vcc.ca
CNSK 1508: Assessment Practices
Effective date
January 2024
Department
Counselling Skills
School
Continuing Studies
Description
This course introduces students to the skills required to appropriately identify and conduct an assessment in various settings with multiple demographics. Encompassing a bio-psycho-social-spiritual model, students will learn a collaborative therapeutic framework for conducting assessments as a client-centered, trauma informed skill, while preserving respect and dignity for clients.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
1st Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
CNSK 1502, CNSK 1505.
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Apply interpersonal communication skills to conduct assessments with diverse clients in diverse settings
- Implement ethical practices in assessment
- Recognize each client’s unique journey and the impact of social context and cultural milieu in the assessment process
- Exercise critical thinking skills to gather, analyze, prioritize, and integrate information from clients for assessment purposes
- Evaluate the use of addictions screening and assessment tools in a variety of contexts
- Identify and describe the stages of change in addictions contexts
- Apply professionalism in record keeping and report writing
- Explain the case manager role
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 39
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 6
Total Hours: 45
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 6
Total Hours: 45
Instructional Strategies
Lecture, videos, group discussion/work, reflective writing, written practice of skills, readings, practice sessions, transcripts, peer and instructor feedback
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
C
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Assignments |
15 |
Practice assessment interview video |
|
Assignments |
20 |
Practice assessment interview video |
|
Assignments |
20 |
Reporting and documentation |
|
Assignments |
20 |
Case conceptualization |
|
Project |
15 |
Community resource presentation |
|
Participation |
10 |
Professionalism |
Course topics
- • Models of assessment: Bio-psycho-social-spiritual, collaborative, therapeutic • Assessment interview • Mental health and substance use screening • Mental status exam • Risk assessment • Assessment with special populations • Making appropriate referrals • Integrate assessment information and case conceptualization • Report writing • Addictions assessment and screening tools • Case management
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.