Level 3 Access to HE Diploma in Counselling

Course Content

Of the 15 units referred to above, 5 are Study Skills units, whilst the remaining 10 are a combination of practical and theoretical requirements in the field of counselling. The specific units of study are as follows:

• Reading and comprehension of texts
• Managing and improving own learning
• Extended project
• Essay writing
• Report writing
• Speaking and listening skills
• Self awareness and personal development in counselling
• Introduction to counselling
• Roles and responsibilities of the counsellor
• The ethical framework and the role of clinical supervision
• Understanding core counselling skills
• Comparative approaches to counselling
• The core model of person-centred therapy
• Difference and diversity in helping professions
• Professional practice in counselling

Course Outcomes

The aims are:

• To provide HE progression opportunities for adults who, because of social, educational or individual circumstances, do not have the necessary qualifications;

• To give students a general introduction to the basic concepts, methods, and key areas of knowledge within the core disciplines taken and offer a coherent and stimulating framework within which they can broaden their intellectual outlook and make connections between subject areas;

• To help students to develop and consolidate the various skills required to enable them to cope successfully with the demands of undergraduate study and to become independent, self-directed learners;

• To establish a positive and supportive learning environment within which students can build their confidence through successful learning and the sharing of their experience;

• To provide the personal and educational support needed if students are to pursue their aims within the framework of the course.

Progression

Students primarily progress to Higher Education study in areas related to Counselling. These may include some of the following areas of Degree level study: Counselling, Psychology and Counselling, Social Work, Youth and Community Work and a wide range of combined and related degrees.

Entry Requirements

There is an expectation that students will have literacy, communication skills and numeracy at Level 2 or above (i.e. students should have achieved both English and Maths at grade 4 or above).

Assessment

The Access to HE Diploma assessment mechanism incorporates:

• Assessment tasks which are designed and set by the Centre
• Internal assessment of student work
• Internal and external moderation of assessment.

There are no additional external assessments for this Diploma.

The recommended assessment methods for this Diploma should include a variety of methods which take into consideration the target students for this Diploma and the appropriateness for the units being assessed. Assessment methods should be valid, reliable, and inclusive and assure equity.

The following assessment methods could be used to assess the units within this Diploma. Please note, it is expected that at least part of one unit is assessed by formal examination taken under timed conditions.

• Oral presentation
• Practical tasks/demonstrations
• Question and answer (written and oral)
• Tests/exams with seen or unseen papers
• Tutor observation • Worksheets • Written assignments/essays/reports • Exhibition • Discussion/ group work • Student evaluation

Equipment

There are no specific resource requirements for this qualification.