CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills

This nationally recognised qualification is ideal for staff who are looking to progress within their career or support their colleagues. The course has been created by industry experts to help learners develop and improve their knowledge and skills of counselling.

Learners will gain an understanding of counselling theories and will be introduced to key elements of theories enabling them to support individuals. Learners will cover key concepts such as diversity and ethics, and will consider their own personal development.

Benefits for the business:

• Upskill staff members
• Increase teamwork and morale as staff become more aware, gain confidence and support colleagues
• The course offer can be used as a staff benefit or as part of a development scheme
• Increase employee’s knowledge base.

Benefits for the employees:

As part of your assessment, you will be asked to complete a competency element- this can be demonstrated through either a witness observation or video recording.

Witness observation - to take this option, you must have a suitably qualified witness* to observe you complete the task and document a statement of this. The witness will observe you demonstrating particular skills before completing a witness statement form. The witness statement form will act as evidence to prove you are capable of certain skills.

Video recording - for this option, you will record a video of yourself completing the task and demonstrating particular skills to meet the assessment criteria.

• To be suitably qualified, the witness must hold a minimum of the below:
• A counselling or interpersonal skills course at level 1
• A completed or partially completed counselling course at level 2
• A completed counselling skills unit as part of a larger qualification at level 2 or above
• A short course or courses about counselling skills (e.g. a full day workshop where there was training and practice of counselling skills, or the training provided for workers at voluntary agencies that provide emotional support)
• A short CPD course in counselling skills.

If the qualification does not include counselling in the name, we must see proof of the unit or module breakdown of the qualification where a counselling unit was studied.

This course is split into manageable units. These are:

Unit 1: Using Counselling Skills

In this unit learners will identify core counselling skills and understand how these are practised in a counselling relationship. Learners will gain an understanding of how to establish a helping relationship and will consider the boundaries which need to be taken into account.

Unit 2: Introduction to counselling skills theories

This unit introduces learners to the key elements of the main theoretical approaches to counselling, psychodynamic, person-centred and cognitive behavioural therapy. Learners will discover the key differences between these theories and gain an understanding of the significance of counselling theory.

Unit 3: Diversity and ethics in the use of counselling skills

This unit covers the concepts of diversity and ethics. Learners will gain an understanding of anti-discriminatory practice, discover the key aspects of an ethical framework and discover varied ways to address diversity in counselling skills practice.

Unit 4: Counselling skills and personal development

This unit allows learners to develop self-understanding, identifying their own values and beliefs and reflecting on their personal qualities and skills. Learners will also identify where they would like to develop in the future and potential sources of support.