Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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INSTITUTE OF GUIDANCE
COUNSELLORS
The Role of
Introduction 3
Definition 3
Membership 4
Adult Guidance 5
Counselling Skills 17
Referral Services 24
References 25
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Welcome to the IGC
On behalf of it's members and their clients the Institute has a liaison
and advocacy role with government departments, management and
trade union organisations, national parent bodies, higher and further
education institutions, employment and training agencies.
Definition
The role of the Guidance Counsellor is to engage in personal,
educational, and vocational counselling with clients throughout the
lifespan, in the particular circumstances of their life.
3
Membership
Membership of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors is open to those
individuals, who have successfully completed a programme of study,
recognised by the Institute, for the purpose of admission to
membership.
The Institute recognises two strands, through which individuals can
obtain membership.
Education
The institute recognises at the time of publication of this document, the
following Irish Guidance and Counselling programmes, currently being
offered by third level institutions, as meeting its entry requirements,
for those seeking employment in education settings. An up to date list
of recognised qualifications is always available on the Institutes
website at www.igc.ie
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Higher Diploma in School Guidance and Counselling (NUI
Maynooth)
Higher Diploma in Guidance and Counselling (NUI Cork)
Graduate Diploma in Guidance and Counselling (University of
Limerick)
Masters of Education - Guidance and Counselling (Trinity
College Dublin)
M.Sc. in Educational Guidance and Counselling - Mode B (Trinity
College)
Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma/MSc in Counselling and
Therapeutic Communication (University of Ulster) plus (DAS)
Adult Guidance
The Institute recognises the following Irish Guidance and Counselling
programme, currently being offered, by NUI Maynooth, as meeting its
entry requirements, for those seeking employment in an adult guidance
role. All courses currently accepted for membership of the IGC, will be
reviewed every three years.
Individuals presenting qualifications obtained from colleges in other
jurisdictions will have to fulfil a basket of entry requirements, which
must include the following generic core components.
5
COMPONENT HOURS
1. Knowledge
Role and functions of the guidance counsellor (managing the
guidance service)
Career development and the nature of work 24 hours
The Psychology of Human Development and Behaviour 24 hours
Counselling theory 24 hours
Professional issues (e.g. ethics, record keeping) 12 hours
Multicultural, Special Educational needs and equality issues 6 hours
Guidance programme planning / Whole school planning 6 hours
2. Skills Development
Guidance skills development 24 hours
Counselling skills development 24 hours
Experiential group work 24 hours
Psychometric testing 30 hours
Information management and systems 12 hours
Personal growth/development, which should include personal 12 hours
counselling.
3. Field Practice
Guidance practice and supervision. 24 hours
Counselling practice and supervision. 24 hours
Appropriate placements 48 hours
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The Role of the Guidance Counsellor
The practice of
Personal
Education &
Vocational
Guidance
throughout the
lifespan
Ethical Labour
Principles & Market
Professional Education &
Practice Training
Guidance
Counsellor
Equality &
Counselling
Skills
Diversity
Managing of
Information Guidance
& Resource Service &
Management Programme
Delivery
7
1.
The practice of vocational, educational, and personal
guidance across the lifespan.
8
Can foster career management strategies by helping
individuals develop the skills to effectively manage their
careers
Helping individuals understand that career management is a
lifelong process
Helping individuals understand how societal trends play a
major role in career management
Promoting individuals’ independence and self-confidence
Increasing individuals’ awareness of opportunities and options
Understanding and agreeing on possible outcomes
Working out steps needed to make and implement a decision
so individuals achieve goals
9
Helping individuals to become self confident, self reliant,
resilient, enterprising, and prepared to match the demands of
knowledge based economies and fluid societal change.
11
Assessment
Assessment involves the integration and evaluation of data
inventories, tests, interviews, scales, and other techniques, which
measure an individual’s abilities, aptitudes, barriers, life roles,
interests, personality, values, attitudes, educational
achievements, skills, and other relevant information.
The Guidance Counsellor identifies when the use of an
assessment is appropriate, which test instrument to use, test
interpretation, which is, interpreting, and explaining to a client
the results of an assessment and the implications thereof.
The one to one personal interview is a necessary first step in
attempting to establish an understanding of the client’s present
circumstances, as well as an appreciation of his/her personality,
values, attitudes, interests, ambitions, motivations and barriers or
perceived. The interview will also afford an opportunity to
establish information as to client’s educational achievements to
date.
The guidance counsellor is responsible for the maintenance of
professional standards in the administration, interpretation, and
dissemination of tests and results.
12
Labour Market Education and Training
13
3.
Equality and Diversity
4.
Managing a Service and Programme Delivery
14
5.
Information and Resource Management
Guidance Counsellors:
Recognise the need for systematic, efficient, and effective
information and resource management in their work
Have a knowledge of legislation governing freedom of
information, data protection etc.
Have a responsibility to ensure that current information is
gathered, organised and disseminated to provide clients with the
widest range of options.
Must keep up to date with ICT (Information and Communications
Technology)
Assist clients in accessing and interpreting information
effectively.
The effective management of information and resources should
provide for the following:
Access to information technology including Internet and e-mail
Research
Outreach work
Careers exhibitions
College open-day visits
Work-place/industry visits
College Open Days
Guest Speakers
Development of publications and resource material relevant to
the client base
Newsletters
Effective use of notice boards and information points
Up-dating careers library
15
6
Counselling Skills
16
Educational Career
Guidance & Vocational
Counselling Guidance &
Counselling
Personal
Guidance &
Counselling
17
7.
Guidance Counsellors:
Respect the dignity, integrity and welfare of their clients
Set and maintaining appropriate boundaries
Adhere to appropriate confidentiality and legal limits
Safeguard the storage, retrieval and disposal of clients’
records both written and electronic
Develop and maintain their professional competence
Engage in professional supervision of their work
Interpret instruments for which they are qualified
Recognise the limits of their training and experience and make
appropriate referrals
18
A Model of Practice of the Guidance Counsellor
in a Guidance and Counselling Service
Motivation
Self Awareness
Self Management
Care & Support
CLIENT
CAREER
EDUCATION
EDUCATIONAL CAREER
COUNSELLING COUNSELLING
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Who is entitled to access a Guidance and Counselling
Service?
Foot Note 1
Examples of such activities include information and advice giving, counselling,
competence assessment, mentoring, advocacy, teaching decision-making and career
management skills. A variety of terms are used in Member States to describe
services engaged in these activities, including educational, vocational or career
guidance, guidance and counselling, occupational guidance/counselling services, etc.
21
Primary Schools
Post Primary Schools
Higher Education Institutions
Colleges of Further Education
Adult education centres
Local Employment Service Network
FAS
Statutory agencies
Community Based Services
Area Based Partnership Companies
Prison Education Services
Ex-Offender Services
Drug Rehabilitation Services
Psychological Services
Special Education Services
Private practice
Referral Services
22
Listings of Referral Services
23
References
Career Guidance and Public Policy, Bridging the Gap-OECD Paris 2004.
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