Advanced practice and research: consultation and the organisation (D10D)

Gain an advanced and sophisticated education in organisational consultancy

Advanced practice and research consultation and the organisation

Duration: 4 years

Delivery: Face to face

Qualification: Professional doctorate

Location: London

Year of entry: 2024/25

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This course will provide you with an advanced and sophisticated education in organisational consultancy in a stimulating learning community. It is designed to equip you, as a professional consultant, to work with the complexities of contemporary organisations in consulting and researching using a systems-psychodynamic framework.

You will complete an original research project in an area of relevance to the profession and contribute to the knowledge base in the field.

It is uniquely arranged with other professional doctorates covering social work and social care and systemic therapy, making for a multidisciplinary student body and enriching learning experience.

The deadline for applications to this course is provisionally set for Wednesday 31 July 2024. However, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible, as spaces are limited and can be competitive.

Please note: you may see the course D10D also referred to as SCDOTP002 in communications from our application system.

About this course

There are two taught modules per year: ‘Research methods’ and ‘Advanced practice’.

‘Research methods‘ module

This module involves formal research teaching including lectures, seminars, research conferences and individual research supervision.

‘Advanced practice’ module

This module includes presentations from a range of expert practitioners in the field, practice-based and theoretical seminars, peer discussions and individual practice supervision. The emphasis throughout is on the development and integration of theory and its practical application to consultancy and research in context.

Your research

The programme will equip you with the skills to design and execute original applicable research informed by professional practice. It will enable you to contribute to a growing body of knowledge about organisational consultancy from a systems psychodynamic perspective and give you an advanced academic understanding of the field.

The research methods module is taught as part of the Tavistock and Portman’s integrated doctorate programme in advanced practice and research. This will give you the opportunity to experience peer learning and support and the benefits of participation in a stimulating research community.

Towards the end of year two you will finalise the design of your research project which you will then carry out with the support of supervisors and peer discussion.

You may take a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years to complete your research and write your thesis. During this time, you will have the benefit of access to the Tavistock and Portman and the University of Essex online seminars and web-based learning opportunities.

Who is this course for?

This course is for you if you are an organisational consultant who has prior education and experience in working from a systems-psychodynamic approach to consultancy and you wish to question and extend your skills and deepen your knowledge.

Organisational consultants looking to move into positions requiring sophisticated capacities to research organisational phenomena will also enjoy this course.

Course details

In order to undertake this course, we ask that you:

have completed a master’s in Consulting and leading in organisations psychodynamic and systemic approaches (D10), or
have a master’s degree or equivalent in consulting to organisations

You must also be:

engaged in work as a consultant (either employed or self-employed), or
an employee within an organisation with managerial responsibilities

As the teaching methods rely on learning from experience at emotional, social and intellectual levels, a capacity to work in this way is essential. We welcome applications from those with equivalent experience.

Home (2024/25)

£9,180 per year for years one to four. Fees for year five and six are £4,590 per year.

International (2024/25)

£18,360 per year for years one to four. Fees for year five and six are £9,180 per year.

You will be charged course fees for each year of your course. If your course is longer than one year, the fees that you will be charged after the first year will be subject to an annual inflationary increase. This will either be an increase of 3% or the Consumer Price Inflation as on 1 September of that year – whichever is the greater. At its discretion, the Trust may determine a figure between these two rates. Please refer to our Student Fees & Refund Policy for further information.

Financial support may be available to help you fund your studies at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

Assessment

Knowledge and understanding of research methods is assessed via a critical literature review in year one and by the submission of a research proposal in year two, which may then form the basis for the research project and final thesis of 40,000 words.

Students are required to carry out a minimum of four consultancy assignments throughout the first two years of the programme, in which they will either work alone or, where appropriate (and where the student has a primary role), as part of a team.

Three of these assignments are written up as detailed case studies and are assessed on the basis of application of an ethical and client centred systems psychodynamic approach, understanding of organisational function and self-reflective capacity.

Other assignments are recorded as field notes as part of a practice log. This log is then appended to a professional development summary report which forms the last assignment and which is assessed on the basis of a reflective self appraisal, consultancy mindset and the range of work presented.

Doctorate students are invited to participate in the advanced practice programme for a third year and on successful completion of an additional two case studies will be eligible for the Tavistock qualification in consulting (TQC).

Attendance

This course is part-time, with two days of face-to-face teaching per month, on a Thursday and Friday.

Course dates for the academic year 2023/24:

Block 1:

Thursday 5 October 2023
Friday 6 October 2023

Block 2:

Thursday 9 November 2023
Friday 10 November 2023

Block 3:

Thursday 7 December 2023
Friday 8 December 2023

Block 4:

Thursday 11 January 2024
Friday 12 January 2024

Block 5:

Thursday 8 February 2024
Friday 9 February 2024

Block 6:

Thursday 7 March 2024
Friday 8 March 2024

Block 7:

Thursday 18 April 2024
Friday 19 April 2024

Block 8:

Thursday 23 May 2024
Friday 24 May 2024

Block 9:

Thursday 20 June 2024
Friday 21 June 2024

Graduates of this course have:

improved and developed their consultancy practice
developed internal consultant roles
taken up senior management and executive leadership roles
become self-employed
taken academic teaching posts
started research projects
published in key journals
presented at international conferences in the field and other communities
created a strong professional network and community of practice
become ambassadors for the Tavistock approach to consultancy and the organisation

Why study with us?

This course will enable you to continue your professional and academic development to an advanced level in order to meet the increasingly complex needs of organisations and deepen your understanding of intrinsic organisational issues.

You will leave the course with the capacity to develop others in organisational consultancy.

Testimonials

“The D10D pathway offers the opportunity to research a specific area of interest relevant to the systems-psychodynamic field, while also engaging with colleagues from social work, systemic therapy, and social care backgrounds. I enjoy the mixture of experience whilst developing my research skills and (hopefully!) contributing to the knowledge base in the discipline. The student cohort is international, and colleagues come from a variety of consultancy backgrounds; there is much to learn from each other. The lectures are well taught and facilitated by faculty tutors who have published widely in the area and all have a practice base; termly tutorials and supervision of your consultancy practice are included in the fee.”

Student

“Involvement with this programme has enabled me to think much more clearly and analytically about my professional work with clients, and also to confidently take on consultancy roles of increasing scale and complexity. I have found the research component particularly rewarding and exciting, as it has enabled me to develop a proposal that opens up new horizons in my intellectual and professional development.”

Student

“As an independent practitioner I have been able to think more clearly about my work.”

Student

“Teaching is consistently high quality; the course design is a strength.”

Student

“The Doctorate certainly does what it says on the box. I feel much more able to take up my role as a consultant, and near the end of completing my research, have been offered several senior positions in the consultancy world. Delighted.”

Student