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
• Retaining status of I Matter Informed requires evidence of refreshing understanding of Level 1-2 every 3 years.

👉 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 and uploading one reflective practice summary to the platform each 12 months

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 and uploading one reflective practice summary to the platform each 12 months

Retaining status of I Matter Senior Link or Link requires evidence of active participation in the network during the last 12 months as this is a key organisation role.

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 for advanced roles 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 and working with 1-3 children as a microproject

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 early intervention situations in thinking about I Matter concepts in their own lived situations with 1-3 parents/families as part of a microproject.   It requires uploading of a sample Online Get Started Workshop (no audience) and uploading 3 separate reflective practice summaries 

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

Focus is on ability to comfortably engage adults in more complex situations and I Matter informed professionals in thinking about I Matter concepts in their own lived situations with 1-3 parents/families as part of a microproject.   It requires uploading of a sample Online Get Started Workshop (no audience) and uploading 3 separate reflective practice summaries 

Retaining status of I Matter Child Practitioner, Lead or Lead Plus requires evidence of active participation in I Matter informed practice and study support during the last 12 months as this is a key organisation role.

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

Progression principle

Progression between stages is based on a combination of participation, reflective engagement, and evidence of applied understanding within role context. It is not a formal academic assessment process.

Key principle 

Certification within the I Matter® framework is always role-based. It reflects readiness to operate within a defined scope of practice, it is not a general professional qualification status.