Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

• Unit Title

  Field Placement 1

• Unit Code

  COU6424

• Year

  2017

• Enrolment Period

  2

• Version

  2

• Credit Points

  15

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  

• Unit Coordinator

  Dr Sonam PELDEN

Description

This unit provides an opportunity for the student to receive supervised practice in an agency setting. Students will spend one day per week in an agency setting and will carry a client load allocated by the agency. This unit aims to develop the full identity and competence of the counsellor and will include conducting counselling sessions, participating in a team, receiving supervision for work and participation in following agency policy and procedures.This unit has a compulsory attendance requirement. In keeping with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) stipulations, students need to have practiced necessary skills/competencies in the classroom to a satisfactory level before going out into the field. A minimum of 80% attendance is therefore required. Students must comply with the clinical and professional field placement requirements which include providing clearances and/or risk management protocols required, and attendance at the on-campus field placement orientation seminar. Risk management protocols include, but are not restricted to: Certificate of National Police Clearance Department of Health (WA) Criminal Screening Working with Children Check (more information at www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au)

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

Placement in an approved counselling agency

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 5 units from COU5210, COU6113, COU6305, COU6324, COU6403

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Carry out counselling using the models and approaches taught in the course.
2. Demonstrate a capacity to reflect on their assessments and practice and to communicate their thinking to other professionals in appropriate language.
3. Demonstrate the capacity to engage a range of clients and create purposeful contracts for counselling.
4. Differentiate between counsellors' needs and issues and those of the client.
5. Establish a supervision contract and follow this through.
6. Recognise limitations and constraints and take these into account in their work.
7. Show a capacity to take on agency policy and procedures and take these appropriately into account while engaged in the placement.

Unit Content

1. Learning through the placement is achieved in relation to a learning contract established between the student and the agency supervisor early in the placement. This contract will be set out in accordance with guidelines set out in the Field Placement manual.
2. Students will carry their own case load of agency clients, under the supervision of an agency staff member.
3. The learning contract will set out the goals and processes to be used to achieve the placement objectives and will describe placement tasks and expectations, skills to be practiced, individual learning goals, theory integration processes and supervision arrangements.
4. The unit is conducted as a field placement in a community agency.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Prior to Placement students are interviewed by the Field Placement Coordinator, and in turn offered an interview at an available counselling agency in the community. Students must be accepted for Placement at the agency before proceeding. This is a placement experience and the learning occurs in the context of a specific learning contract developed to meet the students' needs and the goals of the unit, in negotiation with the placement agency. Students are expected to take a significant degree of responsibility for their own learning and are expected to be active in this process. This means more than simple experience or exposure, and requires reflection and integration both individually and in the context of supervision. Failure to comply with the policies and procedures of the placement agency will result in a Fail grade. Students will keep a placement log in accordance with the format described in the handbook.

Assessment

GS4 GRADING SCHEMA 4 Used for undifferentiated pass/fail units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit plan may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.