Managing with purpose: a CMI recognised course for voluntary sector managers

Building on a partnership established in 2019, SCVO and Challenges Catalyst are pleased to offer Chartered Management Institute (CMI) recognised training in management and leadership to SCVO member organisations and the voluntary sector.

This course provides the next step for managers looking to develop their skills and gain professional recognition to aid future career development, and build resilience and good practice within their organisation. Covering the key principles of management & leadership and managing team performance it provides managers with a well-rounded skill set and support network of peers in the sector.

This 6-session online course will be delivered via Zoom on:

• 30 January, 10am to 1pm - Part 1, Continuous Professional Development (CPD): peer-led reflection, individual diagnostic and goal-setting
• 31 January, 6 and 7 February, 10am to 1pm - Part 2, Principles of Leadership Practice
• 20 and 21 February, 10am to 1pm - Part 3, Managing team and individual performance

Participants will receive a CPD certificate in Management and Leadership from the CMI on completion.

The aim of the course is to build participants' skills in management and leadership and provide a space to discuss current practice and issues in order to learn from them. Course tutors, themselves experienced voluntary sector managers and expert facilitators, take a peer-led approach, facilitating the sharing of experience and expertise among learners as well as conveying material based on key management principles and practice.

Part 1 - following this session participants will:

• have a clear understanding of their own management strengths and development needs through completion of the CMI Management Diagnostic tool
• have identified learning and development needs and set goals around these for the course and beyond in their own CPD log, to be supported by the CMI Management Direct hub (see below)
• understand the value of reflective practice to inform personal and professional development
• know how to apply reflective practice to inform personal and professional development
• have been introduced and shared initial reflections with a group of peers from organisations within the Scottish voluntary sector

Part 2 - having completed this section participants will be able to:

• examine leadership practices within organisations​
• analyse the characteristics of responsible leadership​
• analyse the impact of internal and external factors on leadership practice​
• examine the relationship between management and leadership​
• evaluate how leadership supports the achievement of organisational objectives

Part 3 - following these sessions participants will be able to:

• identify and agree performance objectives for your team and individuals
• assess performance against objectives and provide feedback
• provide advice and guidance to support to improve performance
• apply the organisation’s disciplinary and grievance procedures

The course is aimed at those who have some experience managing people and leading teams but wish to improve and consolidate these skills. It is a good next step to our Introduction to people management: essentials for team leaders, supervisors and managers and Adapt and develop your management skills: managing people in the modern world courses, though previous attendance on these courses is not required. The course draws on CMI content, tailoring it to the specific needs of managers working in voluntary sector organisations, charities and other non-profit entities. 

There are no formal entry requirements.

Please read the course Policies, procedures and terms & conditions from Challenges Catalyst, who deliver the training in partnership with SCVO.

Please note: your invoice for this course will be sent by Challenges Catalyst.

The Challenges Group, CMI and SCVO aim to create a management development pathway that competes with other sectors to retain and attract the best talent. Together, we want the leadership of our sector to represent our society and be well-equipped to address its challenges. Through this programme, we want to provide an opportunity for managers to develop skills they can use in the workplace and pass on to their teams. Well trained managers can support staff engagement and wellbeing. Better managers make for better run organisations. We want to support managers in the sector with bespoke, peer-led training as well as a number of complementary tools to help them lead and manage better.

Participants have access to Management Direct, CMI’s content-rich hub of management learning and resources, for the duration of their learning. Management Direct is an online learning portal, allowing access to up-to-date management and leadership resources, including, books, articles, videos and CMI’s popular checklists. It allows individuals to take their own learning journeys, enriching their training experience through a variety of online resources and educational tools. What’s more, the platform records your activity, so you can always save content to go back to a later date.

Progression: Participants who complete this Recognised programme can progress on to complete the CMI Level 5 certificate in Management and Leadership. This involves completion of a written assignment over the course of up to one year, during which learners become CMI members and have access to Management Direct, the CMI’s content-rich online hub of management resources and networks. Anyone interested in progression to the Level 5 certificate will receive information during the course on how to sign up.