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CORPORATE AND ACADEMIC SERVICES
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Part 1: Basic Data
Awarding Institution University of the West of England
Teaching Institution University of the West of England
Delivery Location University of the West of England.
Faculty responsible for programme Health and Applied Sciences
Department responsible for
programme
Health and Social Sciences
Modular Scheme Title
Professional Statutory or
Regulatory Body Links
BACP – British Association for Counselling and
Psychotherapy
Highest Award Title Diploma in Professional Studies: Counselling
Default Award Title None
Fall-back Award Title None
Interim Award Titles None
UWE Progression Route
Mode(s) of Delivery PT
Codes UCAS: L510147 JACS:
ISIS2: HESA:
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark
Statements
CAP Approval Date 19 June 2013
Valid from September 2013
Valid until Date September 2019
Version 3.
Part 2: Educational Aims of the Programme
To provide a professional training and qualification in counselling which is accredited by the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) To enhance the understanding, self-awareness and skills of students to a level satisfactory for recognition as professional counsellors To enable students to function effectively in the role of counsellor, client and supervisee To prepare students to work as professional counsellors in a variety of settings To enable students to situate counselling in the context of social, political and mental health fields / organisations
Part 2: Educational Aims of the Programme
To introduce students to basic skills of research, evaluation, consultation and supervision To enable students to learn about processes within groups To fulfill the training requirement needed for eligibility for Individual Accreditation with BACP
Programme requirements for the purposes of the Higher Education Achievement Record
(HEAR)
The Diploma in Professional Studies – Counselling Programme offers a professional qualification in counselling. It is accredited with the BACP and includes the following components which are all equally weighted in the training: Theory, Personal Development and Professional Practice. Students will complete 60 hours of personal therapy and a minimum of 120 hours of supervised counselling practice within a Placement Agency upon completion of the course.
Part 3: Learning Outcomes of the Programme
The award route provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas: Learning Outcomes: USPJNH
-^30 -^2 USPJUC -^30 -^2 USPJUA -^30 -^2 USPJNJ -^30 -^3 USPJUD -^30 -^3 USPJUB -^30 -^3 A) Knowledge and understanding of:
- The Core Integrative / Relational Counselling Model x x x x x x
- A range of client isues x x x
- The process of counselling x x x x x
- Different theoretical models x x x x
- Different learning cycles x x
- A range of professional issues x x x
- Different life stage theories x x x
- Power and inequality issues in the counselling relationship x x x x x
- Formulation from a range of theoretical perspectives x x x x
- Appropriate theories of group process x x
- Relevant counseling research to inform counseling practice x x x x x
- The BACP Ethical Framework and its application to counseling practice
- Types of medication and their effects
- Mental health issues
- Responsibilities of other mental health professionals
- Research methods x x x x x x x x x (B) Intellectual Skills
- Apply theoretical concepts to practice x x x x x x
- Critically reflect on own experience within large group and intergroup settings x x x x
- Evaluate issues of values and ethics in counselling x x x x
- Critically reflect on own experience of counselling x x x x x
- Make appropriate judgements on a range of professional issues in counselling x
- Critically reflect on own behaviour and that of others x x x x x
- Analyse correspondence between childhood experience and issues presented in adult clients x x x x x
- Qualitatively evaluate the influence of families of origin on the x x x x x
Part 4: Student Learning and Student Support
We are actively exploring ways of developing TEL across all Modules. Our current thinking is that we shall be working towards the introduction of Link for Tutorial contact from September 2014. In addition, students will be involved in audio and video recordings of their counselling skills practice, powerpoint presentations and sharing articles on-line. The Theory and Practice of Counselling 1 and 2 Modules have a strong TEL component. This features in the students engagement in producing powerpoint presentations and sharing relevant articles with each other around chosen topics. Students access Placement information via an online placement database and newsletter, specifically aimed at this Programme. A Student Handbook is provided at Induction that includes information on the Faculty, the University, its regulations and procedures and is supplemented by more specific Module guidelines. Students are supported during their time at UWE by central student support services. Student autonomy and self-direction is also developed through interaction with peers and private study, and direction to psychology/HLS bookable social learning areas and UWE wide social learning facilities where students can meet to exchange ideas. Students on the DPS – Counselling have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the relational approach to counselling through academic learning, personal and professional development which are integrated throughout the course, as well as placement working with clients. There is a placement Co-ordinator to facilitate communication between the course tutors and the placement supervisors. All students will participate in a placement outside of the course which offers supervised counselling practice. All students will be involved in personal weekly therapy outside of the course. Career planning and preparation: there will be opportunities on the course to consider potential opportunities to work as a counsellor. Students are provided with information around Individual Accreditation with BACP and local networking groups. Support is available to students with disabilities through the disability support unit. Each student has a personal tutor who will support the student relevant to their individual needs. On the DPS – Counselling programme teaching is a mix of theory sessions, practical counselling skills sessions, personal development groups/s, group work, supervision of counselling practice, student presentations and individual tutorials. Scheduled learning includes lectures, skills practice sessions, supervision of counselling practice, supervision of research project, personal development groups and group work sessions, student presentations and tutorials. Independent learning includes hours engaged with essential reading, case study preparation, assignment preparation and completion. Placement learning : Will include a practice placement - students will be involved in working with a number of clients as designated by the placement provider on a weekly basis. They will receive regular monthly counselling supervision with a qualified and experienced practitioner within the placement setting, according to BACP’s requirement of a minimum of one and a half hours per month.
Description of any Distinctive Features
Students are engaged in a supervised counselling practice placement weekly, and continuously, whilst they are attending the Programme over the two year period. This allows for constant and on-going integration of learning between the placement experience and what is being taught and facilitated at the University. This is a key feature of the course. (120 supervised counselling practice hours)
Part 4: Student Learning and Student Support
Students are also engaged in weekly, one-to-one personal therapy for the duration of the Programme. (60 hours) Again this is an integral component of the Programme which offers an integrated approach to personal development. The DPS – Counselling is a practitioner course leading to a professional qualification in counselling, accredited with the BACP.
Part 5: Assessment
Approved to University Regulations and Procedures
Assessment Strategy
Assessment strategy to enable the learning outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated: The DPS – Counselling is assessed by both formative (e.g. written assignments and skills / supervision practice) and summative (e.g. Viva, Logs of Counselling Practice Hours) assessment across the course. Assessments have been chosen in order to be valid (assess appropriate learning outcomes identified within the Programme), discriminate by ability (differentiating between students) reliable and fair. The purpose of assessment on this programme is to demonstrate to students and stakeholders (placement providers and potential employers) the quality of learning ability amongst graduates of the Programme. Furthermore, feedback on assessment throughout the Programme is designed to support students’ ongoing learning and development. Learners have different strengths and preferences for different assessment methods. Consequently, this Programme deliberately utilizes a range of alternative assessment approaches: Written assignments / essays, case study and research project Presentations Counselling skills practice Supervision of counselling practice Logs of counseling practice hours Logs of supervised counselling practice Supervisor’s report from placement Logs / record of personal therapy Reflections on personal and professional development Student performance on placement is commented on through a Supervisor’s Report at the end of each year. We do not and cannot expect Placement Supervisors to assess students formally as we do not pay them to do so, however, they are asked to complete a Report in which they are invited to comment about the student’s strengths and areas for further development. The staff team hold responsibility overall for assessing students’ performance. We work in a co-operative way with placement managers / supervisors to support students. Students are expected to provide evidence of their client practice hours through a Counselling Practice Log, a Supervision of Counselling Practice Log and a Supervisor’s Report. These are all signed off by the Placement Supervisor as evidence of successful completion. Students are also attending one-to-one personal weekly therapy for the duration of the course. They provide a signed Therapist Form at the beginning and at the end of the academic year verifying that they are attending personal therapy. This will be for a minimum of 30 Therapy hours per academic year. A signed form is all that is required as the nature of the therapy undertaken is confidential to both student (client) and therapist. However, the learning that takes place for the student as ‘client’ is crucial
Part 6: Programme Structure
This structure diagram demonstrates the student journey from Entry through to Graduation for a typical part time student , including: level and credit requirements, interim award requirements, module diet, including compulsory and optional modules
ENTRY
Year
Compulsory Modules Optional Modules Interim Awards
USPJNH- 30 - 2
Theory and Practice of Counselling 1 None None USPJUA- 30 - 2 Personal Awareness and Self Development 1 USPJUC- 30 - 2 Counselling Practice, Supervision and Research 1
Year
USPJNJ- 30 - 3
Personal and Professional Development in Counselling
Target Awards
Diploma in Professional Studies: Counselling USPJUB- 30 - 3 Theory and Practice of Counselling 2 USPJUD- 30 - 3 Counselling Practice, Supervision and Research 2
Graduation
Part 7: Entry Requirements
The University’s Standard Entry Requirements apply with the following additions/exceptions:
- Certificate in Counselling Skills (100 hours minimum)
- Evidence of personal development and professional practice Students, who have not completed the Certificate in Counselling Skills at UWE, will need to show evidence of completing a similar Counselling Skills Certificate of 100 hours duration in order to gain 60 credits needed towards the Diploma in Professional Studies – Counselling. This will need to be equivalent to QAA Level 3. Satisfactory DBS status
Part 8: Reference Points and Benchmarks
This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he / she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of individual modules can be found in module specifications. These are available on the University intranet. The learning outcomes have been developed with reference to the qualification descriptors in the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, and in particular those that describe a higher qualification at Level 6. Diploma in Professional Studies – Counselling. QAA UK Quality Code for HE National qualification framework Subject benchmark statements DPS – COUNSELLING YEAR 1 LEVEL 2 = LEVEL 5 (QAA) DPS – COUNSELLING YEAR 2 LEVEL 3 = LEVEL 6 (QAA) University strategies and policies Any occupational standards: BACP Ethical Framework BACP GOLD STANDARDS CRITERIA The Diploma in Professional Studies- Counselling is an Accredited course with the BACP. Feedback is gained annually from students and staff in terms of meeting the learning outcomes. Feedback is gained regularly from Placement Providers. External Examiner’s Reports. What methods have been used in the development of this programme to evaluate and improve the quality and standards of learning? This could include consideration of stakeholder feedback from, for example current students, graduates and employers. External Examiner feedback Placement Provider feedback Supervisor’s Report BACP Gold Standards Criteria BACP accreditation and re-accreditation processes Staff-student Liaison Student feedback There are regular placement meetings usually held termly at UWE, (for the past 15 years) and these are an important approach to working co-operatively with placement agencies who offer our students the opportunity to work as volunteer counsellors with their clients. All students and placement providers are provided with a Placement Handbook outlining the requirements of the course in line with the BACP’s Gold Standards Criteria. Placements are approved and monitored through the Programme Leader, in liaison with the Placement Co-ordinator at UWE. The placement provider completes a form outlining the qualifications of the Supervisor and the Professional Body to which the Supervisor is accountable. There is a Health and
Safety Policy in place, along with a Complaints Procedure and Policy.
