City and Guilds and NVQ's

A National Vocational Qualification is a qualification which helps you to develop your skills and gain the knowledge required to help you to do a job effectively.

The qualifications are based on national standards and there are several for various occupations. NVQs are appropriate if you wish to increase your skills with your current job or to gain new skills to move into a different area. The national standards set the skills that you need to be able to achieve to work at each level so it is easy to see how to progress from your current position. NVQs are at levels 1 to 5 on the National Qualification Framework. (http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_5967.aspx) The framework shows how different types of qualifications compare, in terms of the demands they place on learners.

What follows is a description of the various levels of national vocational qualifications
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Vocational_Qualification)

Level 2 - A skilled experienced person who can organise their own work, as well as being able to work as part of a team. The candidate should be able to apply their knowledge to a range of work activities.

Level 3 - A skilled knowledgeable person who is required to demonstrate considerable responsibility and autonomy in their working role.

Level 4 - Competence involves the application of knowledge in a broad range of complex, technical or professional work activities performed in a variety of contexts.

St Mary’s Health Studies Academy provides work based NVQ assessment services that facilitate staff qualification. Assessments are carried out during normal working hours - "no college classes".

The beauty of the system is that the skills and knowledge you already have count towards your qualification.

Candidates will receive advice, support and guidance from experienced occupationally competent assessors to achieve their chosen NVQ qualification.

What are VRQs (Vocational related qualifications)?

Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQs) are nationally recognised qualifications which follow the traditional study process of teach, practise and assessment.

They are based on the national framework of qualifications and are applicable for managers staff at all levels.

St Mary's Health Studies Academy offer a range of VRQ qualifications many at a very competitive price or sometimes free to you the employer, tailored to meet the needs of the care homes we work with and to satisfy the regulatory bodies criteria for mandatory training.

An Example of some of the course we offer:

Infection Control
(http://www.aset.ac.uk/viewpage.php?id=programmes%2Fqualifications%2Fthe-control-of-infection-and-contamination-l2%2F)

Managing and Safe Handling of Medicines
(http://www.ncfe.org.uk/qualInfo.aspx?qual=100/6226/9&secid=1)

Dementia Awareness
(http://www.ncfe.org.uk/qualInfo.aspx?qual=NP00066NT&secid=1)

Palliative Care
(http://www.ncfe.org.uk/qualInfo.aspx?qual=500/1910/7&secid=1)

Equality and Diversity
(http://www.ncfe.org.uk/qualInfo.aspx?qual=NP00084NT&secid=14)

Nutrition and Health
(http://www.ncfe.org.uk/qualInfo.aspx?qual=100/4426/7&secid=1)

What does it involve?

Candidates produce evidence to prove their competence to meet the NVQ and VRQ standards and demonstrate knowledge and understanding through questioning and reflection.
When the candidate has satisfied all criteria of a unit, the assessor will sign them off as competent.
What happens first? A training advisor will contact you to discuss the various options available and you will be signed up onto an appropriate NVQ programme.

The Assessment Centre, St Mary's Health Studies Academy will then register you with the appropriate awarding body; City and Guilds, Aset, NCFE Your assessor will then arrange an initial visit at a mutually agreeable time, to start your award.

Key Roles in the assessment of NVQs and VRQs

Candidate - The person being assessed and is registered with an awarding body
Assessor -Responsible to the awarding body for assuring assessment is undertaken as required
Internal Verifier - Sample portfolios to check practice Liaise with awarding bodies
External Verifier - Appointed by awarding bodies to monitor assessment centres and check quality