This unit provides frontline professionals with the knowledge and skills required to effectively support children and young people who are experiencing personal difficulties and require social and/or emotional support. Emphasis is placed on recognising when such support is needed and why, identifying when and how to respond and refer to other support services, such as counselling. In this unit, you will cover:

  • Recognising why and when young people need emotional support
  • Theoretical contexts for understanding children's emotional concerns
  • Contexts of engaging with children and young people
  • Causes of emotional distress
  • Responding to children and young people's emotional needs
  • The role (and limitations) of 'front line' professionals
  • Building self-esteem and promoting resilience
  • Identifying appropriate means of providing support practical support
  • Ethical and legal considerations
  • The importance of reflective practice
  • Referring to other service providers
  • Distinguishing between the need for social and emotional support and issues related to mental health, care and protection
  • An overview of relevant services and service models for children needing specialised support
  • Theoretical frameworks and therapeutic modalities for counselling and therapy with young people.

This unit teaches you to recognise when such support is needed and why, as well as when and how to refer to other support services, such as counselling.

Learning outcomes

  • Recognise when and why young people might need emotional support
  • Discuss the role of 'front-line' professionals in providing emotional support including the relationship between their role and that of other professionals such as counsellors
  • Demonstrate appropriate skills in responding to young people experiencing difficulties, crisis or distress
  • Recognise which services young people may need to be referred to and how such referrals might be sensitively approached
  • Describe a range of the theoretical frameworks and therapeutic models that underpin emotional support services for young people, including different counselling and therapeutic modalities
  • Critically evaluate their own interpersonal skills when engaging with children and young people requiring emotional support.

Assessment

You are assessed according to the following three components, each with its own weighted value against your overall result:

  • Discussion board: 5%
  • Reflective writing: 45%
  • Report: 50%.

Courses

You can study this unit as part of the Master of Education.   Please note, unit structure and content are subject to change. Contact your SCU Online student advisor on 1300 863 819 for more information based on your particular circumstances.