Assessment criteria Candidate guidance to criteria Portfolio references 1.1.1 Work within an ethical framework for counselling Have a thorough knowledge of the BACP “Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions” or another similar framework. Be able to explain what is meant by an ethical framework. Explore reasons for (and importance of) working within an ethical framework. Ensure your relationships with clients are bounded by a professional framework. Introduce clients, using appropriate language, to the existence of a framework. Demonstrate professional standards of conduct Discuss meaning of professional standards – including (for example) behaviour, dress, competence, confidentiality, communication with others, professional judgement, integrity, respect, record keeping. Recognise responsibilities to clients, employers and the profession. Explore expectations of conduct in your training group and in your agency. Demonstrate professional standards in your own work. 1.1.3 Be able to maintain confidentiality in counselling work Clarify the limits of confidentiality within your agency. Explore issues around confidentiality in multidisciplinary teams. Explore and record examples of difficult confidentiality issues. Demonstrate the management of confidentiality issues in own client work. 1.1.4 Comply with relevant legal requirements for counselling Study up-to-date legislation relevant to your professional practice, including Data Protection Act, The Children Act, The Mental Health Act, the Counter Terrorism and Security Act (Prevent duty), equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory laws and human rights – with reference to safe practice and legal responsibilities. Apply legislation to your practice – for example data protection with regard to record keeping and note taking. Discuss limits of confidentiality and reasons for disclosure. Explain the issues relating to the duty of care with regard to the legislation on safeguarding children, people and vulnerable adults Investigate current legislation around risk to and safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults, including the Prevent duty. Demonstrate the application of this legislation to your own counselling work. LEARNING OUTCOME: 1.2 Work within a counselling service organisation Assessment criteria Candidate guidance to criteria Portfolio references 1.2.1 Work within the ethical, legal and procedural framework in which a given agency operates Look at and discuss (e.g. with your supervisor/placement manager) the ethical, legal and procedural framework of your agency. To show your understanding in relation to the above issues, apply insights gained from supervision, seminars and counselling practice sessions. .
4.1.3 Regularly review the working agreement with clients Discuss in your training group the reasons for regularly reviewing the working agreement with your client. Demonstrate an understanding of the changing of your clients and show your ability to be flexible and responsive to their needs. Acknowledge changes that have occurred for the client - e.g. emotional, practical, relational, behavioural, spiritual. Ensure client participation when reviewing and renegotiating the working agreement. LEARNING OUTCOME 4.2 Maintain a user-centred focus throughout the counselling work Assessment criteria Candidate guidance to criteria Portfolio references 4.2.1 Enable the client to identify, prioritise and focus on their agenda Identify and explore your client’s spoken and unspoken agenda, both within the session and during the counselling process. Explore the ways in which both counsellors and clients may try to avoid painful agendas. Use regular reviews and clinical supervision to maintain the focus on the client’s agenda throughout the counselling work Record and develop good practice of regular reviews and use of supervision to help maintain the focus on your client’s agenda (both spoken and unspoken) throughout the relationship. Enable clients to explore their unspoken agendas Explore (in the training group or elsewhere) your own experiences of feeling a sense of emotional warmth and safety with another person. Develop your capacity (both as a person and a professional) to relate appropriately to your client –i.e. with congruence, emotional warmth and safety. Develop an openness to listen to your client’s unspoken agenda. Develop your ability to stay with your client’s difficult feelings. Experiment (in group-work and counselling practice sessions) with different ways of communicating emotional warmth and safety. Unit 5 Working with self awareness in the counselling process LEARNING OUTCOME: 5.1 Use counselling theory to understand own self Assessment criteria Candidate guidance to criteria Portfolio references 5.1.1 Explore the nature and structure of own self Refer to your core theoretical model(s) to explore the concept of ‘Self’. Refer to your core theoretical model(s) to explore the explicit and implicit aspects of own ‘Self’. Develop your personal understanding through your own therapeutic counselling/personal development workshops/group process work.