All CIPFA members and employees of organisations that are members of our Procurement and Commissioning Network receive 10% off the price of this course.

About this course

There has been significant growth in partnership arrangements between public bodies and private and third sector organisations, heightened by the current public spending environment.

In addition, high profile governance failures in managing contracts by some local public bodies and feedback from those working in the public sector, point to a need to improve the skills of those who manage contracts.

This unique qualification brings together contemporary contract management theory and existing good practice in a structured way. It has a highly applied and focused approach designed to give you the knowledge, understanding and practical skills necessary for managing contracts effectively.

Who is the course aimed at?

• New staff who have specific responsibility for contract management.
• Experienced staff who have had no formal structured training or who would like to update their knowledge and skills.
• Staff working at various levels in all public bodies, including central government, non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), local government, health and education.

Duration

The CIPFA Diploma in Contract Management is completed over approximately nine months. This includes:

• eight days of classroom learning
• approximately 80 hours of additional work to complete the assessment requirements.

Course outline

Below is a summary of the course modules. Please download the course brochure for full details.

• Module 1: Introduction to contract management (one day)
• Module 2: Specification writing (one day)
• Module 3: Service Level Agreements (one day)
• Module 4: Negotiation skills (one day)
• Module 5: Managing contracts (two days)
• Module 6: Financial management and control (one day)
• Module 7: Exiting contracts and continuous improvement planning (one day)

Assessment

For each module you will be asked to submit a written assignment in which you demonstrate your understanding of the learning and your ability to transfer it to your own workplace and work practices.

Accreditation

On successful completion of the required units and associated assessment, you will be awarded the CIPFA Diploma in Contract Management, equivalent to a level seven (post-graduate) qualification.

CIPFA membership

On successful completion of the programme, you can apply for CIPFA Affiliate membership. If you’re not already a CIPFA member, this is a great way to access a wealth of resources and networking opportunities.

To find out more and apply, click on ‘Other professionals’ at: www.cipfa.org/join

In-house delivery

In addition to our open courses, the Certificate in Contract Management can also be delivered in-house and at your location, saving you valuable time and money.

This is especially cost-effective for organisations interested in training a number of individuals or whole teams.

For more information about running the course in-house, contact us at: InHouseTraining@cipfa.org

CPD hours

This course carries 136 CPD hours.