The act of effective interaction between individuals can be obtained by spoken words or by other means. For communication to occur there has to be at least two people involved. The ability to communicate effectively and efficiently is one of the most important skills that can be gained by a healthcare professional.

What is Communication?

In a simple definition, communication is the process of sending or receiving messages between two or more individuals.

Effective communication is more than just talking, and is essential for the well-being of the individuals you care for.  It includes body language, gestures, facial expressions, positioning and appearance.  It is important to be aware of non-verbal communication when interacting with your individuals at work.

It is impossible to do without communication in health and social care, we have many reasons to communicate and it is essential communication is done effectively without misunderstanding others or being misunderstood. We communicate with:

• Patients, residents, clients,
• Health care professionals,
• Managers and supervisors,
• Family and friends. 

• Speech difficulties due to disabilities’ or illness e.g. Dementia, stroke
• Deafness
• Poor Sight
• Noisy Environment
• Poor Cognitive Skills e.g. learning disabilities
• Difference in Language spoken

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I have been working as an NVQ assessor for a few years, assessing NVQs in Health and Social Care. Recently I was getting tired of the amount of paper work I had to deal with and the time spent with candidates was increasing because of the need to reference their evidence appropriately and meet up with funding requirements and organizational procedures.

Being a Health and Social Care worker in the past and a trainer at present, I can understand the burden the paper based NVQ places on candidates who are hands on individuals rather than academicians. Some learners are finding the NVQs difficult to produce written evidence.

My targets for completing cohorts of learners were becoming incredibly impossible to meet; therefore I knew I had to adopt another strategy as quickly as possible. I attended a training session that introduced me to a number of ways to improve assessment methods and behold it was the one thing I thought was going to be difficult to adopt that was presented as a simpler method – Electronic Assessment.

The outcome of the training I attended was really advantageous; presently as an NVQ Assessor I mix both kinds together, I mean paper and electronic assessment. I capture as much evidence as possible on digital Dictaphone and my Blackberry phone. I find this method very effective for witness testimonies, observations, professional discussions, reflective accounts and Questions and Answers. I find using electronic methods brings so many different and positive advantages to the assessment process, for example:

Witness testimonials, Professional Discussion, Reflective Accounts and Questions & Answers – I am able to capture quality evidence as I interview the witnesses; this could be the manager or other key people. The learner finds it time saving to sit down with me and have a conversation recorded on my Dictaphone as a professional discussion, reflective account or oral questioning session. I can steer a conversation in the direction I need to capture the maximum amount of evidence. Within a short time I have implemented this method; I’ve noticed witnesses are much more likely to provide a testimonial if they think their involvement will be a brief interview. When you ask witnesses to write long reports you will be putting them off and this can often make them feel that this is not their NVQ award so why are they been made to write reports. As it is not a witness or learner’s role to know the assessment process, there is a risk that their evidence would not fully cover performance or knowledge criteria the testimony was aimed at. This can lead to de-motivation and reluctance of learners gathering evidence using witness testimonies or reluctance to complete the qualification because of the writing involved.

Observations – I electronically record observations when I can and where confidentiality will allow. This allows the observation to be viewed/ heard by all involved in the process and reduces issues that could arise around assessor interpretation. In health and social care we do have a lot to keep confidential however some aspects can be either voice recordings or video recordings.

Work products – I reference all work products to the portfolio rather than being printed and put in the portfolio. This reduces the amount of paper used in the process and allows evidence to remain in its natural environment of the work place. For example policies and procedures followed by learners at work, supervision records, care plans, accident reports etc

A learner could either be using an e-portfolio or the traditional paper based portfolio and would still be able to produce evidence using these kinds of electronic methods. Capturing electronic evidence reduces the amount of time I need to spend working on evidence. Assessing the learner’s written work and dealing with insufficient evidence due to the learner not being able to express themselves in writing can wastes a lot of time. Using electronic evidence means I can spend more time making assessment decisions and capturing evidence rather than spending time typing or writing it into a report. It is also very important to reduce our carbon footprint and paper portfolios can contain a vast amount of paper.

Using electronic methods reduces paper usage and promotes an environmentally friendly image. This has filtered through to the NVQ assessment process as electronic evidence reduces the need for storage space in the office or in your home if you are a freelance Assessor. As an assessor this is an advantage to me as I do not have to transport heavy and large portfolios anymore which you agree with me is not a healthy exercise over a long period of time.

Capturing evidence electronically also enhances the quality assurance processes. All those involved in the process are able to validate and authenticate evidence as they are able to see and/or hear the live evidence which reduces potential issues; for example concerns regarding assessor assumptions.

At the beginning of this process of change I was not very sure it would work but as the days rolled into weeks and weeks into months, I’m sure getting better at it and my learners are very happy at the thought of a reduction in writing because they can provide evidence verbally.

At NVQMadeSimple.com we want to encourage verifiers, assessors and learners to embrace electronic assessments as it has definite advantages for us all in the coming years. If you would like to share with us your personal experience and opinions about electronic assessments for NVQ, please leave your comments below.

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This is a task that you will be required to do at the beginning of your NVQ, shortly after registration forms have been completed. Your assessor should complete a skill scan with you which is a short discussion about your job role and activities you carry out regularly at work. This discussion should be recorded in a form called a skill scan; the format of the form differs from centre to centre.

Sometimes candidates think they can choose a unit that they would like to explore new skills and knowledge on but unfortunately this is not the main objective of going through an NVQ rather it is to assist you package your experience and competence on your job into a certificate for which you need sufficient, valid, reliable and authentic evidence. Therefore your choice of optional units should be based on what you do regularly and you can present evidence using different methods including direct observation at work by your NVQ Assessor.

See below a list of units option codes for both NVQ 2 and NVQ 3 (Adults) and their respective titles:

To gain the full NVQ Level 2 all four mandatory units and two optional units must be achieved, this makes a total of 6 units.

Level 2 Mandatory Units

HSC21: Communicate with, and complete records for individuals   

HSC22: Support the health and safety of yourself and individuals

HSC23: Develop your knowledge and practice

HSC24: Ensure your own actions support the care, protection and well-being of individuals

Level 2 Optional Units

HSC25: Carry out and provide feedback on specific plan of care activities

HSC26: Support individuals to access and use information

HSC27: Support individuals in their daily living

HSC28: Support individuals to make journeys

HSC29: Support individuals to meet their domestic and personal needs

HSC210: Support individuals to access and participate in recreational activities

HSC211: Support individuals to take part in development activities

HSC212: Support individuals during therapy sessions

HSC213: Provide food and drink for individuals

HSC214: Help individuals to eat and drink

HSC215: Help individuals to keep mobile

HSC216: Help address the physical comfort needs of individuals

HSC217: Undertake agreed pressure area care

HSC218: Support individuals with their personal care needs 

HSC219: Support individuals to manage continence

HSC220: Maintain the feet of individuals who have been assessed as requiring help with general foot care

HSC221: Assist in the administration of medication

HSC222: Support individuals prior to, during and after clinical procedures 

HSC223: Contribute to moving and handling individuals

HSC224: Observe, monitor and record the conditions of individuals

HSC225: Support individuals to undertake and monitor their own health care

HSC226: Support individuals who are distressed

HSC227: Contribute to working in collaboration with carers in the caring role

HSC228: Contribute to effective group care

HSC229: Gain access to, and ensure individuals’ homes are secure

HSC230: Manage environments and resources during clinical activities

HSC232: Protect yourself from the risk of violence at work

Level 3 Mandatory Units

HSC31: Promote effective communication for and about individuals

HSC32: Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the working environment

HSC33: Reflect on and develop your practice

HSC35: Promote choice, well being and the protection of all individuals

Level 3 Optional Units

HSC328: Contribute to care planning and review

HSC329: Contribute to planning, monitoring and reviewing the delivery of service for individuals

HSC330: Support individuals to access and use services and facilities

HSC331: Support individuals to develop and maintain social networks and relationships

HSC332: Support the social, emotional and identity needs of individuals

HSC333: Prepare your family and networks to support individuals requiring care

HSC334: Provide a home and family environment for individuals

HSC335: Contribute to the protection of individuals from harm and abuse

HSC336: Contribute to the prevention and management of abusive and aggressive behaviour

HSC337:  Provide frameworks to help individuals to manage challenging behaviour

HSC338: Carry out screening and referral assessment

HSC339: Carry out assessment to identify and prioritise needs

HSC340: Carry out comprehensive substance misuse assessment

HSC341: Help individuals address their substance use through an action plan

HSC342: Assess and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance users

HSC343: Support individuals to live at home

HSC344: Support individuals to retain, regain and develop the skills to manage their lives and environment.

HSC345: Support individuals to manage their financial affairs

HSC346: Support individuals to manage direct payments

HSC347: Help individuals to access employment

HSC348: Help individuals to access learning, training and development opportunities

HSC349: Enable individuals to access housing and accommodation

HSC350: Recognise, respect and support the spiritual well-being of individuals

HSC351: Plan, agree and implement development activities to meet individual needs

HSC352: Support individuals to continue therapies

HSC353: Interact with individuals using telecommunications

HSC354: Counsel Individuals about their substance use using recognised theoretical models

HSC355: Counsel groups of individuals about their substance use using recognised theoretical models

HSC356: Support individuals to deal with relationship problems

HSC357: Carry out extended feeding techniques to ensure individuals’ nutritional and fluid intake

HSC358: Identify the individual at risk of skin breakdown and undertake the appropriate risk assessment.

HSC360: Move and position individuals

HSC361: Prepare for and undertake physiological measurements

HSC362: Recognise indications of substance misuse and refer individual to specialists

HSC363: Test for substance use

HSC364: Identify the physical health needs of individuals with mental health needs

HSC365: Raise awareness about substances, their use and effects

HSC366: Support individuals to represent their own needs and wishes at decision-making forums.

HSC367: Help individuals identify and access independent representation and advocacy

HSC368: Present individuals’ needs and preferences

HSC369: Support individuals with specific communication needs

HSC370: Support individuals to communicate using technology

HSC371: Support individuals to communicate using interpreting and translation services

HSC372: Plan and implement programmes to enable individuals to find their way around familiar environments

HSC373: Plan and implement programmes to enable individuals to find their way around unfamiliar environments

HSC374: Provide first aid to an individual needing emergency assistance

HSC375: Administer medication to individuals

HSC376: Obtain venous blood samples

HSC377: Encourage and support individuals undergoing dialysis therapy at home

HSC378: Insert and secure urethral catheters and monitor and respond to the effects of urethral catheterisation

HSC379: Support individuals who are substance users

HSC380: Supply and exchange injecting equipment for individuals

HSC381: Support individuals through detoxification programmes

HSC382: Support individuals to prepare for, adapt to and manage change

HSC383: Prepare and support individuals to move and settle into new living environments

HSC384: Support individuals through bereavement

HSC385: Support individuals through the process of dying

HSC386: Assist in the transfer of individuals between agencies and services

HSC387: Work in collaboration with carers in the caring role

HSC388: Relate to families, parents and carers

HSC389: Work with carers, families and key people to maintain contact with individuals

HSC390: Support families in maintaining relationships in their wider social structures and environments

HSC391: Provide services to those affected by someone else’s substance use

HSC392: Work with families, carers and individuals during times of crisis

HSC393: Prepare, implement and evaluate agreed therapeutic group activities

HSC394: Contribute to the development and running of support groups

HSC395: Contribute to assessing and act upon risk of danger, harm and abuse

HSC396: Enable people with mental health needs to develop coping strategies

HSC397: Reinforce positive behavioural goals during relationships with individuals

HSC398: Contribute to assessing the needs of individuals for therapeutic programmes to enable them to manage their behaviour.

HSC399: Develop and sustain effective working relationships with staff in other agencies

HSC3100: Participate in inter-disciplinary team working to support individuals

HSC3101: Help develop community networks and partnerships

HSC3102: Work with community networks and partnerships

HSC3103: Contribute to raising awareness of health issues

HSC3104: Support the development of networks to meet assessed needs and planned outcomes.

HSC3105: Contribute to the recruitment and placement of volunteers

HSC3106: Plan, organise and monitor the work of volunteers

HSC3107: Lead and motivate volunteers

HSC3108: Facilitate learning through presentations and activities

HSC3109: Facilitate group learning

HSC3110: Support colleagues to relate to individuals

The following are Additional units which provide opportunities for professional development, and to meet employer needs for specific job roles. Candidates can’t use Additional Units instead of Optional Units, but they are available to candidates and their centres through their registration period. 

HSC3111:  Promote the equality, diversity, rights and responsibilities of individuals

HSC3112:  Support individuals to identify and promote their own health and social well being

HSC3119:  Promote the values and principles underpinning best practice

NB: Please note there are forbidden unit combinations; please check with your assessor before undertaking any combination.

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The benefits of the NVQ 2 Care has been covered in previous articles, however today I would like to present to you the different units within this course particularly the mandatory units, these are HSC21, HSC22, HSC23 and HSC24 and how you can complete them using our products and services, SEE WHAT YOU WILL GET

HSC21 – Communicate with and complete records for individuals

There are 14 knowledge requirements within this unit and you will need to show that you are informed about them all and you understand the applications likewise.

HSC21a – Work with individuals and others to identify the best forms of communication

HSC21b – Listen and respond to individuals’ questions and concerns

HSC21c – Communicate with individuals

HSC21d – Access and update records and reports

This unit helps you understand how to find out about individuals communication and language needs, where to get support to assist service users to use their preferred communication method and how to pass on information and records about changes in the needs of individuals.

There are legislations you need to be aware of with regards to accessing records and using them and you will need to be familiar with your organisations policies and procedures with regards to communicating with individuals and completing records.  All support required can be obtained from our unique resource.

There are 18 knowledge requirements and 3 elements of performance requirements within this unit and you will need to show that you are informed about them all and you understand how to apply them at work.

HSC22a – Carry out health and safety checks before you begin work activities

HSC22b – Ensure your actions support health and safety in the place you work

HSC22c – Take actions to deal with emergencies.

At work you are responsible for your health and safety and the safety of the individuals you work with. Your employer must have informed you about what you need to do to maintain health and safety. For example wearing protective clothing, using equipment provided by employers at work. You are expected to be a role model at work and have knowledge of how to deal with emergencies if they arise. This unit will refresh your understanding of the health and safety principles and help you to cover any gaps in your knowledge.  You will be able to answer your questions and your reflective accounts when you get yourself a coy of the Mandatory Level 2 units.

HSC23 – Develop your knowledge and practice

There are 12 knowledge requirements and 2 elements of performance requirements within this unit and you will need to show that you are informed about them all and you understand how to apply them at work.

HSC23a – Evaluate your work

HSC23b – Use new improved skills and knowledge in your work  

It is a legal requirement that you improve on your knowledge and practice as a care worker. You have a responsibility to keep your skills and knowledge up to date by:  

• Attending training courses
• In-house training
• Taking qualifications e.g. NVQ

Learning is an ongoing process therefore you don’t need to wait for your manager to send you on training you can keep your skills and knowledge up to date by:

• Talking to work colleagues
• Searching the internet
• Listening to the radio
• Reading newspapers, magazines and professional journals
• Watching the news
• Talking to your manager

This unit will enable you to see ways of creating new skills and improving on existing ones. Get the resource to answer any questions you may need support with.

HSC24 – Ensure your own actions support the care, protection  and well-being of individuals

There are 21 knowledge requirements and 3 elements of performance requirements within this unit and you will need to show that you are informed about them all and you understand how to apply them at work.

HSC24a – Relate to and support individuals in a way they choose

HSC24b – Treat individuals with respect and dignity

HSC24c – Assist in the protection of individuals

Almost everything you will have to do to support individuals at work should involve their rights, preferences and choice. The individuals you work with ought to be treated with respects and dignity. Remember they are not your children. Every individual has a right to be protected from harm, danger and abuse. If you have attended previous training on Protection of Vulnerable Adults now known as Safeguarding Adults you will have understanding of why abuse happens, different types of abuse and what actions to take if you do suspect abuse.

You will need to provide evidence that you are able to safeguard individuals at work. Give answers or explanations to the knowledge criteria of this unit.

Our package NVQ 2 mandatory units resource package will support you to answer any questions set by your assessor around the knowledge criteria on HSC21, HSC22, HSC23, HSC24 and you will get a guide to how to write your reflective accounts. A detailed example is included in the package and best of all you get free online support from an NVQ Assessor if you need to ask further questions, grab your copy now

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In Part 1 of this article I analysed the NVQ Health and Social Care courses available to move you to the next level in your career as a Health or Care Worker and what you need to do to get a job within the Health and social Care sector if you are currently working elsewhere.

This post is a continuation but in a further upward and forward direction which is at management level or within the teaching sector.

If you have been working within the Health and Social Care sector for some years it might be time to take another step further in the right direction. What do you enjoy doing at work? Within the period of working as a care worker have you had to mentor other staff members and show them what to do? Are you currently carrying out the responsibilities of a manager at work but do not have qualifications to show for it? You should go ahead gathering evidence to prove yourself competent of working as a manager by acquiring NVQ Level 4 Health and Social Care and the Leadership and management course.

This course also comprises of 4 mandatory units and some optional units which you will make your choice in reference to your skill scan. Our products are coming out soon for NVQ Level 4, watch out for it.

You can complete this course within 6 – 12months and the rewards are great. You can do a Google search on Health and Social Care jobs as managers and see if the pay package is worth your while.

On the other hand if you would be interested in the assessing role or the teaching role, this is a rewarding role to pursue as well. I am an NVQ Assessor and I believe we are changing lives and supporting others to get a hold of their career and future.  Reflect on the role of your assessor if you are already taking an NVQ course. Would you like to take up such a role? Don’t be discouraged if you think you did not get enough support from your assessor or your assessor looked disorganised. There are standards of good assessment practice to follow. You would be made aware of these when you go through the A1 Award course.  If you have started we have a resource package that you can purchase for support, go here for more information

You might be curious to know how much your job will be worth when you step up to the challenge of becoming an NVQ Assessor , I will leave that to you to browse the internet and get a hold of this information and reset your goals for 2009. This course can also be completed within 6 – 12months. You will be required to assess NVQ 2 candidates as the major part of this course is practical rather than theoretical. Our unique online support is available to you when you purchase our resource on the A1 Award.

There you can ask any question to help you carry through your course, click here to purchase now.

If you are already an NVQ Assessor and you are undertaking teaching roles like delivering of underpinning knowledge sessions you will be required to have the PTTLS Award by 2010 in order to keep teaching. However you do not need this course if you are purely undertaking assessing roles only.

My advice is that things change all the time in our career, no knowledge gained is useless when you take additional courses, so go for City & Guilds PTTLS 7303 course titled- Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector.

This course is available in most colleges or training centres and you can complete this course within 3 months or less. This course will allow you start a teaching career as you can apply for lecturing jobs within the adult education once you have completed it. However, this course does not qualify you to work with individuals within the nursery, primary or secondary school level. It qualifies you to teach within the Further Education Sector.

We have PTTLS 7303 package tailor-made to support you through the 7 Assignments you will need to submit and also a guide to your journals and reflective writing. This package has examples of written assignments, journals, reflective accounts, scheme of work, micro teaching aids. Although written from a Health and Social Care background  but I find the principles to be the same across other fields therefore it is a good resource to use even if  you desire to teach within other fields as the questions and answers are teaching related and not particularly health and social care related, grab your copy here now.

Are you wondering if this will make a difference to how much you can earn now? Do your research and you will be amazed.

“Nothing really changes until you do something to change your situation. Apply for courses to take you to the next level in your career now. All things are possible if you believe you can do it!”

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Perhaps your NVQ Assessor or tutor has asked you to obtain a witness testimony as part of your assessment plan to gather evidence of competence for your NVQ (National Vocational Qualification).

Are you wondering…

·         What is this all about?

·         Where do I get this from?

·         Who can I ask to write one for me?

·         Do I need to use some forms?

Well I would like to explain this in today’s article.

Firstly, who is a witness?

Literally, he or she is a person who testifies at a court hearing. As a witness, the person may have seen an accident, witnessed a crime, or be asked to describe the character of someone they know. As a witness they will be asked to answer some questions regarding their knowledge of a case in court.

Well in this case we are certainly not in a court of Law but in a work setting you need to locate someone who testifies in writing about you with regards to your work.

Secondly, what is a testimony?

This is evidence obtained from a witness who has made a statement or declaration of fact.

Using the 2 definitions above you can define

WITNESS TESTIMONY as an account of your work performance, which has been witnessed by another person.

This clearly suggests that you can’t write one for yourself. You need someone who can testify in writing to say what they know about you, what they have seen you do or describe an activity you have carried out which should relate to your job description and also to the performance criteria of the units within your NVQ.

You can get a witness testimony from:

·         Your manager or supervisor

·         Your colleague at work

·         The individuals you work with

·         Your tutors or trainers.

Depending on your training centre’s policy, generally you would be required to obtain the witness testimony on a form given to you and you have to request that they sign what is called a Witness Status List – normally found at the front bits in your portfolio. Anyone who writes out a witness testimony must sign the Witness Status List and then your assessor will judge the evidence provided.

See an example; this is a witness testimony about how you handled an accident at work. Yours might be how you handled a disclosure of abuse from a service user and the words in your form would be different.

Witness Testimony

Candidate’s Name:____________________________________________________________

Witness Name:________________________________________________________________

Date of Incident/Accident:_______________________________________________________

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Often learners have asked me “how do I write a reflective account?” and my answer is you need to know what a reflective account is before you can write good one. Many learners have submitted an account to their NVQ assessor and have been disappointed when told they need to write it again. Let me tell you what might have happened – You probably wrote your account without a guide and therefore as lengthy as your account might have been you were told you haven’t met many performance criteria which are what your assessor is looking for. So let me tell you what a reflective account is.

A reflective account is usually a write up of how you have carried out part of your job in the past. It could be yesterday or a week, month or years ago as long as you use past tense. It maybe how you dealt with a health emergency, an abusive situation or how you have used a particular piece of equipment in the past.

Your account will be a record of events that actually happened. It must be reflected in your style of writing as what you did not someone else. 

For example – I did this and then I did that

It is NOT acceptable to write I would do this as this does not demonstrate that you have done it or have been doing it.

If possible write about why you took the actions stated.

For example –When I arrived at Mrs A’s home I put on my gloves and apron to ensure I protect t he service user and myself from infection…..

Throughout your account you must maintain confidentiality by using Mrs A, R or any other alphabet rather than using their actual names or addresses.

Think about a typical day at work or over a period of days and write a story on how you carried out those activities using the performance criteria of the units within your NVQ as a guide. This might include:

·         Assisting clients with toileting requirements. (HSC 218a)

·         Assisting clients with their personal hygiene. (HSC 218bc)

·         Preparing food and drink for clients. (HSC 213abc)

·         Assisting clients to eat and drink. (HSC 214abc)

·         Undertaking clinical activities. ( HSC 230ab)

·         Supporting others to undertake clinical activities. (HSC 361ab)

·         Supporting clients with cleaning or other domestic needs. (HSC 29abc)

·         Supporting clients to be comfortable (HSC 216ab)

·         Providing pressure area care. (HSC 217ab)

·         Supporting clients to move from one position to another (HSC 223ab, HSC 360ab)

·         Supporting service users to access and use services and facilities (HSC 330abc)

·         How you contribute to care planning and review (HSC 328abc)

·         Supporting individuals with specific communication needs (HSC 369abc)

·         How you administer medication to individuals (HSC 375ab)

This list is in exhaustive it applies to any unit title you have chosen within your NVQ.

There are many other activities that you might have been involved in which you should include in your account.

The way in which you carried out the activities is very important; here you will find yourself covering a good part for your mandatory units. This might include:

·         How you communicated with clients and others such as colleagues, relatives and other professionals.

·         How you treated people as individuals and showed them respect and dignity.

·         How you maintained a professional relationship with the different individuals. Did you have to deal with any conflicts, distress or challenging behaviour?

·         How you worked as a team.

·         How you monitored and maintained health and safety during the different work activities.

·         What information you passed on, how it was passed on and what records you completed.

Note: Your reflective account is expected to meet the standards of the NVQ usually the performance criteria and sometimes it will cover some knowledge specification.

 I believe if you make use of all the points I have mentioned, you will be able to construct a good reflective account at NVQ Level 2, NVQ Level 3 or NVQ Level 4 on your own.

In all our packages – NVQ 2 & NVQ 3 Mandatory and Optional units, we have fully referenced examples of reflective accounts and a guide to how to write your reflective account. You also have FREE access to our online support centre once you purchase any of the packages, if you need more help on writing reflective account or any other aspect of your NVQ I will advise you to purchase any of our packages relevant to your needs.

If this post has helped you in anyway please leave a comment, this will encourage me to do more and others to read too. I also welcome other NVQ Assessors/trainers to contribute in order to enhance good practice in our profession, thank you.

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• Mandatory Units (14)
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Looking for help with your NVQ 2, NVQ 3 in health and social care, A1 award or PTTLS 7303 assignments? Perhaps you are not very sure how to go about your NVQ Health and Social Care portfolio requirements. You have met with your assessor he/she has given you an assessment plan and some assignments to do and you feel somehow stuck.  At NVQ Made Simple, the Online Support Centre plus a number of resources available can erase all your worries instantly.

You might be very busy due to family and work commitments but you want to complete your NVQ Award despite this fact, congratulation you are in the right place for the support you require.

 There is no question too small or too big to ask; all you need to do is sign up with our Free Online Support when you have purchased a resource from this site which contains specimen questions and answers already in any package of your choice. If you don’t want to purchase any product in this instance, support only can be paid for. This is a one off charge of £10 (introductory price) for as long as you are on your NVQ, Click here to pay now

After payment register for online support using the link below

www.nvqmadesimple.com/onlinesupportcentre  you will need to choose a username and password you can remember easily as you will need this each time you want to log on to the Support Centre, please allow maximum 24hours after registering for your account to be approved by an administrator, you will get a confirmation email to inform you that your registration has been approved.

Next steps to start getting guidance and support

Once you log on to the support centre successfully, locate the relevant page tab to your award type/level, in addition locate the page tab for the units you want to ask question (if applicable) then finally use the comment section to submit your questions. Our promise (guaranteed) is that within 24hours an experienced assessor will respond and answer your request and this response will be available for you to view on the same page.

What makes us different from other similar service provider?

You might have come across a few others who offer similar services to what we do, but we are different, for these reason:

·         Your answers are supplied by experienced assessors within 24hrs or earlier.

·         You are not left alone to seek answers from your colleagues as would be the case on a forum.

·         You have access to the answers supplied to other learners who have asked questions ahead of you.

·         You have access to an online assessor and if extra support is required you can reach us on phone.

·         We provide 7days a week online support if you have difficulties logging into the centre; which means you are supported all the way through your NVQ.

Contact us by email on product@nvqmadesimple.com for support on logging in.

So don’t wait, why don’t you get started now and you will be right on target to hand in your work to your assessor without the normal worries of how to go about your work. Register today as this amount we request is very introductory and at a reduced price. You don’t want to revisit this site and register when it has become £50!

Best wishes

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A person can start working towards an NVQ even at old age (we know some 65-year-olds who have qualified), and at any time (you don’t start in September, and finish the following June like typical school). You could either do your NVQ in the workplace or at colleges/ training centres, or by studying at home.

Your employer assigns to you a trained assessor, who looks for evidence that you can consistently carry out different jobs to the required standards. Your assessor will observe you at work and ask you some questions, to establish that you know what you are doing and why. There’s no catch and there is no pass or fail, you are simply assessed when you and your assessor think you are ready.

You are expected to gather evidence using a few of the different methods such as:

       Direct observation at work

       Reflective accounts

       Witness testimony

       Work products

       Case study

       Training certificates

       Written oral questioning

NVQs are about meeting standards of competence and it doesn’t really matter how you acquired this competence, “many people say you can’t beat experience” and they may well be right. It is possible to achieve some elements of the NVQ by providing proof of work you have done in the past as long as it shows it your own work. Therefore don’t postpone those thoughts of doing your NVQ, GO FOR IT, you might be able to get it done free of charge depending on eligibility.

Who do I need to contact?

Firstly you need to let your employer know that you are interested in completing an NVQ this is because you will need their support in gathering some of the evidence and it is actually a work based qualification.

Your employer could enrol you on the course with the training provider used by the organisation or you could find a provider yourself.  At NVQ MADE SIMPLE. COM we are committed to supporting learners to enrol on an NVQ level 2 or Level 3 programme especially if you are looking for distance learning NVQs you can enrol with us. We are also very much committed to supporting all learners to complete their NVQ  Level 2, Level 3 & Level 4 even if you are not completing your NVQ through us. This is done through our Online Support Centre which you will be able to access free when you purchase any resources for your NVQ on our website.

For more details leave your comments on this page or contact us by email through abbey@nvqmadesimple.com

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More and more industries are developing increasing numbers of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). People need to know what the NVQ system is, and the effect it may have on them.

At one time, GCSEs, O Levels and GCSEs were jargon: now, like NVQs, they’re common household terms.  Over the past few years, many people who work in the health and Social Care industry have gained NVQ certificates and many more are well on their way.

Most jobs, whether in cleaning, security services, office administration, retail and health and social care require practical skills and knowledge? For some jobs, people have to pass exams; for a lot of others, there have been no formal qualifications for people to achieve.

Exam results generally do not tell an employer how competently someone can do a job: they simply measure their ability to remember things and write them down. People go on courses; they return to work, and there’s often little follow-up or assessment of how their training may have helped them to improve their performance, or enjoy their job more. Some supervisors/managers have been known to resent the time ‘wasted’ on a course, when they or their colleagues have had to cover for them.

NVQs are not about going on courses, studying, or passing exams. They are about assessment, to a nationally recognized standard, of how competently someone does the job that their employer pays them to do. At last we have the opportunity for people, who have been doing a good job for years, to be recognized for their competence and achieve a worthwhile qualification.

NVQs tell employers a great deal about you. An NVQ says that you can do a job properly and that you have the knowledge and skills required. Passing an exam or having a job title won’t necessarily prove this. Having an NVQ proves that someone can work to industry standards. Employers and the Trades Unions recognize them. Most people get great personal satisfaction from being recognized for doing something well: an NVQ is proof of achievement, and something to be proud of. It is also evidence to put forward if you change jobs or go for promotion. NVQs are updated regularly and new options added, to keep abreast of improvements in technology and working practices. This means that people can add to their qualifications and have a completely up-to-date record of how competent they are.

How do NVQs Work

All NVQs are part of a ‘framework’ which links the qualifications together. There are five Levels in the framework, starting with Level 1. NVQs in Health and Social Care are available at Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. Many Care workers work for NVQs at Level 2, as this is the level for which competence can be recognized for different routine activities. An NVQ at Level 3 would be supervisory (i.e. some individual responsibilities ); and so on up to Level 5, which represents a senior level of managing people or processes.

Someone who has a Health and Social Care NVQ Level 2 that includes supporting individuals with personal care needs, for example, would be qualified to a similar level of skill as a person with NVQ Level 2 in hairdressing, retail, or business administration.

The main difference between NVQs and academic qualifications is that people don’t have to attend formal training courses to achieve their qualifications. NVQs are based on standards, which someone can work towards at their own pace (indeed, many people within the care industry may already have achieved the required standards for certain NVQs). You don’t have to start at Level 1, either: you can start working towards whichever Level is right for your present skills and abilities.

Each NVQ consists of a number of units: in health and social care.

At Level 2, these are…

• To develop effective communication skills
• To maintain health and safety at work
• To develop and improve practice
• To develop skills which is used to recognize abuse and protect vulnerable adults

The units are split into elements, which describe a small aspect of the job and the conditions under which it must be done. All the elements must be achieved for the national standard to be met. When all the elements for a unit and all the units for the NVQ are achieved, a certificate is awarded , it’s quite simple and straight forward , expect a follow up post soon……

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