Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assist clients to clarify their goals, explore options and develop a course of action.
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.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Assist clients to clarify goals and requirements | 1.1 Explain clearly to clients the policy on record-keeping and confidentiality 1.2 Encourage clients to identify and explore their aims, requirements and ideas 1.3 Assist clients to identify practical goals and requirements for these, and discuss with clients how goals might be modified based on client strengths 1.4 Identify situations where aims and requirements of clients cannot be met, and make referrals to alternative sources of guidance and support |
2. Explore options with clients | 2.1 Identify collaboratively potential courses of action for meeting individual aims and requirements 2.2 Identify and explore factors which could influence the preference for, and ability to achieve, a course of action 2.3 Determine and explore features and likely consequences of possible courses of action 2.4 Check client’s understanding of what is likely to be involved in each possible course of action |
3. Support client to reach decisions | 3.1 Assist clients to assess possible advantages and disadvantages of each possible course of action, and their appropriateness for meeting client requirements 3.2 Encourage clients to decide on a course of action and to consider alternatives which could be used, if necessary 3.3 Document decisions and agreed ongoing support within organisation guidelines |
Evidence of Performance
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 to provide decision-making and action planning support to at least 3 clients
demonstrated skills in working with 3 different decision-making models for the following:
identifying and exploring options
counselling process and methods
problem solving
action planning
documenting decisions.
Evidence of Knowledge
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 counselling, 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
records management
rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients
work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations
work health and safety
different agency and organisation models of counselling and intervention
types of goals that may be set for different circumstances
key concepts, principles and practices of 3 different decision-making models
obstacles to decision making and planning in the counselling context
problem solving and action planning techniques in the counselling context
referral options.
Assessment Conditions
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).
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.