PUB HLTH 7020B - Counselling Placement IB

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2018

Placement IB provides Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy students with supervised practical experience in counselling and psychotherapy. Through Placement with an approved service provider and individual and group supervision with qualified practitioners, students will increase their knowledge of, and practise, counselling and psychotherapeutic skills with clients, as well as gain experience in writing case notes and reports in this setting. They will also develop experience in collaboration with other health professionals and families of clients, and referral to appropriate other health professionals as practiced in their specific setting. Finally, students will complete two essay assignments: a critical reflection on their emerging personal philosophy of counselling practice, and a research-based project specific to the counselling setting.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PUB HLTH 7020B
    Course Counselling Placement IB
    Coordinating Unit Public Health
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 3 days per week, plus 2 hrs per fortnight
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites PUB HLTH 7020A, PUB HLTH 7010
    Restrictions Available to M. Counselling & Psychotherapy students only
    Course Description Placement IB provides Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy students with supervised practical experience in counselling and psychotherapy. Through Placement with an approved service provider and individual and group supervision with qualified practitioners, students will increase their knowledge of, and practise, counselling and psychotherapeutic skills with clients, as well as gain experience in writing case notes and reports in this setting. They will also develop experience in collaboration with other health professionals and families of clients, and referral to appropriate other health professionals as practiced in their specific setting. Finally, students will complete two essay assignments: a critical reflection on their emerging personal philosophy of counselling practice, and a research-based project specific to the counselling setting.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Ms Paula Gillespie-Fotheringham

    Course Coordinator: Ms Paula Gillespie-Fotheringham
    Phone: +61 8313 6276
    Email: paula.gillespie-fotheringham@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Level 11, 178 North Terrace

    Student & Program Support Services Hub
    Email: askhealthsc@adelaide.edu.au
    Phone: +61 8313 0273
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Demonstrate appropriate skills to support positive client outcomes in the counselling setting
    2 Employ and justify appropriate counselling techniques for responding to a range of client issues in the counselling setting
    3 Communicate effectively and professionally with clients and other health professionals in the counselling setting
    4 Demonstrate evidence-based practice within a counselling setting
    5 Review and critique their own professional practice within a counselling setting
    6 Articulate an emerging professional identity as a counsellor.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-6
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    2-6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    2-5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1-6
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1-6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Baird, B.N. (2014). The internship, practicum and field placement handbook: A guide for the helping professions. (7th ed.). Boston:
    Pearson Education Inc.
    Recommended Resources
    Relevant texts or articles will be made available via MyUni in response to issues arising during group supervision.
    Online Learning
    COMPUTER LABORATORIES AND OTHER COMPUTING SERVICESUniversity information on computer laboratories and other computing services is available at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/technology/yourservices/learning-teaching/student-suites/

    MYUNIMyUni is the primary entry point to online learning at Adelaide University. MyUni provides students and staff with access to course  materials, discussion forums, announcements, online and many other features to help manage your study or teaching. You can connect to MyUni on or off campus from an internet connected computer using a Web browser. The URL is:  www.myuni.adelaide.edu.au/ 

    Login to this resource using your Username and Password. Once logged on to MyUni, you will find the information displayed is customised to present only details relevant to you and the online content for courses that you are studying.

    For enquiries about online education services, what’s available and access, contact the Online Education Helpdesk:Phone:(08) 8313 3000

    E-mail: servicedesk@adelaide.edu.au 

    The Helpdesk is available for extended hours during the week or through voicemail.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    During Placement 1B, students will undertake a placement in a  relevant clinical setting over the course of Semester Two (as  negotiated with their Placement Agency) in which they will develop their contact with clients, which may comprise individual clients, couples, families and group work, under the guidance of and directed by the Placement Agency. Precise arrangements will be negotiated on a student-by-student basis dependent on placement requirements, and documented in a Learning Agreement. Placement 1B this will normally require on-site presence of 2-3 days per week.

    Placement activities will continue during the mid-semester break, unless negotiated otherwise with the Placement agency.  On-site placement activities may be undertaken over an extended semester (e.g. from week 5 for Semester 1, or week 26 for
    Semester 2) where this better suits the requirements of specific placement sites and/or students.

    Throughout and as part of each Placement, students will receive a minimum of 5 hours of clinical supervision with an on-site  supervisor, who will provide feedback and guidance with regard to the student’s Placement activities. Associated tasks undertaken  as part of the placement include induction, research needed for client work, documentation of counselling activities required, liaison with relevant other staff on-site and off-site as needed, and other workplace activities negotiated within their Learning 
    Agreement. Students will also complete and submit a daily log of activities, and an evaluation of their placement venue at the end of the Placement.

    In addition, students will attend Placement Orientation, plus fortnightly group supervision sessions with other Master of Counselling & Psychotherapy students. The group supervision sessions are conducted by clinical supervisors at The University of  Adelaide. During these sessions, students will have the opportunity to present and discuss clinical cases, and enhance skills 
    development and consolidate their knowledge through experiential and problem-based learning.  Materials covered can include the following: initiating, developing and sustaining professional, positive, and productive relationships with clients; application of assessment and intervention techniques; monitoring client progress; discussion of new skills and their application; review and reflection of on-line materials (e.g. recorded clinical sessions); presentation of new skills; identification and  discussion of problems and challenges with clients and ways to overcome these; discussion and presentation of clinical cases, and  benefits of peer review and supervision.

    Participation in group supervision is part of overall assessment for Placement 1B. Satisfactory participation in and contribution to group supervision is required in order to pass the course.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Up to 3 days per week, plus 2 hrs group supervision per fortnight.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Topic Lecture
    Placement Orientation Administrative and clinical requirement reviews; personal and professional readiness for practice
    Attend Placement plus Group Supervision Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Attend Placement Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Attend Placement plus Group Supervision Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Attend Placement Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Attend Placement plus Group Supervision Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Attend Placement Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Attend Placement plus Group Supervision Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Attend Placement Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Attend Placement plus Group Supervision Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Attend Placement Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Attend Placement plus Group Supervision Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Attend Placement Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Required supervision (as needed) Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Required supervision (as needed) Clinical supervision as negotiated
    Specific Course Requirements
    All students must provide current Department of Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) Clearances, http://health.adelaide.edu.au
    /current-students/clinical-placements/ (Child-related, Aged, Vulnerable, Disability), National Police Check and Child Safe
    Environment Training Certificate prior to enrolment in Placement 1A and 1B. Some specific Placement agencies may further require and/or provide additional training specific to working with their clientele. Students will be advised of any such requirements when provided with  placement information.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    N/A
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Learning Outcome
    Satisfactory placement completion (assessed by supervisor through supervision, review of learning agreement, log-book of activities, and final review) Summative 30% 1-6
    Group Supervision Summative 10% 1-6
    Quiz Summative 20% 2,4
    Essay Summative 40% 1-5
    Assessment Related Requirements
    N/A
    Assessment Detail
    (a) Satisfactory completion of placement (assessed by on-site supervisor through supervision, review of Learning Agreement, log-book of activities): 20%;

    (b) Satisfactory participation in Supervision Group throughout Placement 1B, including verbal presentation of reflections on  counselling practice. The presentation should also include review of client cases. A format for verbal case presentations will be provided by the group supervisor at the first session. 20%

    (c) Assignment 1 - Essay: Professional Growth as a Counsellor:  Critical reflection on ways in which your personal experiences have informed your growth as a professional counsellor and  articulation of a personal philosophy of counselling.  (1200-1500 words): 20%.

    (d) Assignment 2 - Essay This task requires that students research an area of interest particularly relevant to counselling within the agency/organisation  through which they have completed Placement 1B. The essay should demonstrate the student’s research on, and consolidation and understanding of their area of counselling interest. In the essay student’s  need to describe: 

    a) the agency and its professional ethos,

    b) the types of issues clients bring to the agency, and

    c) the therapeutic model/approach most preferred by the agency. (2500-3000 words): 40%
    Submission
    Extensions
    All extensions for assignments must be requested, at the latest, by the last working day before the due date of
    submission. Extensions will generally be granted only on medical or genuine compassionate grounds. Supporting documentation must be provided at the time a student requests an extension. Without documentation, extensions will not be granted. Late requests for extension will neither be accepted nor acknowledged.

    Only the Course Co-ordinator(s) may grant extensions.

    Supporting documentation will be required when requesting an extension. Examples of documents that are acceptable include: a  medical certificate that specifies dates of incapacity, a police report (in the case of lost computers, car & household theft etc.), a  letter from a Student Counsellor, Education and Welfare Officer (EWO) or Disability Liaison Officer that provides an assessment of  compassionate circumstances, or a letter from an independent external counsellor or appropriate professional able to verify the  student’s situation. The length of any extension granted will take into account the period and severity of any incapacity or impact  on the student. Extensions of more than 10 days will not be granted except in exceptional circumstances.

    Late submission
    Marks will be deducted when assignments for which no extension has been granted are handed in late.

    All assignments, including those handed in late, will be assessed on their merits. In the case of late assignments where no extension has been granted, 5 percentage points of the total marks possible per day will be deducted. If an assignment that is 2 days late is awarded 65% on its merits, the mark will then be reduced by 10% (5% per day for 2 days) to 55%. If that same assignment is 4 days late, the mark will be reduced by 20% (5% per day for 4 days) to 45%, and so on.

    The School of Public Health reserves the right to refuse to accept an assignment that is more than 7 days late.

    Assignments submitted after the due date may not be graded in time to be returned on the listed return dates. Students submitting examinable written work who request (and receive) an extension that takes them beyond the examination period are advised that there is no guarantee that their grades will be processed in time to meet usual University deadlines.  

    Resubmission
    If a student is dissatisfied with an assessment grade they should follow the Student Grievance Resolution Process 
    <https://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/grievance/process/>. Students who are not satisfied with a particular assessment result
    should raise their concerns with Course Co-ordinator(s) in the first instance. This must be done within 10 business days of the  date of notification of the result. Resubmission of any assignment is subject to the agreement of the Course Co-ordinator(s) and   ill only be permitted for the most compelling of reasons.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    GS8 (Coursework Grade Scheme)
    Grade Description
    CN Continuing
    FNS Fail No Submission
    NFE No Formal Examination
    F Fail
    NGP Non Graded Pass
    P Pass
    C Credit
    D Distinction
    HD High Distinction
    RP Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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