Introductory description

This module provides students with a framework for understanding Ethical decision making and an understanding of the process and procedures for Ethical and legal decisions and practice within the Counselling Relationship. Fundamental practical issues will be addressed including confidentiality, informed consent, multiple relationships, professional assessment, and safeguarding within practice.
This will be backed up through the opportunity for some work based learning in a relevant setting.
The BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions is central to this module.
This module develops employability skills in students through building a current awareness of key professional and ethical issues for students working within multidisciplinary teams and within various organisational settings.

This module is delivered through a mixture of learning and teaching methods, including didactic presentations, small group work and discussion, and case studies/scenarios. Topical, relative issues recounted in the media are utilised to enable students to put the theoretical concepts in context. Formative and summative assessments aim to facilitate students’ ability to deliver a critical understanding of key concepts and issues; enabling them to enhance from L4 further autonomous learning, problem solving, research skills and to work effectively with others. Formative feedback will be provided for essay plans and case study material. Summative assessments include a written assignment and a case study in which students consider ethical issues, good practice and processes.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

BACP Ethical Framework.
Legal Issues within Counselling Practice.
Multi agency working and joint working.
Work based learning
Confidentiality and Information sharing.
Best Practice re Safeguarding.
Best Practice re Suicide and Managing Risk.
Professional Issues in regard to Mental Health Spectrum.
Note taking and Record Keeping.
Complaints process.
Contracting and Professional Boundaries.
Referral pathways.
Self Care for Counsellor and Compassion Fatigue resilience.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Identify and explain relevance to practice of key principles of the BACP Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions – 2018.
• Identify and explain relevance of key legal issues pertaining to Counselling Practice and legal obligations in practice.
• Identify and explain appropriate personal ethics and practice, within a Diverse and Multicultural Context with awareness of limitations and referral pathway.
• Identify and explain key issues in regard to Mental Health spectrum, safeguarding and working with suicide.
• Demonstrate recognition of the importance of Self care through providing a suitable Self-care plan for themselves.

Indicative reading list

BACP 2018, Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions, Lutterworth , BACP pubs.
Bond T 2015, Standards and Ethics for Counselling in Action, London, SAGE.
Bond T and Mitchels B 2014, Legal Issues across Counselling and Psychotherapy settings, London, SAGE.
Reeves A 2018, An Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy, London, London, SAGE.

Research element

Foundational reading and application of understanding of research into professional issues

Subject specific skills

• Identify key ethical and professional requirements and principles and their application in counselling
• Initial relationship building in groups and other course contexts
• Empathy and the ability to listen carefully and reflect back in the helping context
• Formative assessment and formulation of client needs

Transferable skills

• Formative ethical decision-making sometimes with incomplete information
• Capacity to understand and evaluate debates on sensitive professional areas
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing - including ability to articulate principal concepts and arguments and giving and receiving feedback,
• Foundation level ability to work in small groups, with some understanding of the dynamics of such groups
• Ability to form good, supportive, challenging and trusting relationships with others in which sensitive personal material can be considered