1. BTEC Health and Social Care L3
Unit 24 – Counselling Skills in health and Social Care

2. Task D2

3. Decision Making ?
Decision making is known as the action or process of making important decision.
Why is the concept of decision making crucial when looking at a helping relationship?
Who is involved in the decision making process?

4. Decision Making – 8 Steps

5. Identifying the problem or dilemma
This is the stage during which a counsellor will identify the key issues surrounding their client by asking questions such as :
Does a problem or dilemma actually exist?
How can you know the nature of the problem?
Is this an ethical, legal, moral, professional or a clinical problem ?

6. Identifying the potential issues involved
This when a practitioner will actually identify any key issues which could have an impact on the support given throughout the helping relationship:
What decision will best safeguard the clients welfare ? Any issues of violence or abuse?
What actions have the least chance of bringing harm to your client ?

7. Review the relevant ethical codes
Are your values in agreement with the specific ethical codes in question ?
Respecting human rights and dignity?
Striving for the fair and adequate provision of counselling and psychotherapy service?
Are the ethical codes consistent with the laws of the state?

8. Know the applicable laws and regulations
Are there any laws or regulations that may have a bearing on the situation under construction ?
Confidentiality ?
Safety ?
Harm ?

9. Obtain consultation
Do you know where to go in order to obtain consultation with other professionals who are knowledgeable about ethical issues?
What kind of information do you document when you consult? Notes, reports, memos ?

10. Consider possible and probable courses of action
What ways can be brainstormed in order to identify possible courses of action for your client ?
Referrals,
Sectioning,
Medication,
Alternative therapies?
Are you willing to involve your client in the discussion of the various courses of action?

11. Enumerate the consequences of various decisions
Enumerate: To count off or name one by one; list.
How can you best evaluate you’re the potential consequences of each course of action, before implementing a regular action plan?
Examine the consequences of various decisions for your client, for you as a counsellor , and for the profession in general ?

12. Decide on what appears to be the best course of action
Do you solicit the input of your client in making this decision at this phase ?
Are you willing to follow up to determine the outcomes and see if further action is necessary ?

13. D2 tips
In order to achieve D2, you will be required to use the counselling skills which you have identified in P1 and M1 and evaluate their effectiveness using the case study of Mary.
You will need use the “ Steps in Ethical Decision Making Process” to guide your report.

14. Introduction
You will need to introduce the task and provide an explanation of the process of ethical decision making,
You will need to explain what is meant by ethics and how they apply to helping relationships in health and social care,
Provide a brief introduction to Mary’s case study.

15. Main report
You will need under each steps number 1 to 8 to pick two questions and answer them:
You will need to ensure that your response provides an answer in the context of Mary’s case study.
You will need to ensure that your answer links to a discussion of how the skill you have chosen and identified in P1/M1 is and is not effective during your chosen step.
You will need to ensure that you make a brief but clear link to the ethical framework.