ILM Level 5 Certificate and Diploma in Coaching & Mentoring

The ILM Level 5 Certificate and Diploma in Coaching & Mentoring are ideal qualifications for managers with significant responsibility for coaching and mentoring as part of their day-to-day role.

They are also designed to develop those planning to move into a development role or start a career as a freelance coach and mentor.

The  programme consists of three mandatory units that allow students to understand the role and contribution of coaching and mentoring and to build a business case.

Learners will also review their own ability as a management coach or mentor, critically reviewing their own personal qualities, skills and competence.

For the Certificate, students are also required to demonstrate their ability to plan, deliver and review at least 18 hours of coaching and mentoring in the workplace with 2-3 coachees.

For the Diploma, this unit is extended to 54 hours of coaching and mentoring with 4-9 coachees and there is an added focus on using supervision and reflective review to develop individual practice.

Both courses are delivered through a unique blend of coaching / supervision, and work based learning. Students define a set of objectives designed to have a real impact on their individual coaching practice.

As they progress through the course, supported by their coach / supervisor, their work will focus on achieving high levels of impact for themselves, their clients and their organisation. Their learning will evolve as they progress, drawing on their monthly coaching / supervision sessions, structured on-line learning and a large library of materials.

Programme content

The Certificate consists of three ‘themes’. The Diploma consists of four ‘themes’.

Induction

Here we ensure you familiarise yourself with the structure and flow of the programme, the learning resources, and the writing of the Reflective Reviews, which form the accreditation part of the programme.

• 1-to-1 Induction
• Reflective Review 1

Theme 1: Skills, principles and practice

Certificate & Diploma

This theme will enable you to develop an in depth understanding of how effective coaching and mentoring can contribute to practice and performance at a middle management level.

It will challenge you to examine the different disciplines of coaching and mentoring and to consider how they can be integrated into the context of an organisation’s activities.

You will also formulate your thinking as to how to deliver effective coaching and/or mentoring and contract with your client(s) and/or their organisation(s). This will form your first assessment and second assessments.

You will develop a broader understanding of the role of a coach or mentor within an organisation. It will challenge learners to plan for how they will ensure best practice in their own role as a coach or mentor and get them started on the process of working with their own client(s).

The unit is designed to increase your understanding and stimulate your own research into coaching and mentoring in order to be able to apply it within a strategic business or organisational environment.

• Management coaching and mentoring in context
• The framework for management coaching and mentoring
• The coaching or mentoring contract in practice

Theme 2: Undertaking effective coaching and mentoring

Certificate & Diploma

This theme will provide you with an understanding of the skills of a coach or mentor within an organisation. It will challenge you to translate your knowledge and understanding into best practice in your own role as a coach or mentor.

Theme two is shorter than themes one and three, in terms of theoretical learning. Much of your time in this theme will be spent delivering your coaching or mentoring hours.

In this part of the programme, the aim is to carry out your hours of coaching practice. For the Certificate it is 18 hours with 2 to 3 coachees.

During this theme you will complete your coaching portfolio which will include your coaching logs and notes, supervision logs, your written contract and feedback, specific to each coachee.

This theme has an emphasis on reflective practice with supervision, portfolio building and 1-2-1 supervision.

By the end of this theme, you should be able to:

• Understand the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to be an effective coach or mentor
• Plan and prepare effective coaching or mentoring within an organisational context
• Undertake and record at least 18 hours of effective coaching or mentoring with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 individuals
• Demonstrate and evidence ongoing reflection and review of your own coaching or mentoring practice

During Theme Two, you will also have coach supervision sessions which will enable you to review your learning and move onto the next theme where you will reflect critically and evaluate your practice as a coach or mentor.

Theme 3: Reviewing your practice as a coach or mentor

Certificate & Diploma

This part of the programme is concerned with drawing together your learning.

• What kind of a coach are you becoming?
• What are your strengths and areas of development,
• Beyond the programme, how might you want to develop as a coach,
• What do you want your coaching practice to look like
• How do you describe yourself as a coach (your written profile) – your coaching signature style.

This theme will provide you with an understanding of the benefits of coaching and mentoring for individuals and for the organisation they work in.

It will challenge you to reflect critically on your own practice as a coach or mentor taking into account the feedback you have gained through the 18 hours of coaching or mentoring with your own client(s). You will also form a personal development plan.

By the end of this theme, you should be able to:

• Plan and prepare effective coaching or mentoring within an organisational context
• Demonstrate and evidence ongoing reflection and review of your own coaching or mentoring practice
• Holistically review your ability to perform effectively as a coach or mentor within an organisational context
• Develop a plan for your future professional development in coaching or mentoring

This unit is designed to increase your understanding and stimulate your own research into coaching and mentoring in order to be able to apply it within a strategic business or organisational environment.

• The contribution of management coaching and mentoring
• Reviewing the coaching or mentoring relationship
• CPD and Personal development planning

During Theme Three, if you have not already done so, you will finalise your portfolio.

Theme 4: Professional practice

Diploma only

This theme will enable you to deepen your critical understanding of the skills and practice of a high performing coach or mentor.

It will further challenge you to review and develop your own skills and abilities in coaching and mentoring. As before, you will be required to keep records of your own practice as you continue to deliver a programme of supervised coaching and/or mentoring.

As with theme two, this theme is largely practical in nature. It is expected that you will spend much of your time on this theme in coaching or mentoring more clients, so that you can bring the total number you have coached to between seven and nine, in accordance with the standard, and recording the outcomes.

You will add to your Portfolio, which will already contain some of the evidence for the unit. This is because some of the practical evidence used for the certificate can be transferred to the diploma.

This part of the programme is designed to take up to six months, although it may be that you can complete it in a shorter timescale.

By the end of this theme, you should be able to:

Plan, deliver and review 54 hours of coaching or mentoring at an middle management level with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 9 individuals

The 18 hours spent coaching or mentoring 2 or 3 clients and some of the other evidence presented in theme 2 transfers into this theme.

You will be expected to add to your Portfolio during Theme Four. This will involve compiling further records and reflections of your work with your coachees from contracting to evaluation stages, making the total with whom you have worked to between 4 and 9.

Progression Routes

The ILM Level 5 qualifications are highly respected qualifications in their own right. They can provide students with up to 38 credits at Level 5.

The qualifications also provide progression opportunities to other qualifications such as the ILM Level 5 Award, Certificate or Diploma in Leadership and Management and the ILM Level 7 Certificate or Diploma for Executive and Senior Coaches and Mentors.

Successful completion of these qualifications also provides eligibility for membership of the Institute of Leadership & Management and the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC).