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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Advise and counsel clients in terms of social or legal problems 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119499  Advise and counsel clients in terms of social or legal problems 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Legal Education and Training 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Justice in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  10 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The learner who achieves this unit standard will be able to advise and counsel clients in terms of relevant social or legal problems. The learner will also be able to refer these clients to appropriate specialists and organisations within or outside the sector for further assistance.

The qualifying learner will be able to:
  • Describe a structured environment conducive to counselling
  • Explain techniques for establishing rapport with clients
  • Identify the client's needs
  • Facilitate the client's decision-making
  • Refer client to where appropriate 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The learner accessing this unit standard is assumed to have the ability to:
  • Communicate at NQF level 4
  • Apply numeracy skills at NQF level 4 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Set-up a structured environment conducive to counseling. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Characteristics of a structured environment are described in terms of its physical setting. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Conducive environment for client counselling is established. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Specific needs of specific clients regarding a suitable environment are identified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Accessibility of the environment by the disabled, illiterate, aged and children.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Establish rapport with the client. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Sensitivity and non-judgmental attitude towards the client are demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Interaction skills in the counselling context are applied. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Ability to appropriately deal with the client's feelings in a professional manner is demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Legal and ethical requirements and limits of the paralegal sector in relation to the client are explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Client's needs are identified in terms of a social or legal problem. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Relevant facts leading to the client's stated problem or position are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Technology is used to identify and clarify client's problem. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    All relevant documentary evidence is identified and obtained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Other role players and their needs are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Client's needs are identified and prioritised in order to counsel the client on a specific problem. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Complete notes of the interview with the clients are recorded, compiled and stored safely. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Facilitate client's decision- making in terms of a social or legal problem. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Knowledge of relevant legal rights and obligations and appropriate remedies, both legal and non-legal is demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Various options, legal and non legal, are explained to the client. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Client's understanding the various options and their consequences is verified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Clear instructions are obtained from the client. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Instructions from the client are confirmed. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Writing of letters confirming the instructions, drafting appropriate powers of attorney.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Refer the client in terms of a social or legal problem. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Instances beyond the expertise of the paralegal are identified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Instances- include client problems that require non-legal expertise, specialist legal expertise or legal expertise based on a legal qualification above NQF Level 5.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Referral agencies are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Reason(s) for referral are explained to the client. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Information regarding the referral agency is provided to client. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Necessity of communicating with the referral agency is evaluated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Necessity of follow up of the referral is evaluated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Follow up to the referral is conducted. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Follow up includes telephonic or written communication ascertain the action taken or outcome of enquiry from referral agency. It also entails providing the relevant feedback to the client if necessary.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments. Moderation of assessments will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and agreed ETQA procedures. This unit standard can be internally assessed by assessors of the provider and moderated by a moderator registered by the relevant ETQA. Moderation shall comply with SAQA requirements.

    Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The learner will be able to demonstrate an understanding of:
  • Activities and techniques for identifying client information, providing counselling and guiding.
  • Sources of information.
  • Specialists and alternative service providers available in the region.
  • How to maintain a database of information.
  • Activities and techniques for providing information to clients.
  • Knowing who to refer clients to, when and why.
  • How to keep records of information, counselling and guidance provided to clients 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems by listening to the client, gaining information, identifying the needs and remedies and assisting client to find solutions. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with the client; colleagues and other entities as a team. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage the learner and the learner's activities by self-management through time keeping, adhering to demands for client service and confidentiality, keeping records in an orderly and secure way. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information by using appropriate literature and computer based information. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively with the client and others using a variety of media and language skills as well as assessing verbal, written and non-verbal communication by the client and others. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Terminology
  • Referral agency: any organisation, institution or person to which legal referrals may be done 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  49598   National Diploma: Paralegal Practice  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.