Contract
A contract on the Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) is formed between you and Devon Counselling College (DCC) on receipt of your application for and acceptance onto one of our courses or workshops. By applying for and being accepted onto one of our courses or workshops, you agree to be bound by the T&Cs. It is, therefore, crucial that you read and understand them before applying.
The contract will expire, subject to the early termination provisions in the T&Cs, on the completion of your course, whether or not you are awarded a qualification. Outstanding commitments shall continue until completed. No variation to the T&Cs shall be binding unless agreed in writing between the parties.
Admission & Course Provisions
All applicants are considered and accepted in line with the course requirements and guidance. These requirements and associated course materials can be subject to change before the course commences or during the course, without prospective or current learner notice, where it is considered reasonable to deliver the course or adhere to any legislative requirements effectively. DCC is not obliged to provide reasons behind decision changes.
DCC’s contract with you covers the time you are training; the progression through the course is not automatic and is subject to the completion of the course requirements, assessments, college attendance, and evidence of self-development and awareness. We reserve the right to defer or cease a learner’s training based on professional consideration of the successful completion of the course requirements.
DCC reserves the right to update policies, practices, programmes, schedules or calendars and cancel or reschedule courses without prior notice, though every effort would be made to minimise any inconvenience.
Policies and Procedures
Your acceptance of a place will be upon condition that you abide by DCC’s Policies and Procedures and National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) guidelines for your qualification, course or workshop. A copy of the policies will be available on the Study Lounge or upon request.
Contract Termination
Without liability, DCC may terminate this agreement immediately by written notice if you are in material breach of the Terms and Conditions.
Fees
Fees can include course fees and additional costs as discussed and agreed upon at the interview.
Payment of course fees
The total course fee becomes due for payment once you have applied for and been accepted onto one of our courses or workshops. The only exception to this would be if there is a cancellation before the course or workshop commences – please see the conditions below.
Any arrangements for the payment of fees will be agreed upon in writing between you and DCC before the commencement of the course. The balance will immediately become payable unless DCC receives a payment or instalment on the agreed date. DCC will then reserve the right to withdraw you from the course and all college facilities, and you may not be permitted to continue your training. Any alternative arrangements can only be made with a new written agreement between yourself and DCC.
Please be aware that our policy is to issue certificates of qualification only once full payment has been made for the training.
DCC provides the facility to invoice any agreed sponsor directly; however, it should be clearly understood that, should the sponsor, for any reason, fail to make the payment following the terms of the invoice, you will remain personally liable for the total amount of your course fees.
Learner Cancellations
If a learner wishes to cancel their agreement with the college, then DCC would require notification, in writing, no less than:
- Taster Sessions and Continued Professional Development workshops (CPD) – one full week (seven days) prior to the course start date
- Level 2 – one full week (seven days) prior to the course start date
- Level 3 – one calendar month prior to the course start date
- Level 4 – two calendar months prior to the course start date
- All other courses – one calendar month prior to the course start date
The booking deposit will be non-refundable. If the course has been fully paid for and the cancellation is made, in writing, within the above timing to the course start date, DCC will refund the course fees minus the deposit. Any refunds will be subject to a £100 administration charge.
Devon Counselling College Cancellations
If for any reason, a course will not be running on the agreed date, Devon Counselling College will advise the learner of this cancellation, giving the above periods of notification wherever possible.
If the course cannot be run for any reason, learners will be offered a place on another course or a full refund of the course fee and deposit.
Learner Course Withdrawal
If, for any reason, the learner is considering withdrawing from a course, they are advised to speak to their course tutor. The total fee for the course will be payable once the course has started.
Attendance and Absence
You are expected to attend all classes. We log your attendance every session; therefore, if your attendance falls significantly short of 100%, this will be subject to discussion with your tutor to decide the action necessary to meet the award requirements.
Whilst we understand that you may, as an exception, be unable to attend college, it is of vital importance that your attendance is as close to 100% as possible, as the attendance of these course hours will need to be confirmed with any future application for the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or equivalent accreditation scheme.
Group support and communication is an integral part of your learning, and therefore, should you need to be absent from any part of the course, you will need to inform your tutor, either by email or by leaving a message on the college phone 01626 333 346. You may also need to inform another group member who may agree to share their notes with you. You are responsible for catching up on any learning you may have missed due to the absence before the following session, as most of the teaching will be uninterrupted. The learners’ Dropbox facility will also prove very beneficial for this purpose.
Conduct
Students are expected to behave responsibly and not cause any disruption to individual or group training. The group will construct a Group Agreement at the start of the course, which will itemise what is considered supportive, constructive and boundaried behaviour. Any personal therapeutic issues should be addressed via individual therapy as part of the training requirements.
Students must maintain confidentiality concerning client work, college skills and personal work within the group.
Any cause for concern will be discussed by the tutor as and when required, in addition to the scheduled tutorials. Changes to conduct or issue resolution agreements will be put in writing.
Personal therapy (applies to Level 4 Diploma only)
Personal therapy with an appropriately qualified practitioner is a requirement of the Advanced Diploma. You are expected to receive a minimum of 20 sessions of individual therapy over the duration of the course, with at least 10 of these sessions taking place within year 1. DCC will require written evidence of the therapy sessions but not the contents, which remains strictly confidential (with noted exceptions) between you and your therapist.
DCC reserves the right to request that you undertake personal therapy at any time where it is believed there is an additional therapeutic and supportive requirement.
Data Protection Act 2018
DCC is registered under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) to hold personal data, including sensitive personal data, on its Learners and third parties, such as individuals enquiring about services. DCC will only store and use Personal Data per the requirements of the DPA 2018. A copy of our Privacy Policy is also available via our website.
Insurance
Learners are advised to ensure they have insurance to cover their property, as all activities are undertaken at their own risk. DCC cannot accept responsibility and expressly excludes liability, to the fullest extent permissible by law, for damage to personal property (including vehicles parked on college premises) unless caused by the negligence of DCC.
Correspondence and Terms and Conditions Notice
Any notice served by DCC under the T&Cs and any formal correspondence shall be deemed to have been served two working days after sending to the address we have on file (this will be the address on your original application form unless we are informed of a change in writing). You are, therefore, obligated to notify us of any changes to your address.
Terms and Conditions Amendments
DCC reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the terms and conditions before and after you enrol and where it assists effective delivery of the course.
Queries and complaints: Queries about the T&Cs should be addressed to Devon Counselling College, 2 Sheila Robb House, Oak Place, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2EX. DCC has a Learners’ complaints procedure, which is available from the college and will be provided via the Study Lounge before the course commences.
You are advised to retain a copy of these terms and conditions for your own files and information.
updated 18 January 2024