British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches    |     www.bamba.org.uk     |     info@bamba.org.uk 
          
                                               
                                   
                  Grandparenting criteria for MBCT teachers in IAPT 
         NHS England requires clinicians teaching MBCT in IAPT to be listed on the Register held by the British 
         Association for Mindfulness-Based Approaches (BAMBA) and to be able to show that they can teach 
         competently as demonstrated by a formal assessment showing 'competence' on all 6 domains of the 
         Mindfulness Based interventions - Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI-TAC).  (See the annex of the 
         IAPT manual: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/iapt-manual-v4.pdf). This 
         competency assessment can take place either through the successful completion of an IAPT MBCT 
         training or independently.   
         Those who may have trained via another route, before the MBCT in IAPT training was available, and 
         who have not had their mindfulness teaching competence formerly assessed, have a one-off 
         opportunity to demonstrate their competence. In recognition of the significant experience they are 
         likely to have built up teaching MBCT in their service, these clinicians will be 'grand-parented' into 
         the new governance process without having to undergo formal competency assessment, providing 
         they meet the following conditions. They must provide evidence of having: 
         1. Completed an in-depth, rigorous MBCT teacher training programme or supervised pathway over a 
         minimum duration of 12 months.  
         2. A professional, mental health training necessary to work as a step 3, hi-intensity therapist in IAPT, 
         as specified in the IAPT manual. 
         3. Taught a minimum of 4 full MBCT courses over a period of at least 2 years (as the lead teacher or 
         a co-teacher with responsibility for at least 50% of each course counted). 
         4. Had 3 hours supervision from a mindfulness-trained clinician for each course that is being 
         counted.  
         5. A current daily formal and informal personal mindfulness practice. 
         6. Participated in annual, residential, teacher-led mindfulness meditation retreats (minimum of two 
         full days per retreat) with significant periods of silence (at least 50% silence during each retreat). 
         7. Continued to develop and keep up to date as MBCT teachers through attending relevant CPD 
         events, conferences and/or other forms of personal development such as reading, journaling, 
         reflective practice and attending peer forums.  A minimum of 30 hours CPD per year is required in 
         accordance with Good Practice Guidelines. 
         8. Adhered to the ethical framework appropriate to the teacher’s professional background and 
         working context. 
               British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches    |     www.bamba.org.uk     |     info@bamba.org.uk 
            
           9. Joined the BAMBA Register. 
           When you have gathered the above details, please contact info@bamba.org.uk to request the 
           relevant forms you should complete in order to submit your application to add MBCT in IAPT to your 
           details on the register.  If you are not already on the BAMBA Teacher Register, you should submit 
           your initial application via this page https://bamba.org.uk/teachers/join-the-register/ and also 
           contact info@bamba.org.uk to let us know you are teaching in IAPT. 
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           This opportunity for grandparenting will be available until 31  July 2022. After that date, the only 
           option available to those working in IAPT to teach MBCT will be to join the BAMBA register and to 
           have a successful, formal MBI-TAC assessment of competence, reaching 'competence' on all 6 
           domains.