Qualifications

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

Key to the Government's agenda to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families/carers has been the drive to develop a skilled and effective workforce, largely demonstrated through the gaining of appropriate qualifications.  The requirement of registration, regulation and inspection of different services, with targets set within National Minimum Standards (NMS) to increase the number of trained and qualified staff, means that National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are now one of the main and most familiar qualification routes for children's practitioners.

NVQs are nationally recognised qualifications based on the performance criteria (the ‘what you need to do') of NOS. NVQs demonstrate that a practitioner can work to a set national standard.

There are a number of types and levels of NVQs and the NVQ that a person will complete is determined by their role, responsibilities and the tasks they undertake.

In an NVQ the NOS is described as a unit and each NVQ is made up of a number of units. Each unit of NVQ requires evidence of knowledge + skills + values = competence in practice

An NVQ is a qualification that is undertaken in the workplace, where a qualified assessor assesses the individual. This means that as well as supporting individuals to achieve practice based NVQs, there is a need to develop experienced practitioners or managers to become qualified work-based Assessors (A1 award) and possibly others in the organisation to be Internal Verifiers (V1 Award).

For specific information on NVQs in relation to the different parts of the children's workforce see the dedicated sections for each. Go to: www.cityandguilds.com

There is a significant amount of information available on NVQs, with all accrediting bodies providing guidance both generally and NVQ specific.

Vocational Qualifications (VQs)

VQs cover the skills and knowledge that learners need to carry out a job role. They are a good starting point for beginners and then form the basis of future progression. VQs are usually completed in a Further Education college or through a training provider. There is a focus on both learning practical skills and on classroom-based learning. Assessment takes many forms including online multiple choice tests, assignments or written exams.

Foundation Degrees

Foundation degrees are degree level qualifications designed with employers, which combine academic study with workplace learning to equip people with the relevant knowledge, understanding and skills they need to have in practice.

To ensure that this happens for the children's workforce, CWDC has put in place Sector Endorsement of Foundation degrees.  By chosing an endorsed Foundation degree employers and students can be confident that it will meet their needs. 

Foundation degrees are awarded by universities and require equivalent standards of academic attainment as in the second year of an honours degree. They allow students already employed to undertake a programme of study whilst continuing to work, with flexible teaching arrangements, including part-time, distance and e-learning.

Foundation Degree Forward is the national advocacy and promotion body for foundation degrees. For further information about their role and foundation degrees, go to: www.fdf.ac.uk  

Where Next? The Qualifications & Credit Framework (QCF) is a new framework (which will eventually replace the National Qualification Framework), for recognising and accrediting qualifications. It is designed to make both the system and the qualifications offered more relevant to the needs of employers and more flexible and accessible for learners.  The QCF will make qualifications easier to understand, enabling learners to gain qualifications at their own pace and along flexible routes.

Every unit and qualification in the framework will have: 

• a credit value (one credit represents 10 hours, showing how much time it takes to complete);
• a level between entry level and level 8 (showing how difficult it is).

 The credit value will then determine the size of the qualification. There are three sizes of qualifications in the QCF:

• Awards (1 to 12 credits)
• Certificates (13 to 36 credits)
• Diplomas (37 credits or more)

In the new framework you can have an award at level 1 or an award at level 8. This is because the qualification type - award, certificate, and diploma- represents the size of a qualification, not how difficult it is.

By 2010 all key vocational qualifications will be approved by Sector Skills Councils and be readily available to learners in small, credit-based units of learning.

For the workforce, the introduction of the QCF will give increased flexibility. It will mean that practitioners can complete units, specific to their role, to build an award and can add on individual units as their role and responsibilities change or develop.  For further information on the QCF, go to: www.qcda.gov.uk.