Professional Diploma in Pastoral Supervision
The Professional Diploma in Pastoral Supervision
A course for Clergy, Pastoral Care Team Leaders, Lay Ministers, Counsellors, Psychotherapists, Chaplains, Pioneer Ministers and Spiritual Directors to develop understanding and skills in reflective supervision in pastoral and ministerial settings.
In response to course member feedback over a number of years, we are changing the name of our longest running course from the Professional Certificate in Pastoral Supervision to the Professional Diploma in Pastoral Supervision. This decision has been made for two main reasons:
“I think it is probably the best put together course I have come across, I really valued the attention to all aspects, the structure and organisation of the learning, the range of tutors and their input to skills work. I would really recommend it.” [2024 graduate]
Taster Sessions
Are you interested in this course? If so, please book on to one of our online Taster Sessions. Here you will have an opportunity to find out more information on content and assessment, try out some exercises and assess whether this is the course for you. We are holding Taster Sessions on the following dates:
Monday 16th March 2026 10am-1pm Link to book here >>>> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pdps-taster-session-tickets-1975785880756?aff=oddtdtcreator
Tuesday 5th May 2026 1pm-4pm Link to book here >>>> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pdps-taster-session-tickets-1981424770828?aff=oddtdtcreator
To secure your place, please book on via Eventbrite using the above links. There is a £10 fee for our Taster Sessions. This helps us to cover our costs and also demonstrates your commitment to attending. Places are limited, so if you find that you are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer your place to someone else. If you choose to apply for the course and are successful in being offered a place, we will remove the £10 Taster Session fee from the course fee due.
Course Brochure
For more information on the course including content and training dates please download our course brochure here
To read our privacy notice please click here
One Course – Two Modes
We run two cohorts for PDPS via different modes. You can choose which mode of learning and workshop dates will suit you and your circumstances best.
Please see dates here
Tutor Teams
Hybrid Mode – Ruth Layzell (Course Leader), Helen Walley, Karen Wormald, Sonya Wratten, Elizabeth Heath and Andrew Keith
Online Mode – Paul Goodliff (Course Leader), Fiona Stevenson, Kathryn Viner and Frances Rowland
“I found the breadth of the personalities, ministries and theological positions of the participants and the facilitators to have added a richness to the content and experience.” [2025 Graduate]
Course Fee
The course fee is £1650. If you are successful in being offered a place, we will ask for a £200 deposit to confirm your acceptance. The remaining course fee will be due prior to the start of the course or, alternatively, we offer the option to pay by instalment.
What are the course aims?
The overarching aim of this course is to equip participants from a variety of contexts to become proficient in the practice of reflective pastoral supervision, both as supervisees and supervisors. Within this, the course aims
- to give a sound theoretical base for pastoral supervision practice
- to develop participant skills through the observation and practice of pastoral supervision.
“It has been a real privilege to be part of this course and the input from all the tutors and facilitators has been amazing. I have learnt so much and seeing different styles as well to supervision has been helpful.” [2024 Graduate – BUGB Cohort]
How will I Learn?
Your development as a supervisor will be assessed by yourself, your peers and the course facilitators, and monitored through:
- assignment writing
- observed skills practice
- interactive learning with peers
- recorded supervision sessions.
Assignments are designed to contribute to your practice and will form part of a portfolio of evidence of professional competence in pastoral supervision.
“I found all the assignments to be challenging and constructive. I enjoyed them all and found that they greatly assisted my learning.” [2024 graduate]
“ I was grateful for the variety of assignments that were included, and that they were in some circumstances practical and could be used for practice in the future.” [2024 graduate]
What will I gain on completion?
On successful completion:
- you will be able to give and receive pastoral supervision, working as a pastoral supervisor with individuals and within groups
- you will have met the training criteria for accreditation by the Association for Pastoral Supervision and Education (www.pastoralsupervision.org.uk)
- you will receive the award of Professional Diploma in Pastoral Supervision, made by the Institute of Pastoral Counselling and Supervision.
A word from one of our graduates:
Professional Certificate in Pastoral Supervision name change
In response to course member feedback over a number of years, we have changed the name of our longest running course from the Professional Certificate in Pastoral Supervision to the Professional Diploma in Pastoral Supervision. This decision has been made for two main reasons:
- the course is a substantial and demanding course, comparable to other courses of similar length offered in the UK which are pitched at Diploma level
- the course fulfils the Association of Pastoral Supervision and Education’s requirement for training hours for those pursuing accreditation as Pastoral Supervisors. We consider that we have been under-representing our course and that this name change is a more appropriate representation of its stature.