I Matter - Certification Standards

Our Approach to Certification

The I Matter Learning Journey is intended to provide a structure to support reflection and skills building over time.
As such our approach to certification is to provide opportunities for learning, rather than providing formal assessment of skills.

• How certification works across all stages
• What does + mean
• what “application required” means
• what counts as evidence
• how progression is decided
• renewal / ongoing expectations (if any)

Certification Stages

1. Participant

Entry into the learning system

• accepted onto the programme
• accessing Level 1–2 learning
• no applied certification yet

👉 This is someone who is “in learning” 

2. I Matter Informed Practitioner

Bridging stage (understanding + early application)

• has completed Level 2 (or equivalent) with 6 session study support
• has taken part in monthly peer based case formulation discussions 
• has contributed a minimum of two examples to peer discussion
• can apply framework in personal reflection / informal contexts
• understands core principles
• not yet operating in certified organisational roles

👉 This is a very important bridge identity in the I Matter system

3. Certified Practitioner (Entry Level - Role-Specific)

Applied, assessed, role-bound practice

This is where certification becomes functional and role-based, for example:

• I Matter Senior Link Professional
• I Matter Link Practitioner
  

👉 Key idea:

Entry Level Certification is based on a role permission, not just a generic status

Senior Link Certification - is based on attending a minimum of 3 monthly senior Link sessions and contributing two examples

Focus is on recognising staff and team development needs

Link certification is based on attending a minimum of 6 monthly sessions and contributing a minimum of 2 case examples for peer discussion

Focus is on learning to recognise readiness for change and reflection on experience of light study support

3. Certified Practitioner (Advanced Levels - Role-Specific)

Applied, assessed, role-bound practice

This is where certification becomes functional and role-based, for example:

• I Matter Child Practitioner
• I Matter Lead Practitioner
  
• I Matter Advanced Practitioner

👉 Key idea:

Certification is always tied to a role permission, not just a generic status

Child Practitioner (those in direct roles with children - min 10 hours a week) - attending initially fortnightly term 1 then monthly - using forum

Focus is on ability to assess skills development needs and plan activities to build competencies

Lead Practitioner (assisting adults with I Matter Learning through workshops and study support for online learning) - attend monthly - using forum

Focus is on ability to comfortably engage adults in thinking about I Matter concepts in their own lived situations

Lead Plus (oversight of Lead and Child Practitioners to include assistance with assessment and priorities as needed

Level 1–3 (learning stages)

• criteria = completion + reflection

Practitioner / Informed Practitioner

• criteria = application + reflection + basic case thinking

Link / Lead roles

• criteria = application + consistency + participation in system thinking

Senior roles

• criteria = experience + organisational responsibility + alignment capability