What is the course about?
For Greater London residents, these courses can be funded if they earn less than the London Living Wage or otherwise do not already have a Level 3 qualification, alongside the standard residency requirements.
This course has a duration of 32 weeks and aims to provide learners with an in-depth knowledge of the use of counselling skills in everyday life and work and, the approaches that underpin the use of these skills. This qualification is ideal for those seeking to enhance their functional role through the use of counselling skills. Learners will gain an understanding of a range of counselling skills and have the opportunity to examine some of the various schools of thought/theoretical models associated with them. It does not qualify learners to practise as a counsellor.
Learners are advised that certain course materials may contain sensitive content that some individuals could find distressing or triggeringThis qualification is suitable for learners aged 19 and above. Learners will have to have completed the L2 Certificate in Counselling Skills before enrolling onto this course.
To be awarded the Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills, learners are required to successfully complete 5 mandatory units:
•Developing counselling skills
• Theoretical approaches in the use of counselling skills
•Working ethically with counselling skills
•Counselling skills and diversity
•Counselling skills and personal development
You will be provided with online learning materials which covers all aspects of your course. You will be required to complete assessments for each of the units within the course and submit these by the deadline dates provided at induction and you will be allocated an assessor at the start of your course, who will support you to ensure you have a successful outcome. Part of the assessment criteria of this course involves a role play activity and as such, you will need to have someone present to simulate a helping interaction. If you are unable to find someone to support you with the role play, please inform you tutor. Should you not wish to do a role play, there is another option to provide a reflective account. You will develop IT and basic English skills throughout this course, and these will be assessed and discussed on an ongoing basis.
In order to undertake this course, you must :Have English at Level 2 and there will be an initial interview and English Initial Assessment to discuss the eligibility criteria. The course is free if you meet the eligibility criteria- you must be a UK resident and have valid permission to live in the UK for at least 12 months if you are London-based or must have lived legally for 3 years in the UK if you leave in non-devolved area. You will need to be aged 19 or older on 31 August 2025. You will also need internet access so that you can respond to email and a digital device that will enable you to type your answers into a web-based platform. You will need to provide evidence of this in order to access this free course. If you are not eligible for a free course, you can still undertake the course and pay for it yourself or by taking out a learner loan.
The objectives of this qualification are to help learners to:
• progress to similar qualifications at a higher level
• progress to a role in which counselling skills are used
Learners who achieve this qualification would need to undertake taught classes in order to build up the required hours needed to become a qualified Counsellor.
