Level 5 Psychotherapeutic Counselling June Series
AIM Awards Suite of Counselling Qualifications
Level 5 Counselling
Psychotherapeutic Counselling
June 2016 Series
No. / Question / Accepted Response / Marks Available / Assessment Criterion covered by this question1 / Feltham and Dryden say that the most effective use of counselling supervision is made when the counsellor prepares for the supervision session.
Discuss, with examples from your own experience, how true you believe this to be and
how you might prepare to make best use of a supervision session. / Responses of a Pass standard are likely to include some of :
Evidence of ability to evaluate pros and cons of preparing for supervision session.
Pros :
Enables supervisee to be clear about issue they wish to work on. Encourages focussing in depth on most important current issue(s). Avoids confusion/wasted time/discussing irrelevant material.
Cons ;
May inhibit spontaneous discovery of valuable material/insights via free association/parallel process
Evidence of ability to prepare effectively
Effective preparation may include
Providing audio tape (with client permission)
Outlining clear issues in written form
Asking questions such as:
If I could risk telling my supervisor what really concerns me in my counselling work, what would that be?
What is my particular difficulty or problem in working with this client?
What do I need from my supervisor to help me work more effectively with this client?
What do I need to tell my supervisor to help me work more freely with this client?
Is there anything I want to celebrate or feed back to my supervisor?
General issues to be taken may include:
Organisational issues
Stress
Motivation
Personal issues
Ethical dilemmas
Successes / Up to 30 marks available / Counselling Supervision, Ethical and Legal Issues LO.1, LO.2
2 / Alan is a counsellor in private practice. Susan, one of Alan’s long-term clients, works in a local department store. She arrives for her weekly session in great distress. She tells Alan that she is under investigation by the police in connection with an allegation by her employer that she has been stealing money from the till.. She has previously revealed to Alan that she did once succumb to this temptation a long time ago, but nothing of the sort has happened for years. She nevertheless fears the police are going to press charges. She begs Alan to promise her that he would never reveal what she told him in the past.
Explain the potential ethical and legal issues Alan faces in the above scenario. In your answer, show your understanding of relevant ethical principles and legislation. / Responses of a Pass standard are likely to include :
· Understanding of ethical principles of Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Fidelity and Self-Respect
· Ability to apply them to Alan’s situation
· Knowledge of possible legal constraints inc court access to notes and records/risk of contempt of court/ appearing as a witness
· Awareness of impact on therapeutic relationship of reminding Susan re limits to confidentiality
· No prima facie duty to report crime
s.20 Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996
s.12 Police and Criminal Evidence act 1984 / Up to 30 marks available / Counselling Supervision, Ethical and Legal Issues LO.3
3 / It is a normal requirement when conducting counselling research that a consent form be signed and dated by research participants.
Discuss your understanding of the importance of such a form and give examples of what you believe it should contain. / Responses of a Pass standard are likely to include :
Consent form important for :
respecting participant’s rights and dignity
abiding by ethical requirements
ensuring consent is given voluntarily
ensuring consent is based on adequate information/informed consent
Form likely to contain :
Confirmation by participant that they
· have read and understood information about the research
· have had the opportunity to consider the information provided and ask questions which have been answered
· are participating voluntarily and are free to withdraw at any time
· understand that whether they participate or not will not have any effect on services they may be receiving from counselling service/counsellor
· understand that information about them will be kept securely and its confidentiality will be protected
· agree to their data being seen by specified people
· understand that information about them will be destroyed if they withdraw
· will be offered the opportunity to comment on information about them
· agree that information given by them may be communicated on a confidential basis to appropriate agencies in order to prevent harm or neglect of children or vulnerable adults
· agree to take part in the study / Up to 20 marks available / Research in Counselling
L.O. 4
* The accepted response are not exclusive, examiners are expected to use their professional judgement to give credit to other equally acceptable responses that address the question.
Distribution of marks:
Question / Marks / Unit content covered / Weighting1 / 30 / Counselling Supervision, Ethical and Legal Issues LO.1, LO.2
Counselling Practicum LO.1, LO.2, LO.3 / 38%
2 / 30 / Counselling Supervision, Ethical and Legal Issues LO.1, LO.2
Counselling Practicum LO.1, LO.2, LO.3 / 38%
3 / 20 / Research in Counselling LO.1, LO.3, LO.4 / 25%
Total / 80
Generic Marking Grid for Section A (max 30 marks per question)
Academic Skills / Application of ContentGood Pass
(23-30 marks) / · Evaluation demonstrates sound analysis, understanding and interpretation.
· The answer is well focused and shows coherent elaboration and/or a well formed argument. Issues/debates/approaches are used effectively.
· Ideas are well structured and expressed clearly and fluently. Consistently effective use of counselling terminology. / Content is evaluated in relation to own practice.
(See content table below in relation to question being marked)
Pass
(15-22 marks) / · Evaluation demonstrates reasonable analysis and understanding.
· The answer is generally focused and shows reasonable elaboration and/or clear line of argument is evident.
· Issues/debates/approaches are used in a reasonably effective manner.
· Most ideas appropriately structured and expressed clearly. Appropriate use of counselling terminology. / Content is analysed with some reference to own practice
(See content table below in relation to question being marked)
Borderline
(13-14 marks) / · Evaluation demonstrates basic, superficial understanding.
· The answer is sometimes focused and shows some evidence of elaboration.
· Superficial reference may be made to issues/debates/approaches.
· Expression of ideas lacks clarity. Limited use of counselling terminology / Content is mentioned and discussed.
(See content table below in relation to question being marked)
Did not achieve
(0-12 marks) / · Evaluation is rudimentary, demonstrating a very limited understanding.
· The answer is weak, muddled and incomplete. Material is not used effectively and may be mainly irrelevant.
· If reference is made to issues/debates/approaches, it is muddled and inaccurate.
· Deficiency in expression of ideas results in confusion and ambiguity. The answer lacks structure, often merely a series of unconnected assertions. / Content is not mentioned or referenced incorrectly
(See content table below in relation to question being marked)
Generic Marking Grid for Section B (max 30 marks per question)
Academic Skills / Application of ContentGood Pass
(15-20 marks) / · Evaluation demonstrates sound analysis, understanding and interpretation.
· The answer is well focused and shows coherent elaboration and/or a well formed argument. Issues/debates/approaches are used effectively.
· Ideas are well structured and expressed clearly and fluently. Consistently effective use of relevant terminology. / Content is evaluated in relation to own practice.
(See content table below in relation to question being marked)
Pass
(10-14 marks) / · Evaluation demonstrates reasonable analysis and understanding.
· The answer is generally focused and shows reasonable elaboration and/or clear line of argument is evident.
· Issues/debates/approaches are used in a reasonably effective manner.
· Most ideas appropriately structured and expressed clearly. Appropriate use of relevant terminology. / Content is analysed with some reference to own practice
(See content table below in relation to question being marked)
Borderline
(5-9 marks) / · Evaluation demonstrates basic, superficial understanding.
· The answer is sometimes focused and shows some evidence of elaboration.
· Superficial reference may be made to issues/debates/approaches.
· Expression of ideas lacks clarity. Limited use of relevant terminology / Content is mentioned and discussed.
(See content table below in relation to question being marked)
Did not achieve
(0-4 marks) / · Evaluation is rudimentary, demonstrating a very limited understanding.
· The answer is weak, muddled and incomplete. Material is not used effectively and may be mainly irrelevant.
· If reference is made to issues/debates/approaches, it is muddled and inaccurate.
· Deficiency in expression of ideas results in confusion and ambiguity. The answer lacks structure, often merely a series of unconnected assertions. / Content is not mentioned or referenced incorrectly
(See content table below in relation to question being marked)
Passmark / 42 / 53%
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Level 5 Psychotherapeutic Counselling June Series
This assessment is designed to assess aspects of the units covered by the synoptic assessment listed.
Writers will ensure elements from all units are included from across the exam paper.
Unit specifications can be found through the following links
Unit Reference Number / Unit TitleD/506/3058 / Counselling Practicum
T/506/3129 / Counselling Supervision, Ethical and Legal Issues
K/506/3130 / Research in Counselling
The qualification specification contains full information on the qualification.
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