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The Professional Certificate in Public Sector Delivery is a professional qualification geared towards Civil Servants from diverse backgrounds and is run by Dod’s Parliamentary Communications and the House Magazine. The training programme is covered under two separate Training Framework Agreements that we have signed with Government, agreement numbers DWP/CPM/010/3042 and DWP/010/3039.

The course has been designed to cover the core competences required from Policy formulation to Delivery thereof. Trainees have to complete 6 'core' compulsory modules and then must chose 3 elective modules from a list of six options.

Module 1 Working with Ministers
Module 2 Getting Results: Policy Design and Presentation
Module 3 Helping Ministers to Explain and Defend Policy
Module 4 Working with the Legislature
Module 5 Project Management
Module 6 European Aspects of Public Sector Delivery

Elective Module 1 Leadership, Management and Negotiating Skills
Elective Module 2 Media Training
Elective Module 3 Presentation, Communication and Speech Writing
Elective Module 4 Advanced Project Management and Delivery
Elective Module 5 Working in the European Union
Elective Module 6 Public Sector Procurement

The course is taught at Professional level. The external award board consists of Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe, the Chief Executive of UniversitiesUK, Lord Norton of Louth, the Professor of Government at Hull University, Dr Nicholas Baldwin, Dean of Wroxton College, Matt Gokhool, Chief Executive of Huveaux Learning and Knowledge, and a Representative from the National School of Government.

Trainees will be required to attend a total of nine training days in Belfast. Trainees will have to complete a small exercise or piece of coursework after each of the first six modules. This should take approximately 1-2 hours work and will be completed in their own time. This course work doesn't count towards the final assessment, but is marked by my course tutor and is part of the learning experience. At the end of the 9 months, trainees will have to carry out an assessed project, demonstrating that the lessons and skills learnt over the course are transferable back into the trainees 'own world'. The course work is assessed internally, and the External Board then assesses the work sent to them by the internal assessors. Successful candidates are then awarded the Professional Certificate in Public Sector Delivery

Dr Nigel Forman, a former Minister for Education. He also chairs the "Westminster Explained" seminars and is a guest lecturer at the National School of Government.

Martin Stanley, Chief Executive of The Competition Commission and Author of "How to be a Civil Servant"

George Oliver MBE, a former Senior Civil Servant and Chairman of "Westminster Explained." George is a recognised expert in Parliamentary training and a guest lecturer at the National School of Government.

Tim Williams, Former Parliamentary Clerk at the DTI, Associate lecturer at the National School of Government.

Martyn Bond, former Head of the UK European Parliament Office.

Ian Lawson, from the Work Foundation

Geoff Langsdon, former Civil Servant working in Health and Social Security and guest lecturer at the National School of Government.

Hugh Lennon, former Civil Servant at the MOD and guest Lecturer at the National School of Government.

National School of Government lecturers will be handling the Project Management or Procurement modules.

We also have a number of members from both Houses of Parliament involved. In the past these have included Rt Hon Tony Benn, Ferdinand Mount (former Head of Margaret Thatcher’s Policy Unit), Hon Gwyneth Dunwoody MP, Rt Hon John Redwood, Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe MP, Lord Rennard OBE)

From the academic world expert speakers have included Professor Colin Talbot, Professor of Public Policy at Manchester University, Professor Dennis Kavanagh, from the University of Liverpool, and Professor Andrew Massey, from the University of Portsmouth.

The media training has been handled by Nicholas Comfort, journalist and author; John Turnbull from the BBC; Eryl Price-Davies, a specialist Media Trainer and Clare Gorham, broadcaster and journalist.

The Professional Certificate in Public Sector Delivery is the first part of a three tier professional qualification offered by the House Magazine in conjunction with Wroxton College and Fairleigh Dickinson University . The second level will be awarded by Wroxton College and the third level, which is a Master’s Degree, will be awarded by Fairleigh Dickinson University .

Delegates who have participated and successfully completed the PCPSD course (pending other university requirements being satisfied) are eligible to take the remaining three credit course, resulting in their being awarded the University’s Certificate (Diploma level) upon successful completion of the course.

The remaining three credit course would be taught under the jurisdiction of the University and delivered through a blended course comprising on-line and a 2 day residential seminar at Wroxton College in Oxfordshire. This would comprise a minimum of 45 contact hours, which is a State accreditation requirement.

Delegates who wish to proceed further upon successful completion of the University Certificate (Diploma) will be eligible to take a further 18 graduate credits (6 three credit courses at 45 hours each) through a blended or on-line delivery to receive the University’s Master of Administrative Science Degree.