This unit of competency applies to relationship counsellors providing counselling for couples, families, children and individuals (voluntary or involuntary) within the Family Relationships work area

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Establish rapport and explore the clients 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 effective 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 the counselling strategies to a broad range of 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/s when counselling no longer appears to serve the clients interest or needs and either renegotiate the professional relationship or terminate the service

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

4.4 Discuss with the client any interruptions to counselling, planned or otherwise, and implement alternative interim counselling

5. Seek feedback from the client/s 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 a range of 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

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:

Difference in grief in men, women, children and young people

Own prejudices and stereotyping attitudes and behaviour about grief and loss 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 counselling practice in some circumstances and appropriate for client referral when necessary

Contracting and reaching agreements with client about the nature, process and expected timeframes and responsibilities of counsellor and client within the 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 grief and loss

Indicators and dynamics of domestic and family violence and complexities of interpersonal interactions, e.g. power, abuse and conflict and impact of these on grief process

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 e.g. group support for grief

The 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 grief and loss counselling in diverse cultural contexts

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

Critical understanding and appreciation of the main approaches used in grief counselling

Critical understanding of the theories of major grief counselling approaches

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

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

continued ...

Essential knowledge (contd):

Recognise the role of social contexts on the counselling relationship

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

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

Complicated grief processes e.g. people bereaved by suicide and other traumatic loss

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 and 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 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

Assess grief and loss relating to cultural and spiritual differences

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

Compare and contrast grief counselling theories and approaches

Identify common client 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 interventions when working with children and young people

Work with child and parental loss

Counsel and intervene for complicated grief and loss situations

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 situations relevant to the workplace

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 resources 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

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.

Grief and loss may include but is not limited to:

Significant loss for example:

relationships

employment

missed opportunities

goals and visions

infertility

Range of responses to grief and loss may include but are not limited to:

Different responses to grief will be evident depending on circumstances of loss, e.g. post loss, suicide, homicide, disaster, indirect loss, vicarious traumatisation. Responses may include:

Disbelief

Avoidance

Anger

Sadness

Withdrawal

Dissociation

Suicidal ideations

Self-harming

Stress reactions

Post traumatic stress disorder

Depression

Numbing

Denial

Anxiety

Counselling strategies may include but are not limited to:

Depth of knowledge and levels of application of counselling approaches and theories is presented at the Essential knowledge and skills section of this unit of competency:

Narrative therapy

Grief and loss model

Group therapy

Gestalt therapy

Person-centred therapy

Existential therapy

Research-informed practice

Safety and assessed risks may include:

Processes for proactively enquiring about the presence of family domestic violence with the intention of preventing further violence or harm

Processes for evaluating the nature of specific risks to safety for individual clients including depression, using assessment and structured clinical judgement

The content of risk may relate to:

exposure to further violence

mental health issues

children's and parenting issues

Other support services may include:

Crisis intervention services

Legal or medical services

Family domestic violence services

Child support services

Culturally specific services

Accommodation services

Access to services/information

Financial services

Child support agency

Mediation services

Living skills and problem solving programs

Educational programs

Specialist services (include GP and psychiatrist)

Grief support for grief and loss (therapeutic and self help)

Terminate counselling sessions may include:

Planned termination of counselling

Dealing with client decision to terminate the sessions

Counsellor assessing and identifying issues of concern in a client case where to continue counselling would be unethical and/or place the client and/or others at risk

Interruptions to counselling may include:

Counsellor illness

Counsellor planned leave

Counsellor changes employment

Interruptions due to organisation change

Counsellor ceases practice

Other external factors e.g. client illness, expert recommendations that counselling cease

Feedback strategies may include but are not limited to:

Interviews with colleagues

In session feedback (with longer term work of grief)

Evaluation forms

Complaints

Recommendations

Suggestions

Focus group work

This unit contains Employability Skills