Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care

UNIT 24: INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELLING SKILLS FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CAREUnit 24:Introduction to Counselling Skillsfor Health and Social CareNQF Level 3:Guided learning hours: 60BTEC NationalUnit abstractHealth and social care practitioners regularly need to use skills similar to thoserequired of professional counsellors. This unit is therefore useful because it aims todevelop awareness of these skills and provides opportunities for learners to begin todevelop them.Learners who have completed this unit could develop their skills further in the BTECLevel 3 Diploma in Developing Counselling Skills. Completion of this unit willintroduce learners to the use of counselling skills; further study will be necessary forlearners to become counselling skills practitioners.This unit focuses on the identification, practice and development of a range ofinterpersonal and counselling skills. On completion of the unit, learners will have theinter-related skills required to initiate, maintain and conclude a counsellinginteraction.The structure of the unit is based on, although it does not adhere rigidly to, GerardEgan’s The Skilled Helper, which learners will evaluate and relate to their owncounselling skills practice. It will enable participants to develop these skills andrelate them to their working situation, drawing on their own experiences in theirwork or personal settings. Learners will use role plays and scenarios to practise theirskills, but are not required to practise on patients/service users.Learners achieving this unit should realise that skills need to be continuallydeveloped.Learning outcomesOn completion of this unit a learner should:1 Be able to initiate and establish a relationship using counselling skills2 Be able to maintain, develop and conclude a relationship using counselling skills3 Be able to evaluate own development of counselling skills4 Know referral procedures and boundary issues.BN018467 – Specification – Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Nationals in Health and Social Care– Issue 1 – February 2007 © Edexcel Limited 2007321