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New course offers career path to adult learners

Published on Tuesday, July 25, 2023

2 minute read

Tutor and learners in class

LEARNERS wanting to train for a career in counselling can now follow their career path from beginner to practitioner level at the city’s adult education service.

For the first time, Leicester Adult Education is offering a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, starting in September 2023.

The service, which is based in the former library at Belvoir Street in the city centre, already runs popular introduction, Level 1, 2 and 3 courses, but this is the first time it has added a Level 4 qualification to the range on offer.

The two-year, part-time course is designed for learners who have already successfully completed their Level 3 qualification, and supports learners with the development and demonstration of skills, knowledge and understanding of counselling work, with a view to achieving professional status as a counselling practitioner upon completion.

It is also the only Level 4 course run with the Skills Education Group (SEG) in Leicester and Leicestershire which can be funded by a student loan, rather than learners having to cover the cost of the course themselves.

Leicester assistant city mayor for communities, adult learning, jobs and skills, Cllr Mustafa Malik, said: “Leicester Adult Education is a fantastic way for people to retrain, discover a new career or simply to learn new skills, with a range of part-time and evening courses to fit in with their busy lives.

“I’m really pleased that we are able to offer learners such a comprehensive training programme from beginner through to practitioner, meaning they can learn and develop with access to such experienced, knowledgeable tutors, in their home city.”

The Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling course starts on September 6, 2023. It takes place on Wednesdays, 9.30am-4.30pm at the BRITE Centre, in Braunstone.

The course is taught by Jane Moore, a practising counsellor and tutor with over 20 years’ experience as a teacher.

She added: “The counselling courses we’ve been running over the last few years have been, and continue to be, very popular. For all learners, the courses have been a really positive experience.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to run the Level 4 diploma, which is the first such course anywhere in the city or county which can be funded using a student loan.

“The Skills Education Group format also means learners get a thorough, holistic view of the subject as well, to give them an excellent understanding of the skills and theories they’ll need to go into this profession.

“Those enrolled on the Level 4 course will also complete a 100-hour placement with a counselling agency.”

Leicester Adult Education are also running Level 2 and Level 3 in September and October. The introductory course starts again in June 2024.

Adult learner Harjit Dhillon has just completed the Level 2 counselling skills course through Leicester Adult Education.

She said: “It was a great course. It involved a lot more than I expected, and we learned skills that we can use in our day to day lives. A course definitely worth doing.”

Full details are available at the Leicester Adult Education website here.  

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