ACAP Placement Program Term 1 2017
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ACAP Placement Program Term 1 2017
Welcome to the ACAP Placement Program. Counselling students are invited to apply for placement through the ACAP Placement Program. This program is the recruitment process by which the School of Counselling fills the placement opportunities that we have secured with placement agencies. This program is oversubscribed and highly competitive. All students must continue to search for their own placement agency throughout this process as places are strictly limited and some students will be unsuccessful. To apply for the Program please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Eligibility for Placement Checklist
All students must first complete the Eligibility for Placement checklist below to ensure that you are ready for placement:
Tick (use Shift P)P
I am a final year student
I have completed the following pre requisite units:
· Bcoun / Bcoun(Coach) – All 8 first year units and 4 second year units including Counselling Theories 2 and Social, Legal & Ethical Frameworks
· GradDipCoun – All 6 first year units
· MCP – All 8 first year units
Bachelor of Counselling and / coaching: ACAP highly recommends that students complete Project 1 and 2 concurrently with my placement (if possible). Therefore you will need to complete Applied Social Research before commencing placement.
MCP students are encouraged to complete the unit Counselling and Psychotherapy Research prior to placement to enable you to undertake your Research Project within you placement agency if you wish to.
To be eligible for the ACAP Placement Program I confirm that I:
Received an email directly from Sonia Online with my log in details informing me I am ready for placement
Prepared a professional resume using the sample from Sonia Online
Uploaded my National Police Check & Working with Children Check into Sonia Online
I will meet the following requirements:
If required, attend interviews on campus/at the agency between 14th November and early December (unless noted otherwise)
Able to start placement from 23rd January* (2017 Academic Calendar ) * Please note that a few agencies may require any earlier start
Attend this placement for the entire placement period (2 consecutive ACAP terms approx 8 months)
Enrol into and attend ACAP supervision units 1 & 2 for my course
I will not schedule personal leave during this placement period (e.g. holidays etc)
Comply with the Attendance Requirements for Placement, and Supervision and provide a medical certificate should I miss more than 2 days of placement
Attend placement either 1 or 2 days per week as described in the agency brief (see separate document)
Step 2: ACAP Placement Program Agreement
Students on placement are preparing for employment in the industry. Therefore, demonstration of the following attributes is an expectation of all students on placement. Failure to demonstrate high levels of each attribute may result in the placement being cancelled. Students are expected to demonstrate:
· Professionalism and clear adherence to boundaries - students are given clear instructions by staff as to what their role is in the agency and with clients. In your role as a student counsellor, it is inappropriate to advocate on behalf of the client.
· Ability to accept, reflect on and integrate feedback and constructive criticism, from the agency supervisor, agency staff and ACAP placement and supervision staff. As per the Student Placement Code of Conduct, students must demonstrate willingness to accept feedback and take advantage of every opportunity to learn through interactions with all placement stakeholders.
· Completion of case notes to industry standards. All agencies should keep case notes for each client. If this is not the case, please inform your Placement Coordinator, who will discuss this with the agency. Ensure that you follow the agency’s practice. Should you have concerns about the quality or content of the case notes, discuss this with your clinical supervisor.
· Strong attention to detail – students must be aware of safety practices such as locking doors behind them. This is for the safety of students/staff and clients.
· Ability to work independently – students are expected to be able to work independently while following instructions precisely.
· Punctuality – Placement hours are 8.30am to 5pm (unless you have written approval from your ACAP Placement Coordinator to vary this rule). Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early and speak to your supervisor before you depart each day. Students must be punctual for all activities with clients to model respectful behavior. Do not allow your sessions with clients to run over time as this is disruptive to others.
· Dress Code - Students are to comply with the dress code of their placement agency. Generally, this would not include jeans, t-shirts, short skirts, uncovered midriff or tattoos and inappropriate footwear (thongs, high heels beyond a court shoe). Remember, your clients need to focus on their issues and should not be distracted by your attire.
· Workplace Health and Safety - Students are to comply with all health and safety practices of their placement agency. If the policy is not offered at orientation, please ask for a copy of all relevant policies, particularly emergency evacuations, and read them.
· Supervised Placement – As this is a supervised placement all work must be completed at the agency, including case notes. Any external visit must be accompanied by a staff member.
I have read and agree to the above and will take care to demonstrate professionalism for the duration of my student placement:
(Yes / No)Step 3: Read the Available Placement Opportunities
(Sonia/Placement/Details/Placement Opportunities)
Students must read the ‘ACAP VIC Available Counselling Placement Opportunities T1 2017’ document to understand the placement program and select the most appropriate opportunities. Each agency has specific requirements and desired criteria – please pay close attention to these details. Please note you may not receive a student placement offer for your preferred agency if you do not meet their requirements.
SONIA
It is recommended that you use Google Chrome to access Sonia. The links to Chrome and Sonia are provided for you below:
Link to download Google Chrome: http://www.google.com/chrome/
Please then copy and paste Sonia link into Google Chrome browser:
Sonia: Sonia Online
To log in, please use:
Username: Student Number
Password: Same as Student Portal Password
Term 1, 2017 Placement Opportunities
These are located at: Sonia/Placement/Details/Placement Opportunities
‘ACAP VIC Available Counselling Placement Opportunities T1 2017’
Step 4: ACAP Placement Program Preference Sheet
1. Read all the placement opportunities on offer on the ACAP Placement Opportunities document (refer: Sonia/Placement/Details/Placement Opportunities)
2. Select 3 agencies and rank them from 1 to 3 according to your preference
3. Fill in the days you are available to attend placement
4. Fill in the days and times you are available to be interviewed
5. Email completed Placement application with your Resume, Criminal Check and Working with Children Check to no later than Sunday 6th November
Important Note: Incomplete applications will not be accepted. All 4 documents to be submitted must be scanned as single files (not as single pages). Documents scanned as single pages will not be accepted and will be returned. If you do not have access to a scanner that scans whole documents please try a library or Office Works.
Agency Preference:
Students must review the current placement opportunities on offer and preference their top three placement agencies below.
Note:
Students must not contact the Agency directly with placement enquiries. Contact your ACAP Placement Coordinator if you have questions.
Placement agencies have the final say on which students attend their agency for placement. For this reason, the placement that you are allocated is final. Please ensure that you read the details carefully and only apply for agencies where you would be happy to undertake your placement.
Agency / Essential Units/Criteria / Recommended Units / Preference ( 1 - 3)Carers Victoria* / · Mental Health Practice/ Mental Health Counselling
· Group Work Theory and Practice/Group Therapy
· Must have prior counselling experience and strong writing skills
Dorothy Impey Home / · Family and Relationship Counselling/ Family Counselling
· Counselling in Loss/ Grief Counselling/ Trauma and Grief Therapy
St Vincent’s Hospital (DoAM)* / (Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy & Graduate Diploma of Counselling students only)
· Group Work Theory and Practice/Group Therapy
· Alcohol and Other Drugs / · Trauma/Grief/Loss
· Mental Health Policy and Practice/Mental Health Practice/ Mental Health Counselling
Joseph’s Corner
*Application due 23/10/16 / · Alcohol and Other Drugs
· Driving Licence & access to a car / · Trauma/Grief/Loss
· Mental Health Policy and Practice/Mental Health Practice/ Mental Health Counselling
Amaroo Neighbourhood Centre* / (Graduate Diploma of Counselling students only)
· Creative Therapies
· Group Work Theory and Practice/Group Therapy / · Mental Health Practice
· Trauma Counselling
· Grief Counselling
Doncare* / · Mental Health Policy and Practice/Mental Health Practice/ Mental Health Counselling / · Crisis and Trauma Counselling/ Trauma Counselling
· Family and Relationship Counselling/ Family Counselling
· Counselling in Loss/ Grief Counselling/ Trauma and Grief Therapy
· Group Work / Groupwork Theory and Practice/ Group Therapy
Independence Australia* / · Crisis and Trauma Counselling/ Trauma Counselling
· Group Work/Groupwork Theory and Practice/Group Theory
JobCo Employment Services / (Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy & Graduate Diploma of Counselling students only)
· Mental Health Policy and Practice/Mental Health Practice/ Mental Health Counselling / · Counselling in Loss/ Grief Counselling/ Trauma and Grief Therapy
Victorian Aids Council* / (Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy & Graduate Diploma of Counselling students only)
· Mental Health Policy and Practice/Mental Health Practice/ Mental Health Counselling
· Trauma Counselling / · Developmental Psychology
· Advanced Alcohol and Other Drugs Counselling
· Group Work Theory and Practice/Group Therapy
Possibilities for Change
*Application due 23/10/16
Brentwood Secondary College/Thriving Youth Australia / · Counselling Children and Young People/Family Counselling / · Trauma/Grief/Loss
· Mental Health Policy and Practice/Mental Health Practice/ Mental Health Counselling
· Group Work/Groupwork Theory and Practice/Group Theory
Manor Lakes College / · Counselling Children and Young People/Family Counselling/ / · Counselling in Loss/ Grief Counselling/ Trauma and Grief Therapy
· Group Work/Groupwork Theory and Practice/Group Theory
McClelland Secondary College* / · Counselling Children and Young People/Family Counselling/ / · Mental Health Policy and Practice/Mental Health Practice/
· Counselling in Loss/ Grief Counselling/ Trauma and Grief Therapy
SAE Qantm – Creative Media Institute* / · Counselling Children and Young People/Family Counselling/
· Mental Health Policy and Practice/Mental Health Practice/ Mental Health Counselling / · Counselling in Loss/ Grief Counselling/ Trauma and Grief Therapy
Rosebud Secondary College / · Counselling Children and Young People/Family Counselling/ / · Counselling in Loss/ Grief Counselling/ Trauma and Grief Therapy
· Group Work/Groupwork Theory and Practice/Group Theory
Victorian Arabic Social Services (VASS) / · Placement only suited to students who speak one of the following languages:
o Arabic
o Assyrian
o Chaldean
o Persian
o Kurdish
o Turkish
Step 5 - Day Availability
Note: All placement days are 8.30am to 5pm unless you have written permission from your ACAP Placement Coordinator to vary this rule. Permission from your placement supervisor is NOT sufficient.
Keep in mind that should you be successful in securing a placement through this process, the day/s you are offered is final. Therefore, you must plan all other activities and classes around your placement day. Review your Clinical Supervision options, and other timetable options to ensure that you ARE available on the days you indicate below.
Placement Day / Available (Yes/ No)Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Step 6: ACAP Interview Availability
These interviews will only be conducted for the agencies written in red and marked with an asterix.
All other agencies will be referred directly to the agency for consideration.
NOTE: Interviews will be 15 minutes long. Dress for a business environment as you would if applying for a job with an agency. Please arrive 10 minutes early. (You do not need to bring your resume as we have a copy). PREPARE thoroughly. Read up on all the agencies and be ready to answer typical interview questions such as why did you choose this agency. Your performance in this interview will determine if you are shortlisted to go to the next interview.
Day / Time / Available (Add ‘Yes to as many as possible)Monday 21st November / 10.00am - 1.00pm
Monday 21st November / 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Tuesday 22nd November / 10.00am - 1.00pm
Tuesday 22nd November / 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Wednesday 23rd November / 10.00am - 1.00pm
Wednesday 23rd November / 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Thursday 24th November / 10.00am - 1.00pm
Thursday 24th November / 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Friday 25th November / 10.00am - 1.00pm
Friday 25th November / 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Step 7 - ACAP Placement Application
Be specific and detailed in your answers as these will greatly affect your selection chances:
1. What experience do you have which you think would be beneficial for a counselling student placement?
2. What are the key professional challenges or personal challenges you feel you will face on placement?
3. What personal qualities do you have that would make you the most suitable candidate for a counselling placement?
4. Describe your experience in working as part of a team:
5. Have you any experience in the following areas; CBT, AOD & Group Facilitation?
6. What is your own experience of personal therapy? Please give details:
7. Have you had any clinical supervision as a counsellor or student counsellor? If so, please give details:
8. Please add any further information/past experience which may be relevant to your selection for an ACAP counselling student placement:
Application Process
Email this completed form and attach your Counselling Resume, Criminal Check and Working with Children Check to by: Sunday 6th November 2016.
NB: If you wish to apply for the opportunities at Possibilities for Change or Joseph’s Corner, please submit your application by Sunday 23rd October!
Incomplete applications will not be accepted. All 4 documents to be submitted must be scanned as single files (not as single pages). Documents scanned as single pages will not be accepted and will be returned.