Guidance for using the Edexcel Levels 2 and 3 NVQs in Health PowerPoint presentation This document is designed to be used when introducing the new Edexcel Levels 2 and 3 NVQs in Health to staff or candidates. It gives an overview of the qualifications available, and the 19 endorsed titles within the Edexcel Levels 2 and 3 NVQs in Health. Information is also provided regarding who should take these NVQs, and how they will be assessed. The support materials that are available for these NVQs are also detailed in this presentation. Information is given regarding what is available and where the documents can be found and purchased.

Edexcel Levels 2 and 3 NVQs in Health Introduction

National Occupational Standards The competences (units) have been derived from the National Occupational Standards (NOS) in Health, from Skills for Health. The NOS offer a range of endorsed titles to match the specific occupational needs of health professionals. This will ensure that the workforce has the necessary training and competences within these specialised occupations.

Knowledge and Skills Framework Within the NHS all employees are required to undertake mandatory induction. This covers the topics contained within the core competences of these NVQs in Health. These competences relate to four of the core dimensions for the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF).

NVQs in Health These NVQs are relevant to staff employed within the Health sector, in a wide range of specialised occupations. They are designed to promote best practice by those working within the specified professions. A wide range of endorsed titles are available to match the specific occupational needs of health professionals.

Who should take these NVQs? The NVQs in Health are appropriate to those working in the following health sectors: Healthcare (eg those supporting nurses and health visitors) Allied health profession support (eg those supporting physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, speech and language therapists) Scientific (eg those working with physiological measurement and operating theatres)

The structure of the qualification The suite of Edexcel Level 2 and 3 NVQs in Health are made up of a range of endorsed titles. Each endorsed title is made up of a range of competences (or units). Candidates must complete a minimum of 10 competences to achieve the NVQ in Health except for level 3 Perioperative Care, which requires a minimum of 12 competences.

Competences These competences are split into the following categories to help candidates select those most suited to their work role. Core competences General Clinical/Therapeutic Activities competences Pathway Specific competences Work Effectiveness competences Candidates must select a combination of these competences, according to which endorsed title they are following.

Edexcel Level 2 NVQs in Health These qualifications are for those working in a supporting professionals in the fields of blood donor support, clinical support, specialist perioperative care support. There are three endorsed titles available for the Edexcel level 2 NVQ in Health: Blood Donor Support Clinical Support Perioperative Care Support

Edexcel Level 3 NVQs in Health - 1 These qualifications are for those directly supporting allied health professionals, or working in the following areas: advanced blood donor support perioperative care support general healthcare support decontamination clinical healthcare skills maternity/paediatric support newborn hearing screening obstetric theatre support renal support.

Edexcel Level 3 NVQs in Health - 2 There are 16 endorsed titles available for the Edexcel level 3 NVQ in Health Allied Health Profession Support - General Allied Health Profession Support - Dietetics Allied Health Profession Support - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Allied Health Profession Support – Radiotherapy Allied Health Profession Support - Clinical Imaging Allied Health Profession Support - Speech and Language Therapy Advanced Blood Donor Support

Edexcel Level 3 NVQs in Health - 3 Edexcel level 3 NVQ in Health General Healthcare Support Decontamination Clinical Healthcare Skills Maternity/Paediatric Support Newborn Hearing Screening Obstetric Theatre Support Perioperative Care - Surgical Support Perioperative Care - Anaesthetic/PACU Support Renal Support

Assessment – Assessor evidence 1 For each endorsed title students have to complete a minimum of 10 competences except for level 3 Perioperative Care where a minimum of 12 competences are required. Assessors are to take the lead role in the assessment of observed candidate performance.

Assessment – Assessor evidence 2 Where only two of the core competences are undertaken, assessors are expected to observe candidate performance in relation to at least two further competences. This means that the assessors observe the candidates performance in four of the competences in each endorsed title.

Assessment – other evidence 1 Assessment evidence of the candidate’s competence in the other competences of their endorsed title can be in the following formats: candidate practice – records produced by an Expert Witness candidate’s reflective account/practice journal products and contributions of the candidate’s own work case studies

Assessment – other evidence 2 witness testimony service user/carer testimony answers to oral and written questions written assignments and projects previous experience and learning simulation – in a ‘realistic working environment’ (RWE)

Support documents available The following documents will be available to centres: 1.Edexcel NVQ guidance for centres 2.Edexcel NVQ guidance for candidates 3.Health NVQs introductory flyer 4.Health NVQs marketing WebPages 5.Edexcel Levels 2 and 3 NVQs in Health - Sector guidance for Edexcel centres 6.Edexcel Level 2 NVQs in Health – Candidate guidance and logbooks 7.Edexcel Level 3 NVQs in Health – Candidate guidance and logbooks 8.FAQs and transition map

General NVQ documents The Edexcel NVQ guidance for centres and the Edexcel NVQ guidance for candidates documents are general guidance documents containing general information regarding NVQs. These are available on the Edexcel Levels 2 and 3 NVQs in Health CD-ROM.

Marketing Materials The Health NVQs introductory flyer and the Health NVQs marketing WebPages are available on the Health and Social Care microsite. These materials have been developed to provide an introduction to these NVQs. The Health NVQs marketing WebPages contain structural diagrams of the various endorsed titles, showing how many competences are needed from each section to complete the NVQ.

Health Specific Documents The Sector guidance and Candidate logbooks contain detailed information on the Edexcel Level 2 and 3 NVQs in Health. The Sector guidance, Level 2 and 3 Candidate logbooks, FAQs and Transition Map will be available to centres on a CD-ROM. The Sector guidance will also be available via the Health and Social Care microsite, and on the main Edexcel website. The Transition Map shows how the new Edexcel Level 2 and 3 NVQs in Health relate to the old Healthcare NVQs.

Implementation events A number of events are planned to give detailed information about these NVQs. These will be delivered by an experienced External Verifier, and will be whole day events. Dates for events: 15 th November 2005 – London 23 rd November 2005 – Birmingham

Contact information Edexcel main website: Edexcel Health and Social Care microsite: Skills for Health website: