Assessor Resource

CHCFCS004
Provide grief and loss counselling

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit describes the skills and knowledge required for counsellors to explore the meaning and effect of grief and loss issues and work with individuals and families experiencing grief and loss.

This unit applies to family relationship counsellors who operate with significant autonomy in therapeutic professional service roles in the community sector. The activity is self-directed.

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. Explore the client’s understanding of grief and loss

1.1 Engage with client using their framework and language to establish an environment of safety and trust

1.2 Join with the client to explore client’s understanding of grief and loss

1.3 Assist clients to understand how their unique context has impacted on their experience of grief and loss

1.4 Explain the role of the counsellor in dealing with loss

2. Assist clients to understand the different impacts of grief and loss

2.1 Explain the possible range of responses to grief and loss

2.2 Use intervention techniques to assist the client to normalise their responses to grief and loss

2.3 Use correct terminology and concepts in the grief counselling process

2.4 Identify the key issues in bereavement counselling setting

2.5 Apply counselling strategies to diverse responses to grief

3. Formulate counselling responses to grief and loss

3.1 Monitor and respond to client presentations including safety and assessed risks

3.2 Assist client to set goals or outcomes for the grief and loss process, dependant upon clients position in grieving process

3.3 Match therapeutic interventions to client’s needs and goals

3.4 Facilitate referrals to other support services where appropriate

4. Terminate counselling sessions

4.1 Recognise when the counselling is no longer serving the interests or needs of the client

4.2 Discuss with the client when counselling no longer appears to serve their interest or needs and either renegotiate the professional relationship or terminate the service

4.3 Engage the client in determining any further external interventions as identified and arrange appropriate referrals

5. Seek feedback from clients about the counselling service provided

5.1 Review counselling progress and provision regularly with the client

5.2 Obtain feedback from the client throughout and at the conclusion of the counselling service

5.3 Use feedback strategies to encourage client contribution to improved counselling practice

5.4 Review client feedback and use this to inform practice reflection and improvement in conjunction with supervision

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:

worked collaboratively with clients and provided counselling to at least 3 different individuals or family groups experiencing grief and loss, including:

adults

children

people from different cultures

used specialised counselling communication skills

addressed a diverse range of loss and grief issues, including those relating to:

child and parental loss

relationships

employment

missed opportunities.

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 grief and loss counselling, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:

codes of conduct

discrimination

duty of care

practitioner client boundaries and implications of unequal balance of power

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure, including limitations

records management

rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients

work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations, including situations where usefulness of counselling may be limited and referral is required

work health and safety

different types of grief and understanding attitudes, attachment and anxiety issues associated with grief

difference in grief responses in men and women,

developmental stages and how grief is likely to affect young people and children

impacts of separation and divorce on couples, parents, children and other family members

indicators and dynamics of domestic and family violence and complexities of interpersonal interactions

main approaches used in grief counselling, their underpinning theories, how they compare and their strengths, limitations and contraindications

responses to grief and how these are addressed in different counselling models, including:

disbelief

avoidance

anger

sadness

withdrawal

dissociation

suicidal ideations

self-harming

stress reactions

post traumatic stress disorder

depression

numbing

denial

anxiety

considerations for the counselling process when working with diverse people experiencing loss and grief, including factors relating to:

ability

age

class

culture

ethnicity

gender

sexual orientation

spirituality

counselling and case work processes, including those related to:

contracting and what needs to be agreed

documentation

interactions with other professionals and service providers

interactions with the client, their family, significant others and carers

type and scope of referral options and pathways to support clients seeking interventions and supports beyond or in conjunction with counselling

own prejudices and stereotyping attitudes and the potential influence on counselling practice.

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace with the addition of simulations and scenarios where the full range of contexts and situations have not been provided in the workplace. 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 other people.

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


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. Explore the client’s understanding of grief and loss

1.1 Engage with client using their framework and language to establish an environment of safety and trust

1.2 Join with the client to explore client’s understanding of grief and loss

1.3 Assist clients to understand how their unique context has impacted on their experience of grief and loss

1.4 Explain the role of the counsellor in dealing with loss

2. Assist clients to understand the different impacts of grief and loss

2.1 Explain the possible range of responses to grief and loss

2.2 Use intervention techniques to assist the client to normalise their responses to grief and loss

2.3 Use correct terminology and concepts in the grief counselling process

2.4 Identify the key issues in bereavement counselling setting

2.5 Apply counselling strategies to diverse responses to grief

3. Formulate counselling responses to grief and loss

3.1 Monitor and respond to client presentations including safety and assessed risks

3.2 Assist client to set goals or outcomes for the grief and loss process, dependant upon clients position in grieving process

3.3 Match therapeutic interventions to client’s needs and goals

3.4 Facilitate referrals to other support services where appropriate

4. Terminate counselling sessions

4.1 Recognise when the counselling is no longer serving the interests or needs of the client

4.2 Discuss with the client when counselling no longer appears to serve their interest or needs and either renegotiate the professional relationship or terminate the service

4.3 Engage the client in determining any further external interventions as identified and arrange appropriate referrals

5. Seek feedback from clients about the counselling service provided

5.1 Review counselling progress and provision regularly with the client

5.2 Obtain feedback from the client throughout and at the conclusion of the counselling service

5.3 Use feedback strategies to encourage client contribution to improved counselling practice

5.4 Review client feedback and use this to inform practice reflection and improvement in conjunction with supervision

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:

worked collaboratively with clients and provided counselling to at least 3 different individuals or family groups experiencing grief and loss, including:

adults

children

people from different cultures

used specialised counselling communication skills

addressed a diverse range of loss and grief issues, including those relating to:

child and parental loss

relationships

employment

missed opportunities.

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 grief and loss counselling, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:

codes of conduct

discrimination

duty of care

practitioner client boundaries and implications of unequal balance of power

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure, including limitations

records management

rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients

work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations, including situations where usefulness of counselling may be limited and referral is required

work health and safety

different types of grief and understanding attitudes, attachment and anxiety issues associated with grief

difference in grief responses in men and women,

developmental stages and how grief is likely to affect young people and children

impacts of separation and divorce on couples, parents, children and other family members

indicators and dynamics of domestic and family violence and complexities of interpersonal interactions

main approaches used in grief counselling, their underpinning theories, how they compare and their strengths, limitations and contraindications

responses to grief and how these are addressed in different counselling models, including:

disbelief

avoidance

anger

sadness

withdrawal

dissociation

suicidal ideations

self-harming

stress reactions

post traumatic stress disorder

depression

numbing

denial

anxiety

considerations for the counselling process when working with diverse people experiencing loss and grief, including factors relating to:

ability

age

class

culture

ethnicity

gender

sexual orientation

spirituality

counselling and case work processes, including those related to:

contracting and what needs to be agreed

documentation

interactions with other professionals and service providers

interactions with the client, their family, significant others and carers

type and scope of referral options and pathways to support clients seeking interventions and supports beyond or in conjunction with counselling

own prejudices and stereotyping attitudes and the potential influence on counselling practice.

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace with the addition of simulations and scenarios where the full range of contexts and situations have not been provided in the workplace. 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 other people.

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

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
 
Engage with client using their framework and language to establish an environment of safety and trust 
Join with the client to explore client’s understanding of grief and loss 
Assist clients to understand how their unique context has impacted on their experience of grief and loss 
Explain the role of the counsellor in dealing with loss 
Explain the possible range of responses to grief and loss 
Use intervention techniques to assist the client to normalise their responses to grief and loss 
Use correct terminology and concepts in the grief counselling process 
Identify the key issues in bereavement counselling setting 
Apply counselling strategies to diverse responses to grief 
Monitor and respond to client presentations including safety and assessed risks 
Assist client to set goals or outcomes for the grief and loss process, dependant upon clients position in grieving process 
Match therapeutic interventions to client’s needs and goals 
Facilitate referrals to other support services where appropriate 
Recognise when the counselling is no longer serving the interests or needs of the client 
Discuss with the client when counselling no longer appears to serve their interest or needs and either renegotiate the professional relationship or terminate the service 
Engage the client in determining any further external interventions as identified and arrange appropriate referrals 
Review counselling progress and provision regularly with the client 
Obtain feedback from the client throughout and at the conclusion of the counselling service 
Use feedback strategies to encourage client contribution to improved counselling practice 
Review client feedback and use this to inform practice reflection and improvement in conjunction with supervision 
Engage with client using their framework and language to establish an environment of safety and trust 
Join with the client to explore client’s understanding of grief and loss 
Assist clients to understand how their unique context has impacted on their experience of grief and loss 
Explain the role of the counsellor in dealing with loss 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CHCFCS004 - Provide grief and loss counselling
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

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

CHCFCS004 - Provide grief and loss counselling

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:

Date: