The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this unit of competency:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Observation of workplace performance is essential for assessment of this unit

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of client situations or scenarios relevant to the workplace including

couples counselling

individual counselling as planned strategy for relationships intervention

family counselling

child and/or young person counselling

cases of complex family dynamics

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in community services should be aware of access, equity and human rights issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Context of and specific 0resources for assessment:

In cases where the learner does not have the opportunity to cover all relevant aspects in the work environment, the remainder should be assessed through realistic simulations, projects, previous relevant experience or oral questioning on 'What if?' scenarios

Assessment of this unit of competence will usually include observation of processes and procedures, oral and/or written questioning on essential knowledge and skills and consideration of required attitudes

Where performance is not directly observed and/or is required to be demonstrated over a period of time and/or in a number of workplace settings, any evidence should be authenticated by colleagues, supervisors, clients or other appropriate persons

Method of assessment

Observation in the workplace is essential

Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge

Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice.

Counselling skills involving direct client contact are to be assessed initially on two occasions in a simulated counselling setting. If successful, further assessment is required during 10 hours actual counselling practice under direct supervision

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate

Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language barriers other than English

Where the candidate has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment

Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

These include knowledge of:

Development of counselling theories and practice approaches

Own prejudices and stereotyping attitudes and behaviour and the potential influence these may have on counselling practice

Limitations imposed on the counsellor client relationship as a result of professional and ethical responsibility in the context of an unequal balance of power in the counselling setting

Limitations to the effectiveness or usefulness of counsellor in some circumstances and course of actions appropriate for client referral when necessary

Contracting and reaching agreements with client about the nature, process and expected timeframes and responsibilities for counsellor and client within provisions of counselling

Importance and opportunities for continuing professional development and maintaining a professional level of self-awareness of current scientific and professional information and education in the area of counselling practices

Indicators and dynamics of domestic and family violence and complexities of interpersonal interactions, e.g. power, abuse and conflict

Procedures and instruments to screen for abuse before, during and after couple or family counselling and any additional safety planning requirements and procedures for clients and staff

Referral options and pathways to support clients seeking interventions and supports beyond or in conjunctions with counselling

Importance and intent of counsellor participation in supervision

Relevant state and federal legislation applicable to counselling practice

Limitations of confidentiality that may arise in the counselling setting

Contemporary research and approaches to counselling in diverse cultural contexts

Relevance of concepts of couple, family and child dynamics in normal and abnormal developmental forms

Main approaches used in counselling

Theories of major counselling approaches

Stages of human development and how this knowledge applies to counselling practice

Human diversity including culture, gender, age, ability, class, spirituality and ethnicity

Role of social contexts in the counselling relationship

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

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Essential knowledge (contd):

Impact of conflict, particularly high level and/or ongoing conflict, on children, and the use of child focused approaches to intervene and minimise the impacts.

Family research and implications for practice

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Identify and adhere to legislative requirements of counselling in a broad range of contexts including Family Law and counselling couples, families children

Explain counselling goals and action plans and outline counselling process and agreements

Assess and screen for domestic and family violence and child abuse using a range of instruments and processes

Monitor own competence through counselling supervision and be willing to consider the views expressed by clients and by counsellor colleagues

Manage the counselling role within an ethical context and discuss processes for client referral where necessary

Comprehend a variety of individual and systemic therapeutic approaches and their application, including evidence-based therapies and culturally sensitive approaches

Recognise the strengths limitations and contraindications of specific therapeutic approaches, including risk of harm associated with approaches that incorporate assumptions of family dysfunction

Apply an appropriate counselling approach and identify specific techniques to ensure client needs are met

Apply advanced counselling interventions and explain the contribution of counselling to the therapeutic process

Compare and contrast counselling theories and approaches

Identify common concerns in the provision of counselling processes

Work in a multidisciplinary environment where appropriate

Manage confidentiality of information obtained from clients during the counselling process

Maintain a solid theoretical base for effective and contemporary counselling practice

Manage the dynamics of counselling groups and family groups experiencing high levels of ongoing conflict

Respect and promote client self determination and ability to make own decisions within the clients value, beliefs and context

Demonstrate sensitivity when counselling individual and groups from diverse backgrounds

Apply age appropriate communication and counselling techniques when working with children and young people

Produce case records, files and reports to a standard acceptable to industry standards

Complete case work and participate effectively in case management processes where appropriate

Practise self critique and non-defensive recognition of own errors

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Counselling approaches may include one or more of the following and is not limited to:

Systemic family therapy

Narrative therapy

Group therapy

Gestalt therapy

Person-centred therapy

Existential therapy

Evidence-based family counselling

Depth of knowledge and levels of application of counselling approaches and theories is outlined in the Essential knowledge and skills section of this unit of competency

Counselling theories may include but is not limited to knowledge of principles of:

Theory of grief and loss and relationship to individuals including children experiencing separation and divorce

Theories of conflict management and negotiation and relevance to family/couples relationship counselling

Theories of separation and anxiety and application to experiences of children in situations of parental conflict and separation

Theories of human development, human sexuality, gender development and family development.

Theories of family systems and their importance in the family relationship counselling context.

Theories of change in complex circumstances

Peer support structures may include but are not limited to:

Discussions and reflective practice with colleagues

Discussions and reflective practice with other counsellors

Exploring issues in group supervision

Learning circles with peers

Supervision requires counsellors to:

Engage in a purposeful arrangement with a clinical supervisor to:

Reflect on the setting of their work and understand the process which lead to failure in counselling

Consider legal and ethical obligations

Analyse experience and practice of working with people in the counselling setting

Self awareness includes:

Awareness of own values, experiences and family of origin ,prejudices and stereotyping attitudes and behaviour and the potential influence these may have on counselling practice

Describe the effect of complex cases on the self of the family counsellor

Professional development may include:

Obtaining knowledge of advances and theoretical applications to counselling practice through:

further training or study for knowledge or skills development

individual research

attending relevant conferences

maintaining any standards for professional membership

maintaining regular individual and peer supervision

Develop an hypothesis relates to:

Development regarding relationship patterns, their bearing on the presenting problem and the influence of extra-therapeutic factors on client systems

Family relationship patterns and themes may include but are not limited to:

Family violence and abuse

Child protection issues

High levels of conflict

Separation divorce

Co-dependency

Ineffective communication

Psychological issues relating to expressions of emotions

Relationship webs may include:

Tools used to assess family history and dynamics:

genograms

sociograms

other diagrammatic or pictorial representation of relationships

Develop a systemic intervention with the aim to:

Empower clients and their relational systems to establish effective relationships with each other and larger systems

Counselling contexts may include:

Couples counselling

Family group counselling

Individual counselling

Counselling children and young people