Course details

Structure

Our Intermediate course (Level 3 Certificate) comprises 15 weekly sessions or seven two-day weekends. To receive certification for the course, you must attend all sessions, complete all coursework, and meet all criteria.

Weekly training sessions

This course involves attending weekly training sessions at your chosen venue in London or Manchester. Sessions will include counselling theory, group discussion, experiential exercises, skills role play, a process hour, a check-in and a closing circle. 

Independent study time 

Throughout this course, you will be expected to study independently outside of your training sessions. The amount of independent study you complete will be unique to you. We advise you to complete 2–6 hours of independent study time each week. Independent study will give you time to:

• work on your coursework
• complete any reading relevant to the course
• continue your personal development journey. 

Assessed coursework

During the course, you will be required to submit coursework on our e-learning platform, Moodle. Our tutors will assess your written coursework against criteria agreed with the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body's (CPCAB). Assessed coursework includes reflective assignments, reading groups, skills practice, and tutor observation.

Tutorials

There will be three tutorials as part of the course. The first two tutorials take place during the course and the third at the end of the course. During tutorials, you will have the opportunity to discuss your coursework and personal development with a tutor one-on-one.  

Certification 

Your certification will follow the completion of all coursework, meeting all criteria and having attended all classroom workshops and tutorials. Once we complete our quality assurance, you’ll receive an accredited Level 3 Certificate from CPCAB.

Training venues

We run our Intermediate Child Counselling Skills (Level 3 Certificate) course from:

• London: Place2Be, 175 St John Street, London, EC1V 4LW 
• Manchester: ESEA, 13 Thomas Street, M4 1EU

Accreditation

Our Intermediate Child Counselling Skills (Level 3 Certificate) is accredited by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB). The course includes 92 Guided Learning Hours.

Entry requirements

To be eligible to apply for our Intermediate Child Counselling Skills (Level 3 Certificate) course, you must have all of the below.

Prior qualifications and experience

You must have completed:

• a Level 2 Award in Counselling with Place2Be
• or a Level 2 Award with another training provider* and a Place2Be Taster Day in the last 18 months
• at least six counselling or psychotherapy sessions (individual, couples or group) to demonstrate your personal development and self-discovery journey

*qualifications you have completed with other training providers must have included a minimum of 43 face-to-face Guided Learning Hours, basic counselling theory, skills practice and evidence of self-awareness. Please note, we can not accept online courses. If you have completed a Level 2 Award with another training provider, you must have completed a Place2Be Taster Day in the last 18 months to apply for the Introductory course (Level 3 Certificate).

Personal qualities

You must have:

• a willingness to be playful and creative 
• a passion and motivation to improve children and young people's mental health and wellbeing.
• a commitment to self-reflection and self-development.

Skills

You must have:

• basic IT literacy skills
• confidence in using word processing software
• the skills to navigate our e-learning platform
• the ability to speak and write English to GCSE level.

Experience with children and young people

You must have at least one year’s experience working or volunteering with, caring for, or parenting children or young people.

Please also make sure you:

• are able to attend all sessions unless there are exceptional circumstances (as set out in our counselling qualifications terms and conditions)
• have sufficient internet access to use our e-learning platform.

Course fee

London courses: £2,000

Manchester: £1,500

If you're offered a place on our Intermediate Child Counselling Skills course, we will ask you to confirm your place by enrolling on one of the following payment plans:

1. full course fee
2. four equal payments one month apart.

Sponsorship for your course fee

If your course fees are being paid by a sponsor organisation (e.g., your employer, a government department, or a charity etc.) or you have an organisational grant, please contact our team by filling out an enquiry form before you book. We’ll be in touch with a link to our sponsorship form. This is so we can contact your sponsor and confirm the arrangement.

How to apply

Before you start your application to our Intermediate Child Counselling Skills (Level 3 Certificate) course, please make sure you:

• can travel to your chosen location, can attend all of the course dates
• have read our counselling qualifications terms and conditions.

To apply, please head to the bottom of this page and select a location and course dates that work for you. You'll then be taken to our application form, where we'll ask for:

• your previous counselling training
• any relevant employment or voluntary experience
• your supporting statements
• your payment information.

Once you submit your application, we'll send you a confirmation email with important information about next steps.

The date you choose to book via our website will be the date when your course starts. Please make sure you book a course you can attend. We can only offer transfers and cancellations in certain circumstances, which are set out in our counselling qualifications terms and conditions.

Supporting statements

You will be required to answer the questions below as part of your application. We recommend preparing your supporting statements in advance. Each question has a 1,500-character limit, between 215 and 375 words, with spaces included.

1. Why do you want to undertake this training, and what do you hope to gain from the course? 
2. Why do you feel that now is the right time to begin? 
3. What skills and knowledge do you have that you have already used when looking after children or young people?
4. In what way does your own experience of childhood influence the way that you look after children or young people?
5. What do you imagine it will be like for you as an adult to be in training again and learning in a group with others?
6. Describe some activities that you engage in that promote personal development and self-awareness, and outline how this benefits you.

Once we receive your application, our team will review it. If you meet all entry requirements and you're shortlisted, we will contact you to arrange an interview.

Get notified when new course dates go live

If your preferred course is full, please choose another available date. Unfortunately, we do not operate a waiting list. If all courses are full or current options aren’t suitable, please register your interest in our Level 3 Certificate course, and we'll let you know when new course dates open for bookings.

Progression to other courses

After completing your Intermediate Child Counselling Skills (Level 3 Certificate), you will be eligible to apply for a course that will qualify you to practice as a child counsellor. Our qualifying courses are accredited by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). You can choose from:

• our Level 4 Diploma in School-Based Child Counselling (also accredited by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body)
• our Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy for Children and Young People in Schools.

Please note that you must complete your Level 3 Certificate by 31 March to be eligible for the September intake of our qualifying courses.

Join us as a Counsellor on Placement

After completing your Intermediate Child Counselling Skills (Level 3 Certificate), and with your tutor's recommendation, you can apply to join Place2Be as a Counsellor on Placement at one of our partner schools.

Our counselling placements will give you valuable experience working therapeutically with children and young people. You will also benefit from expert Clinical Supervision from a Place2Be School Project Manager throughout your placement with us.

Find out more

For more information, please read our Counselling qualifications FAQs, get in touch through our enquiries form, or call us on 0207 923 5558.

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