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.
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.
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.

Learning outcomes

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

• Identify and effectively apply key principles for practice of the BACP Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions – 2018.
• Communicate and apply their own personal ethics, motivation and values appropriately in relation to the Counselling relationship and process.
• Identify and appropriately legal obligations and responsibilities as a practitioner.
• Identify, describe and apply key principles of Managing Risk including safeguarding, suicide and mental health spectrum.
• Identify, describe and apply key Ethical principles pertaining to working with diversity and difference.
• Identify, describe and apply knowledge of clear referral pathways and multi-agency working demands.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Research element

Drawing on research to inform professional knowledge and application.

Subject specific skills

• Thorough understanding of legal, ethical and professional requirements and principles and their application
• Consolidated level of contracting in the therapeutic dyad
• Communication of legal and ethical principles for counselling
• Assessment and formulation of client needs in relation to the BACP ethical framework
• Formulation of therapeutic approach in relation to the BACP ethical framework
• Monitoring and evaluation of theory and professional guidance in relation to the BACP ethical framework.

Transferable skills

• Consolidated capacity for ethical decision making in complex situations, sometimes with incomplete information
• Capacity to understand and evaluate debates about ethical, legal and professional issues in counselling
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing - including the ability to articulate principal concepts
  and arguments and self-reflect on these in written communications where appropriate
• Application of learning from work in small groups, with some understanding of the dynamics of such groups
• Ability to sustain good, supportive, challenging and trusting relationships with others in which sensitive personal
  material can be considered
• Capacity to learn from the process of challenge, self-reflection and change,