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Information for Counselling Centres

Counselling Newsletter - Autumn 2008

Guidance for Counselling External Assessments - April 2010

Centre Guidance for ABC Awards Counselling External Assessments April 2010

Counselling Qualifications Update 

ABC’s Counselling qualifications have an accreditation end date of 31st December 2010.

We have been engaged with Skills for Health (the Sector Skills Council responsible for Counselling) for the past 12 months concerning the transition of counselling qualifications to the new Qualifications and Credit framework.

They have been conducting research looking at the Counselling landscape, its terms, its scope etc. and the potential for identifying learning pathways.  These pathways might equate to a career development plan for individuals wishing to study toward full specialist areas of counselling with stepping off points to roles along that pathway.  To help us in this endeavour the SSC engaged Consultants whose remit is to produce a report late December 2009. 

At the same time the consultation has been taking place regarding the HPC proposals, which elicited an unprecedented response.

ABC along with all other Awarding Bodies offering qualifications in Counselling has become increasingly concerned about the short timescale that we are all facing regarding this migration to the QCF and that no constructive progress has been made on a shared unit development approach.  From past experience, we know that the process of producing shared units is a lengthy one and we believe it would be very difficult to come up with agreed shared units in time for centres to be able to plan provision from next September.  This presents a real danger of a lack of continuity of provision.

We have all expressed this concern to Skills for Health, and have pointed out that any amendments to provision would need to take into account the external environment relating to Counselling which at present holds a lot of unknowns.  We have got agreement from them that each Awarding Body will migrate its own qualifications onto the QCF as soon as possible to ensure continuity of provision whilst we await the outcome of the regulation issue. 

This means that ABC will soon begin work on this redevelopment with a view to gaining accreditation for our L2, L3 and L4 qualifications on the QCF by April 2010 at the latest. 

We have agreed with Skills for Health that when external issues are clearer, we can then work with them and other Awarding Bodies to produce new qualifications to meet the new challenges which will face Counselling.

For up to date information, keep looking on our web site

Posted 2.12.09

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Latest News

Youth Work Qualification Strategy - The National Youth Agency

The NYA would like contributions from all those with a vested interest in their strategy and vocational qualifications for youth work. The consultation period runs from 9th July 2010 to 26th July 2010.

Read more...

Posted 22.07.10

ABC QCF Qualifications Update

The majority of ABC Awards' qualifications have now been migrated from NQF qualifications to the QCF. Qualification/funding updates with further information on the migration to QCF are now available for:

Posted 13.07.10

Level 3 & 4 Foundation Diplomas in Art, Design & Media Now Approved on the QCF

ABC is pleased to announce that its Level 3 and 4 Foundation Diplomas are now approved on the QCF and will appear in the LSC April 2010 list for an August 2010 delivery.  The accreditation end date for these qualifications is now 31.12.2012.  The guided learning hours for both qualifications have been increased from 600 hours to 720 hours.

FAD/QCF More ...

Posted 18.3.10

ABC Gains Ofqual Recogition as a QCF Awarding Organisation

ABC has been fully recognised by Ofqual as a QCF awarding organisation. This means that it is now able to extend the accreditation life of current QCF qualifications beyond December 2010. ABC will be working with relevant SSCs to extend all current QCF provision as quickly as possible.

All new qualifications will be recognised for the QCF and will be approved beyond December 2010. ABC intends to replace the majority of its remaining NQF qualifications with updated provision on the QCF as soon as possible. All plans are subject to SSC approval and timescales. Posted 4.2.10

ABC Awards will be attending/exhibiting at:

SSAT Languages Conference
7 & 8 October 2010
The Belfry, Birmingham

SSAT Technology Specialism Conference
12 & 13 October 2010
Radison SAS Hotel, Manchester Airport

The Languages Show
15-17 October 2010
Earls Court, London

AoC Annual Conference & Exhibition
16-18 November 2010
International Convention Centre (ICC), Birmingham

Go to Conference & Events page for further information and booking forms.

Qualifications Directory 2009-2010

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Examination Officers Guide 2009-10

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Annual Review 2009

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Todays date 2nd September 2010

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