POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION Programme Title: MSc/Postgraduate Diploma Psychotherapeutic Counselling Awarding Body: Teaching Institution: Staffordshire University Staffordshire University Final Awards: Master of Science in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Intermediate Awards: Postgraduate Certificate in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Mode of Study Part-time UCAS Codes: N/A QAA Subject Benchmarks: Professional/Statutory Body: Entry Year: 2017/18 If you require this document in a larger text or a different media please contact us. 1
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME This course follows closely the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy s guidelines for professional counsellors, and aims to: Provide students with an in-depth exploration in integrative counselling and its application to counselling and the mental health field. Equip students with the conceptual understanding, skills and knowledge to assess critically research findings in the context of the developing discipline of counselling. Encourage students to consider and critically reflect on ethical, legal and moral aspects of different approaches to counselling issues. Equip students with the skills that will prepare them for employment as professional counsellors. Develop students abilities so that they become competent and reflexive practitioners, able to work effectively and professionally with others, Provide a qualifying award that enables students to work towards individual practitioner accreditation (BACP) and registration with United Kingdom Register of Counsellors (UKRC). Sustain a culture of research and learning, while encouraging students to question their previous assumptions and develop an open and enquiring attitude. Enable students to develop their ability to carry out independent research at an advanced level and to incorporate this learning into written assignments, demonstrating self-direction and originality. What is distinctive about this programme? The programme is designed to provide an education and training in an integrative approach to psychological counselling and therapy to a level appropriate for safe, ethical and effective practice. The philosophy of the suite of counselling courses takes a holistic view of the person incorporating aspects of phenomenological experience, emotional and thought processes, developmental aspects and family context with an emphasis on social and cultural influences. The overall objective is to facilitate development of reflexive counsellors who value the significance of the therapeutic relationship, who can engage with flexibility in response to a diverse range of client issues and facilitate client change. The Counselling tutors are both practitioners and academics, practising in various settings, and are involved in research and scholarship relevant to the course. They bring a depth and breadth of skills, experience and knowledge to the course and strive, both within their practice and teaching, to reflect the key issues within counselling that affect the world in which we live. 2
Students who successfully pass the Postgraduate Diploma will have the option to apply to undertake and additional research year and complete the MSc. The Staffordshire Graduate Psychotherapeutic Counselling Embedded within Psychology we proffer a suite of counselling courses, consisting of the Masters Psychotherapeutic Counselling, Postgraduate and Professional Diploma Psychotherapeutic Counselling, a Certificate in Counselling and an Introduction to Basic Counselling skills. The counselling awards aim to produce graduates who are reflective practitioners as well as critical learners; who are able to analyse and problem solve. Our graduates endeavour to be proficient in a wide range of skills and are able to interact confidently with colleagues equipping them to enter the world of work as safe and ethical counsellors. Within all modules we aim to provide our graduates with discipline expertise through instilling a critical knowledge of theory and research. This is achieved through a variety of teaching methods including, personal and academic tutorials; group discussions; exercises; individual and group presentations and skills practice, both within the classroom and through work placements. All of which are intended to encourage and extend communication, presentation and team working skills, furthering their development of the transferable skills (including the safe and ethical practice) that employers seek. It is our aim to produce graduates who are equipped to enter the world of work and are enterprising or entrepreneurial by nature. To achieve this students are continually encouraged to develop through independence of thought, critical evaluation of theoretical concepts and reflect on application of ideas to practice. As part of our commitment to ensuring that our graduates are professional practitioners, students have the opportunity to widen their understanding of a variety of counselling theoretical approaches, including person centred, cognitive behavioural, attachment and systemic theories, and to demonstrate their knowledge of these areas within their counselling skills practise. We encourage students to develop global citizenship through an awareness of cultural diversity as well as individual differences, through experiential exercises and personal reflection, cultivating cultural competence as well as developing self awareness and acceptance. To ensure effective team-working and group cohesion we include both a compulsory weekend at the beginning of our courses, along with weekend 3
workshops; these help to develop the supportive group context necessary to facilitate both personal and professional development throughout the course. Our courses are designed to build a culture of reflective practice that can be further developed through continued lifelong learning. Graduates are encouraged to further develop their good analytical and enquiry skills through continual professional development (CPD) both within the workplace and with further training. Students are further encouraged to build on their academic and practical skills by engaging with the wide and varied range of teaching and learning resources, including, digital technology, such as video and audio recording equipment, to assist in preparation and presentation of their theoretical and practical skills throughout the awards. 4
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES What will this programme teach me to do? At the end of your studies you should be able to: Postgraduate Diploma Engage in critical analysis of how research and theories of counselling are applied to client problems including in-depth awareness of limitations and evidence of original thinking (SU: Knowledge and understanding, Analysis, Application). Communicate an understanding of critical evaluation and in-depth analysis of the key psychological and practice based assumptions within a variety of counselling approaches, through critical analysis of research papers used in the counselling field (SU: Knowledge and Understanding, Analysis, Enquiry). Demonstrate a critical ability to reflect in-depth on counselling practice, in counselling supervision and during self-reflection (SU: Problem Solving, Communication, Reflection) Apply an extensive critical ability to analyse how counselling interventions impact on client groups in different types of settings (SU: Knowledge and Understanding, Analysis). Demonstrate extensive development and demonstration of transferable skills and in-depth practical understanding of how established methods of research, enquiry and evaluation contribute to skilled, competent, safe, evaluative and selfreflective counselling practice (SU: Learning, Application, Reflection). MSc In addition to the Diploma level outcomes, MSc graduates will have undertaken and completed an appropriate counselling-related research project. At the end of this period of learning, students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate critical awareness of the research process and be able to critically evaluate and apply a range of research methods (SU: Knowledge and understanding, Learning, Enquiry, Analysis, Communication) 2. Design, conduct, and analyse the results of an ethically approved and methodologically sound study to address a pertinent research question in counselling (SU: Knowledge and understanding, Enquiry, Analysis, Problem Solving, Application, Reflection) 5
The learning outcomes statements have been cross-referenced to Staffordshire University s set of generic learning outcomes e.g. Knowledge and Understanding, details of which can be found at: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/assets/suoutcomes_tcm44-34896.doc 6
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE, MODULES AND CREDITS The Postgraduate Diploma award operates within the general framework for the University Postgraduate Diploma Awards (level 7) Postgraduate Diploma 120 Credits Potential award = Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling L E V E L Year 1 Teaching Block 1&2 Theory, Research & Professional Issues in Counselling 1 (PSYC70509) 30 Credits Personal Development & Counselling Skills 1 (PSYC70510) 30 Credits (7) L E V E L Year 2 Teaching Block 1&2 Theory, Research & Professional Issues in Counselling 2 (PSYC70511) 30 Credits Personal Development & Counselling Skills 2 (PSYC70659) 30 Credits (7) The MSc award operates within the general framework for the University Postgraduate Awards (level 7) L E V E L M (7) Year 3 Teaching Block 1 Teaching Block 2 Research Proposal (PSYC70534) (15 credits) Dissertation (PSYC70535) (45 credits) (33% semester 1, 67% semester 2) 7
Potential Awards: Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) comprises PG Cert (60 credits) plus credits acquired in year 2 (60 credits). Master of Science (top-up year) (60 credits) (following Post-Graduate Diploma (120 credits) or equivalent) Progression: It is the hope of the course team that all students will complete their studies. However, we do understand that some students may decide to leave after the first year, and therefore there is the option for students to exit with a Postgraduate Certificate, however this is considered an introductory level and is not a practising qualification. Students need to successfully complete all year 1 modules (PSYC70509 and PSYC70510) to be eligible for the Postgraduate Certificate Psychotherapeutic Counselling. Students who achieve a Postgraduate Diploma will be able to apply for the final MSc year. Transfer between awards: The Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling is designed to cater for a variety of counselling students with a diverse experience of further and higher education. It will be possible for students to apply to transfer between the awards. Any decision to allow a student transfer from the Postgraduate Diploma to the Professional Diploma would be considered by the course team, the award leaders and consultation with the external examiner. If a transfer was thought appropriate, the students completed assessment work would then be reassessed in the light of their new Professional route using the appropriate learning outcomes and assessment criteria. Such requests for transfer would normally be expected to take place within nine months of the commencement of the course. 8
HOW WILL I BE TAUGHT AND ASSESSED? Programme Structure All modules on the Postgraduate awards are core and compulsory. Students attend on a part-time basis, with teaching taking place on one day per week between 9am and 5.30pm. Students may progress to the MSc Psychotherapeutic Counselling on successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma. To ensure effective team-working and group cohesion we include both a compulsory weekend at the beginning of the course (September/October), along with two one-day weekend workshops; these help to develop the supportive group context necessary to facilitate both personal and professional development throughout the course. For the MSc year the Research Proposal Module comprises of 6 taught sessions from September to end of Oct from 9.30 4.30pm. In addition there is an assessed presentation day in early December. For the Dissertation module, students will meet with their research supervisor at mutually agreed times. Teaching and Learning Postgraduate Diploma To maximise students potential, a varied teaching and learning approach is adopted, involving: Interactive Lectures Seminars Tutorials Counselling Skills Training Student-Led Individual And Group Presentations Supervision Groups A Counselling Placement An Experiential Personal Development Group Independent Study Guided Learning A Reflective Journal The Professional Diploma is a practise-based award and so includes a component of placement learning, as well as a requirement for you to undertake supervision and personal therapy (see Award Specific Information for further details). We offer both Professional and Postgraduate routes within the Psychotherapeutic Counselling portfolio, and students on the different routes are taught together, as the tutor team believe that graduates and non-graduates have much to offer to each other and will complement each others strengths. The assessment briefs for both routes are the same, but differentiation in level is evident through the assessment of different learning outcomes. The course team, via the personal and 9
academic tutorial system, will provide frequent formative feedback on student performance, including whether the student is meeting the requirements for the level of study they have enrolled on. Independent study is an important part of the course, and the course team will support the development and enhancement of independent study skills through academic tutorials. Students will receive academic and personal support depending on their needs and the level of their study. The advantage of the joint delivery programme lies in the fact that students can be supported in a more individual way. Students are given ongoing, constructive feedback from tutors, peers and supervisors, and are constantly required to self-appraise their work and development. Guided Learning Students will engage in guided learning time where a member of staff is available to give specific guidance on structured learning tasks. This will include facilitated study such as tutor guidance for students, staff-facilitated research or research awareness activities in the Resources room or web-based structured learning. Work-based learning Students will be required to engage with work-based learning related to their placement. Such work presents students with opportunities to gain contextual awareness in a professional counselling related setting. Such learning may include induction to an organisation, clerical duties, attending team meetings, case management conferences, reading service literature, policies and procedures, structured workplace training and data collection for audit purposes. Teaching and Learning Masters year To maximise students potential, a varied teaching and learning approach is adopted, involving: Interactive Lectures Seminars Presentations Tutorials Independent Study Students will be encouraged to keep a reflective journal The course team, via the personal and academic tutorial system, will provide frequent formative feedback on student performance, including whether the student is meeting the requirements for the level of study they have enrolled on. 10
Independent study is an important part of the course, and the course team will support the development and enhancement of independent study skills through academic tutorials. Students will receive academic and personal support depending on their needs and the level of their study. Formative methods of assessment are used to provide feedback on progress and to assist in preparation for some summative assessments. Feedback is provided on a draft of the dissertation. Assessment Modules are assessed using a variety of assessment methods, including analysing quantitative and qualitative data, giving oral presentations, analysing and critiquing case studies, both through coursework and exam and analysing counselling process reports. These are designed in each case to enable the course team to assess the extent to which each student is able to demonstrate the required learning outcomes. A personal and professional development portfolio will be required incorporating a personal development log, a record of client hours and dates, a record of supervision hours, a record of training provided by the placement organisation, a placement contract and evidence of BACP membership. Formative assessment of counselling skills practice in the form of verbal and written feedback will occur throughout the Psychotherapeutic Diploma Course. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Entry Requirements (including IELTS score) What qualifications would I need to join this programme? The entry requirements for the award are normally: Postgraduate route Psychotherapeutic Diploma 1. Applicants should have a good degree or postgraduate qualifications 11
relevant to counselling, 2. Applicants must have successfully completed a Certificate in Counselling or equivalent. 3. All applicants must obtain a counselling placement whereby they can undertake a minimum of 100 hours of supervised counselling practice during the course. 4. Applicants must pass the interview process. 5. Candidates will be required to complete a self-declaration criminal convictions statement and apply for a DBS check. Candidates should also have a good standard of written and spoken English (IELTS 7.0 or equivalent). MSc top-up year Candidates need to have achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling, and can apply for credit transfer to undertake the MSc as a top-up award. Disability Statement Staffordshire University operates a policy of inclusive teaching and learning to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/study_here/disabled_students/index.jsp Fitness to Practice AWARD SPECIFIC INFORMATION All counselling tutors and students are bound by the Ethical Framework of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Students will sign an undertaking at course registration to adhere to this ethical framework (www.bacp.co.uk). For fitness to practice there are particularly relevant Sections of the Framework including Good quality of care, Maintaining competent practice, Keeping Trust, Fitness to practice and Care of self as a practitioner. Counselling students are training to be in a profession where they have regular contact with vulnerable members of the public. The counselling tutor team and Staffordshire University have a duty of care to these members of the public in addition to its duty of care to all our students. Therefore all students complete a skills assessment before client hours can be used as part of the course placement. Assessment 12
No compensation is allowed within or across modules, all assessments must be passed. Students must pass all first year modules before being able to progress to year 2. Because of the integrated nature of counselling training, both modules in each year are studied concurrently and it will therefore not be possible for students to retake individual modules after their referral opportunity if they fail. Placements, Supervision and Personal therapy Students must pass all the elements required for the Personal and Professional Development Modules which include: At least 100 hours of approved and supervised counselling placement practice Supervision requirements are at least 1 hour per fortnight (in accordance with BACP guidelines) with a ratio of at least 1 hour s supervision for 6 hours client contact. A minimum of 20 hours approved personal therapy (see the relevant section in the Student Handbook for further information on the placement, supervision and personal therapy). N.B. If students have been unable to complete the placement hours by the end of the course due to unforeseen circumstances (such as insufficient client hours offered by their placement organisation) they will be entitled to apply for extenuating circumstance and be given an additional 12 months to complete their practice hours. Attendance It is expected that students will attend all classes, workshops, group meetings, day schools and other sessions for the core modules. Students must meet a minimum of attendance requirement of 80% in the Certificate and Diploma stages of this award. Attendance at any residential element of the course is also compulsory. Application All candidates are required to fill in a University application form and an Additional Information Document which provides more in-depth personal information so that tutors can assess the applicant s suitability to work with client on their placement. All prospective students are asked to provide two references of people who know them well and can comment on their helping skills (these must not be close relatives). Candidates will be required to complete a self-declaration criminal convictions statement and apply for a DBS check. Selection days will take place where the staff team and potential students engage in various activities, such as group exercises, individual interviews. Candidates will be notified of the outcome of the application process in writing. Recognition of Prior Learning In line with BACP requirements, the maximum number of hours which can be admitted by recognition of prior learning (RPL) will not exceed 150 hours or a third of the programme, whichever is the greater number of hours. 13
Additionally, students who make a successful claim for RPL, must still undertake a minimum of 100 hours of supervised client work whilst on the course. Further information about the award can be found in the relevant Student Handbook and on the University Website. This includes information about optional modules, student support, and academic regulations. ==================================== 14