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New health vocational qualifications go live

New vocational qualifications designed to promote a skilled, flexible and productive health sector workforce go 'live' this month.

The new qualifications have been developed by Skills for Health (the Sector Skills Council for health) working in partnership with employers and training providers.

Skills for Health director for qualifications strategy, Anne Eaton, said: "Education and training is vital to our sector but it is important that the qualifications offered are flexible and can respond to the fast-changing needs of employers and their staff.

"The introduction of these new vocational qualifications on the Qualifications and Credit Framework will help to ensure that our workforce is competent in the skills they need to do their jobs."

New health and health-related qualifications published to the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) by Skills for Health include Awards, Certificates and Diplomas at both Level 2 (equivalent to GCSE at grades A-C or BTEC First Certificate) and Level 3 (equivalent to A Level or BTEC National Certificate/Diploma). Subjects range from Health Informatics to Emergency Care Assistance, Maternity and Paediatric Support and Optical Retail Skills.

The health/health and social care qualifications published to the QCF by Skills for Health are:

Level 2

• Award in Health Informatics
• Certificate in Health Informatics
• Certificate in Healthcare Support Services
• Certificate for Working in the Health Sector
• Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support
• Diploma in Emergency Care Assistance
• Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for England
• Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for Wales and Northern Ireland
• Diploma in Optical Retail Skills
• Certificate in Pharmaceutical Science*
• NVQ Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills*

Level 3

• Certificate for Working in the Health Sector
• Diploma in Allied Health Profession Support
• Diploma in Blood Donor Support
• Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support
• Diploma in Dental Nursing (Dec 2010)
• Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for England
• Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for Wales and Northern Ireland
• Diploma in Healthcare Support Services
• Diploma in Maternity and Paediatric Support
• Diploma in Optical Retail Skills
• Diploma in Pathology Support
• Diploma in Perioperative Support
• Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science*
• Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills*

* New qualifications for Pharmacy Assistants and Technicians are available now in order to meet mandatory registration requirements which come into effect in July 2011.

The new qualifications are approved by the Qualifications Regulator for use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Wales the qualifications also sit on the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW). Within Scotland, where the QCF does not apply, qualifications will continue to be regulated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

External links

Further information on the new qualifications is available from: www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/qcf

For more information about the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), visit: www.qcda.gov.uk

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