feel more confident and prepared for their new role. The charity currently works with around 1,000 practitioners, and NCT and Worcester will now work together to train many more.

The new courses offer a varied syllabus on a range of topics of key importance to women and families, allowing students to choose build a career pathway according to their interests and aspirations.

The new Certificate of Higher Education – Birth and Beyond Practitioner, is the only university-accredited qualification for parenting education, and can be completed over one or two years. Qualifying students will be eligible to begin a year of probationary practice, delivering innovative Preparation for Birth and Beyond (PBB) courses based on the Department of Health’s new best practice antenatal framework.

Students can then choose from a range of modules from the Foundation Degree course – whether they want to train as an antenatal teacher, breastfeeding counsellor, postnatal leader or NCT Doula, run Yoga for Pregnancy classes or take more specialised modules such as 'Understanding the neonatal unit experience'. The Honours Degree is an option for those wishing to become tutors and train other NCT practitioners.

Clea Harmer, Education Manager at NCT, said: “We’re delighted to offer a range of new and exciting opportunities through NCT College. The probationary year of practice means that students can start earning an income as soon as possible, while ensuring they are well-supported and our high standards of teaching are maintained.

“Our partnership with the University of Worcester will ensure NCT College becomes a centre of excellence for training and research on all aspects of pregnancy, birth and parenthood, and will help NCT to reach more parents and parents-to-be through our courses.”

Professor Geoffrey Elliott Director of Regional Engagement at the University of Worcester, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to work with NCT to help parents in their transition to parenthood and will do all we can to help the country’s parents and children get off to the best possible start.”

For more information about the full range of courses on offer at NCT College, visit http://www.nct.org.uk/nct-college.

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