Assessor Resource

CHCCSL002
Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use advanced and specialised communication skills in the client-counsellor relationship.

This unit applies to individuals whose job role involves working with clients on personal and psychological issues within established policies, procedures and guidelines.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand Standards and industry codes of practice.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Communicate effectively

1.1 Identify communication barriers and use strategies to overcome these barriers in the client-counsellor relationship

1.2 Facilitate the client-counsellor relationship through selection and use of micro skills

1.3 Integrate the principles of effective communication into work practices

1.4 Observe and respond to non-verbal communication cues

1.5 Consider and respond to the impacts of different communication techniques on the client-counsellor relationship in the context of individual clients

1.6 Integrate case note taking with minimum distraction

2. Use specialised counselling interviewing skills

2.1 Select and use communication skills according to the sequence of a counselling interview

2.2 Identify points at which specialised counselling interviewing skills are appropriate for inclusion

2.3 Use specialised counselling communication techniques based on their impacts and potential to enhance client development and growth

2.4 Identify and respond appropriately to strong client emotional reactions

3. Evaluate own communication

3.1 Reflect on and evaluate own communication with clients

3.2 Recognise the effect of own values and beliefs on communication with clients

3.3 Identify and respond to the need for development of own skills and knowledge

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

interviewed at least 3 different clients using specialised interpersonal communication and counselling interviewing skills, including:

micro-skills and communication techniques, including:

attending behaviours – active listening,

reflection of content, summarising

questioning skills – open, closed, simple and compound questions

client observation skills

noting and reflecting skills

providing client feedback

specialised counseling interviewing skills, including:

challenging

reframing

focussing

integrated clear case note taking into the interview process

completed a structured process of self-reflection and evaluation of own communication used during the 3 interviews.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical considerations for communication in counselling practice, and how these are applied in individual practice:

codes of conduct/practice

discrimination

duty of care

human rights

practitioner/client boundaries

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients

work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations of the counsellor role

work health and safety

principles of person-centred practice

key objectives of counselling interviewing

stages of a counselling interview

potential impacts of using different communication skills and techniques in counselling contexts

communication techniques and micro-skills including:

attending behaviours – active listening, reflection of content feeling, summarising

questioning skills – open, closed, simple and compound questions

client observation skills

noting and reflecting skills

providing client feedback

specialised counselling communication techniques, and how they are used, including:

challenging

reframing

focusing

components of the communication process including:

encoder

decoder

primary factors that impact on the communication process including:

context

participants

rules

messages

channels

noise

feedback

communication barriers and resolution strategies, including:

environmental

physical

individual perceptions

cultural issues

language

age issues

disability

mechanisms that enhance effective interpersonal communication

observational techniques including:

facial expressions

non-verbal behaviour

posture

silence

ways in which different people absorb information, including:

visual

auditory

kinaesthetic

obstacles to the counselling process

impacts of trauma and stress on the communication process, including on:

concentration and attention

memory

use of verbal and written language

use of body language

challenging within the counselling session

self-evaluation practices, including:

how to recognise own biases

impact of own values on the counselling relationship.

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:

use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including client information

modelling of industry operating conditions, including:

scenarios that involve complex interactions with real people in face-to-face situations where candidate and client are physically present in the same room

scenarios that involve problem solving.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

In addition, assessors must have 2 years experience working in a counselling role and hold a qualification in counselling or related field that involves counselling, at Diploma level or higher (or equivalent qualification).


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Communicate effectively

1.1 Identify communication barriers and use strategies to overcome these barriers in the client-counsellor relationship

1.2 Facilitate the client-counsellor relationship through selection and use of micro skills

1.3 Integrate the principles of effective communication into work practices

1.4 Observe and respond to non-verbal communication cues

1.5 Consider and respond to the impacts of different communication techniques on the client-counsellor relationship in the context of individual clients

1.6 Integrate case note taking with minimum distraction

2. Use specialised counselling interviewing skills

2.1 Select and use communication skills according to the sequence of a counselling interview

2.2 Identify points at which specialised counselling interviewing skills are appropriate for inclusion

2.3 Use specialised counselling communication techniques based on their impacts and potential to enhance client development and growth

2.4 Identify and respond appropriately to strong client emotional reactions

3. Evaluate own communication

3.1 Reflect on and evaluate own communication with clients

3.2 Recognise the effect of own values and beliefs on communication with clients

3.3 Identify and respond to the need for development of own skills and knowledge

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

interviewed at least 3 different clients using specialised interpersonal communication and counselling interviewing skills, including:

micro-skills and communication techniques, including:

attending behaviours – active listening,

reflection of content, summarising

questioning skills – open, closed, simple and compound questions

client observation skills

noting and reflecting skills

providing client feedback

specialised counseling interviewing skills, including:

challenging

reframing

focussing

integrated clear case note taking into the interview process

completed a structured process of self-reflection and evaluation of own communication used during the 3 interviews.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical considerations for communication in counselling practice, and how these are applied in individual practice:

codes of conduct/practice

discrimination

duty of care

human rights

practitioner/client boundaries

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients

work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations of the counsellor role

work health and safety

principles of person-centred practice

key objectives of counselling interviewing

stages of a counselling interview

potential impacts of using different communication skills and techniques in counselling contexts

communication techniques and micro-skills including:

attending behaviours – active listening, reflection of content feeling, summarising

questioning skills – open, closed, simple and compound questions

client observation skills

noting and reflecting skills

providing client feedback

specialised counselling communication techniques, and how they are used, including:

challenging

reframing

focusing

components of the communication process including:

encoder

decoder

primary factors that impact on the communication process including:

context

participants

rules

messages

channels

noise

feedback

communication barriers and resolution strategies, including:

environmental

physical

individual perceptions

cultural issues

language

age issues

disability

mechanisms that enhance effective interpersonal communication

observational techniques including:

facial expressions

non-verbal behaviour

posture

silence

ways in which different people absorb information, including:

visual

auditory

kinaesthetic

obstacles to the counselling process

impacts of trauma and stress on the communication process, including on:

concentration and attention

memory

use of verbal and written language

use of body language

challenging within the counselling session

self-evaluation practices, including:

how to recognise own biases

impact of own values on the counselling relationship.

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:

use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including client information

modelling of industry operating conditions, including:

scenarios that involve complex interactions with real people in face-to-face situations where candidate and client are physically present in the same room

scenarios that involve problem solving.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

In addition, assessors must have 2 years experience working in a counselling role and hold a qualification in counselling or related field that involves counselling, at Diploma level or higher (or equivalent qualification).

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
 
Identify communication barriers and use strategies to overcome these barriers in the client-counsellor relationship 
Facilitate the client-counsellor relationship through selection and use of micro skills 
Integrate the principles of effective communication into work practices 
Observe and respond to non-verbal communication cues 
Consider and respond to the impacts of different communication techniques on the client-counsellor relationship in the context of individual clients 
Integrate case note taking with minimum distraction 
Select and use communication skills according to the sequence of a counselling interview 
Identify points at which specialised counselling interviewing skills are appropriate for inclusion 
Use specialised counselling communication techniques based on their impacts and potential to enhance client development and growth 
Identify and respond appropriately to strong client emotional reactions 
Reflect on and evaluate own communication with clients 
Recognise the effect of own values and beliefs on communication with clients 
Identify and respond to the need for development of own skills and knowledge 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CHCCSL002 - Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessor name:

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Assessment Record Sheet

CHCCSL002 - Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

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