Unit name | Counselling Learners with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs |
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Unit code | EDUCM0061 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Bakopoulou |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Education |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit considers the impact of Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs for learners and provides the opportunity to critically evaluate established frameworks and practices that inform the use of counselling skills in Education contexts.
The unit will consider a selection of topics related to the education of learners experiencing Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties, chosen in consultation with students attending the unit. These topics could include: bullying; difficulties with learning; impact of assessment; behaviour and discipline; bereavement; coping with transition and major life changes; vulnerability arising from abuse or neglect; self-harm; anxiety and depression; eating disorders and substance abuse. The selected topics will be considered from the perspectives of the person seeking help and their families, teachers and other professionals.
The aims of this unit are to:
Upon successful completion of this unit students will demonstrate that they:
This unit will be taught using a blended approach consisting of a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous activities including lectures, reading and discussions.
Formative assessment
Students will be required, working collaboratively in small groups, to make a presentation to the class about a selected issue/special educational need and its implications for learners with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. This will involve conceptualising the area of need, identifying barriers to learning and proposing an intervention that could be delivered by a skilled helper to provide support for the child or young person. The presentation will not be summatively assessed but will be discussed in class and formative feedback will be provided by unit tutors. This presentation and those of the other groups will inform the summative components of the assessment.
Students will be expected to take part in the activities planned for each session and to contribute fully to group discussions and tasks. In addition to feedback from colleagues, the unit tutor will offer constructive feedback during the presentations and classroom discussions. ILOs 1-3
Essay (100%): Students will be asked to submit a 4,000 word essay in which they critically reflect on the appropriateness of an intervention for supporting learners with a particular SEMH need using a case study account of a child or young person with this need. Students will need to demonstrate a critical ability to understand and apply relevant literature, to select an appropriate intervention for their population of interest, and to appreciate the challenges of implementation for professionals using counselling skills within educational contexts. ILOs 1-4