Frequently Asked Questions - Tutor
What are awarding bodies?
Is CSCT an awarding body?
Does CSCT specify assessment requirements for NQF qualifications?
How can I find out what the assessment requirements are?
What are the awarding bodies' responsibilities?
What are the centres' responsibilities?
What are the tutors' responsibilities?
What is CSCT's role?
What does CSCT publish?
Who approves/endorses CSCT materials?
Why has CSCT not published awarding bodies' assessment requirements
in the CSCT tutor and trainee guides this year?
What are guided learning hours (GLH) and what exactly do they involve?
How can Centres describe CSCT courses in their prospectus?
What is meant by 'descriptor'? (CPCAB)
Will the descriptors be available at all
levels?
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT BY THE AWARDING BODY
How is the external assessment organised and how will it
be different from the EV system already in place?
What is the CPCAB?
Does the BACP accredit CSCT courses?
What do the levels on the National Qualification Framework
mean?
What do CSCT training materials consist of?
What support will CSCT give?
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (CPCAB)
Will trainees be able to take the CSCT Counselling Skills
(Intermediate) (for CPCAB level 2 qualification CSK02 or CSK02 with descriptor)
and the CSCT Counselling Studies (Intermediate) (for CPCAB level 3 qualification CST03) concurrently?
What is the structure of the CSCT Counselling Studies (Intermediate)
for CPCAB CST03 qualification?
THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING PROGRAMME (ADVANCED)
What theoretical models are available for the CSCT Therapeutic Counselling Programme for CPCAB qualification TC04?
Are there any changes regarding requirements for 'supervised
client work experience (placement) agreement' for Therapeutic Counselling
Programme trainees?
Who regulates trainees' supervised client work experience
(placements)?
Is there a requirement for personal counselling or therapy?
How can trainees find a suitable counsellor or therapist?
What are awarding bodies?
Awarding bodies are organizations (e.g. CPCAB, AQA, NCFE, City and Guilds,
ABC/Centra , Edexcel) that are approved by the UK government through the
Qualifications Curriculum Authority to offer a range of funded qualifications
on the National Qualifications Framework.
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Is CSCT an awarding body?
No, CSCT is not an awarding body. CSCT is a counselling training provider
and publisher of counselling training programmes. CSCT writes counselling
training materials that meet the National Qualifications Framework specifications
of nationally approved awarding bodies.
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Does CSCT specify assessment requirements for NQF qualifications?
No. Only awarding bodies can specify assessment requirements for NQF qualifications.
As CSCT is NOT an awarding body, it has no responsibility for the design
and specification of assessment requirements or criteria for National
Qualifications. CSCT counselling training programmes are written so that
trainees will be prepared to meet the awarding body's assessment requirements.
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How can I find out what the assessment requirements
are?
All awarding bodies publish QCA approved specifications for NQF qualifications,
which will include their assessment requirements, other regulations and
procedures for each qualification. These can be obtained directly from
the relevant awarding body. Tutors need to set and implement a robust
assessment schedule/programme that meets the awarding body's requirements.
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What are the awarding bodies' responsibilities?
To design qualifications that meet QCA requirements; approve of and register
centres, tutors and candidates; standardise tutors; externally verify
centres. To design and set assessment and qualification requirements,
externally assess trainees; award certificates to successful trainees
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What are the centres' responsibilities?
To register the centre with an awarding body or awarding bodies; to employ
tutors, to programme courses, apply for funding and select trainees; to
internally verify each course.
To implement equal opportunities, anti-discriminatory practice and appeals
procedures.
What are the tutors' responsibilities?
To register the course and candidates with the awarding body, to set and
implement an assessment programme that meets the awarding body's specifications.
To deliver the training and assess trainees.
What is CSCT's responsibility?
To keep aware of and respond to QCA and awarding bodies' changes to counselling
qualifications. To design, write and publish counselling training programmes
that
a) meet awarding bodies' programmes of study for each qualification
b) prepare trainees for awarding bodies' qualifications
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What does CSCT publish?
CSCT publishes structured counselling training programmes. CSCT tutor
guides have session plans for (at least) the specified minimum guided
learning hours of a range of courses, and CSCT trainee guides provide
ample topic material. CSCT's aim is to provide thorough programmes of
study that will prepare trainees to meet awarding body specifications
for NQF counselling skills and counselling qualifications. In addition,
CSCT also offers a number of (non NQF) short courses and workshops at
Introductory and CPD levels, that address a range of counselling specialisms.
How long has CSCT been a counselling training provider?
CSCT has been specialising in Counselling Training for over 24 years.
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Who approves/endorses CSCT materials?
There is currently no statutory requirement either in respect of application
for funding, or in the running of any specific qualification, for educational
material written to NQF qualifications to be endorsed either by an Awarding
Body or the Qualifications Curriculum Authority. However, as part of CSCT's
commitment to the national provision of high quality counselling training
programmes, CSCT continues to collaborate with awarding bodies (e.g. CPCAB,
AQA) in a quality assurance process..
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Why has CSCT not published awarding bodies' assessment
requirements in the CSCT tutor and trainee guides this year?
All awarding bodies publish assessment requirements in their qualification
documents.
CSCT seeks to avoid confusion of responsibilities and unnecessary duplication.
It is up to the centres and tutors to set and implement the awarding bodies'
requirements for each qualification. CSCT will, however, give examples
of assignments within the CSCT tutor forum on the CSCT website.
Why has CSCT taken CPCAB assessment criteria out of the CSCT tutor and
trainee guides this year?
Please see FAQ above. In addition, CPCAB resubmitted their qualification
units, elements, assessment criteria and assessment requirements to QCA
this year and CSCT finalised guide production before approval of amendments
was confirmed.
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What are guided learning hours (GLH) and what exactly
do they involve?
The definition of GLH is all time when a member of staff is present to
give specific guidance towards the learning aim being studied on a course/programme.
This includes lectures, workshops, tutorials, and supervised studying.
It does not include time spent by staff in the day-to-day marking of assignments
or homework where the learner is not present. It does not include hours
where supervision or assistance is of a general nature and is not specific
to the study of the learners. Most awarding bodies specify a range of
guided learning hours for a qualification rather than a fixed number.
This allows centres flexibility in course programming.
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How can Centres describe CSCT courses in their prospectus?
CSCT training programmes can be described as CSCT courses, for example:
CSCT Counselling Skills (Intermediate). However, in your section on the
qualifications/awarding body, you need to inform readers about the relevant
awarding body. Please note that they are not "joint" awards.
CSCT provides the training programmes, and the awarding body provides
the qualifications/awards. CSCT is not an awarding body.
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What is meant by 'descriptor'? (CPCAB)
A CPCAB descriptor specifies the context within which a CPCAB qualification
is delivered and therefore represents a particular application of the
qualification concerned. The descriptor takes the form of a word or phrase,
e.g. Working with Addictions, which appears, in addition to the formal
qualification title, on awarded certificates/diplomas. It is important
to note that the descriptor does not change the formal CPCAB qualification
title.
CPCAB Descriptors indicate, with regard to Centre courses, one of the
following two contexts within which the qualification is delivered:
1. Working with specific therapeutic techniques or orientations/approaches,
e.g. using a Humanistic, Psychodynamic or Cognitive-Behavioural approach
etc
2. Working with specific client groups, problem areas or simulated/placement
workplace settings (including cultural settings), e.g. working with young
people, or working with bereavement and loss, or working within health
settings.
Descriptors do not change the CPCAB assessment criteria for the qualification.
All candidates for all qualifications (whether they include a descriptor
or not) must satisfy the CPCAB assessment criteria contained in the qualification.
Nor does the use of descriptors involve a variation to the qualification
units (all of the CPCAB's qualification units are mandatory).
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Will the descriptors be available
at all levels?
Please refer to the table of course availability.
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EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT BY THE AWARDING BODY
How is the external assessment organised and how will
it be different from the EV system already in place?
Tutors do not assess this element of the course. The awarding body will
set and assess the external assessment element for every course - and
will notify centres of this. Candidates will have to pass both internal
and external assessment elements to pass the course.
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What is the CPCAB?
CPCAB stands for The Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body.
CPCAB has been providing qualifications and awards since 1993, and is
a nationally approved awarding body. This means that CPCAB is authorised
by the UK Government (Qualifications Curriculum Authority) to award counselling
and psychotherapy qualifications, currently at Further Education levels
(2-3), from 2003 - FE(2-3) and Higher Education levels (4-5) and mapped
to the new National Qualifications Framework. Managed by professional
counselling practitioners, trainers and supervisors, the CPCAB is based
on a coherent structure of trainee development that is carried through
every level.
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Does the BACP accredit CSCT courses?
CSCT training programmes cannot be accredited as such, as centre staffing
and internal programme evaluation form part of the accreditation standards
and criteria. It is up to each college to apply for course recognition.
BACP course recognition does not automatically give a graduate accreditation
status, as this needs to be applied for individually. All CSCT courses
are designed to meet the training hours requirements for individuals applying
for BACP accreditation, and graduates can do so after 3 years post-qualifying
supervised counselling practice. Many CSCT graduates have become BACP
accredited counsellors.
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What do the levels on the National Qualification Framework
mean?
The levels have been established by the Qualifications Curriculum Authority
to create nationally recognised standards of achievement within further
education. Counselling qualifications begin at Level 2 "Intermediate"
- broadly equivalent to GCSE level, followed by Level 3 "Advanced"
- equivalent to 'A' level qualifications. Level 4 qualifications, which
will be available from 2003, will be equivalent to degree level (higher
education).
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What do CSCT training materials consist of?
Both CSCT tutor and trainee guides are designed to meet the rigorous standards
of detailed session plans required by FE college inspectors. Session plans
include aims and learning outcomes for the session, and there are questions
for tutors and trainees to evaluate their teaching. The aim is to make
the session plans educationally sound, thus meeting the requirement for
college quality assurance.
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What support will CSCT give?
CSCT will continue to provide all centres with free client services support
and guidance to assist with the implementation and running of counselling
courses.
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INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (CPCAB)
Will trainees be able to take the CSCT Counselling Skills
(Intermediate) (for CPCAB level 2 qualification CSK02 or CSK02 with descriptor)
and the CSCT Counselling Studies (Intermediate) (for CPCAB level 3 qualification CST03) concurrently?
CSCT recommends that trainees have successfully completed CSCT Counselling
Skills before embarking on the CSCT Counselling Studies. This is because
CSCT Counselling Studies builds on the listening, interpersonal and counselling
skills learnt in the CSCT Intermediate Certificate in Counselling Skills.
The Skills course is aimed at an informal level of helping/listening,
and introduces basic counselling skills. CSCT Counselling Studies will,
after a short revision of counselling/helping skills learnt in the Skills
course, work on the assumption that trainees are well capable of holding
boundaried counselling skills interactions. It is a preparation for the
counselling diploma programme and introduces trainees to the role of the
counsellor and the agency framework.
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What is the structure of the CSCT Counselling Studies (Intermediate) for CPCAB CST03 qualification?
CSCT Counselling Studies will focus on preparing trainees for the CSCT
Therapeutic Counselling Programme, and includes material on the professional
framework (i.e. working in agencies), counselling practice training, as
well as an overview of the 3 theoretical approaches (humanistic, psychodynamic
and cognitive-behavioural). The theory addressed will be readily applicable
to preparing to work with clients. Trainees will also be introduced to
Supervision.
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Therapeutic Counselling Programme (Advanced)
What theoretical models are available for the CSCT Therapeutic Counselling Programme for CPCAB qualification TC04?
Humanistic, Psychodynamic or Integrative.
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Are there any changes regarding requirements for 'supervised
client work experience (placement) agreement' for Therapeutic Counselling
Programme trainees?
Yes. CSCT is not an awarding body, so does not specify any requirements
for any part of NQF qualifications. CSCT makes suggestions that reflect
the BACP ethical framework for good practice, and awarding body specifications.
Please follow BACP guidelines for supervised client work experience (placements)
and consult the awarding body documents for the requirements of the qualification.
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Who regulates trainees' supervised client work experience
(placements)?
Tutors are responsible for liaising with counselling agencies where appropriate,
and ensuring that trainees fully understand and adhere to the awarding
body's and the centre's requirements for supervised client work experience.
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Is there a requirement for personal counselling or
therapy?
Awarding bodies may specify a minimum number of hours of personal counselling
to be undertaken during training. However, centres/colleges may choose
to require trainees to undertake a greater number of hours of counselling
or therapy, and trainees are expected to adhere to college requirements.
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How can trainees find a suitable counsellor or therapist?
In looking for a counsellor or therapist, trainees are encouraged to consult
the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Directory
or the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) register. Alternatively,
talk to the course tutor about what to look for in a counsellor or therapist.
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