Future-proofing training for the care and support workforce

Future-proofing training for the care and support workforce
Careerforce Press Release, 30 June 2011

Starting tomorrow the care and support workforce will be able to access a new and improved level 2 qualification, says Careerforce CEO Ray Lind.

Enrolment into the National Certificate in Health, Disability, and Aged Support (Foundation Skills) (Level 2) version 3 is open from 1 July 2011.

“The revised qualification contains fewer compulsory unit standards. This means workplaces and trainees will have much more freedom to choose electives relevant to their work and clients,” says Ray.

As well as offering a much wider range of existing unit standards, trainees will be able to access a range of newly developed unit standards covering topics such as dementia, personal cares, and end-of-life care.

“The workforce Careerforce supports increasingly provides more complex care and support, and the revised qualification will help employees to gain the competencies required to carry out these more complex tasks,” says Ray.

To coincide with the launch of Foundation Skills version 3, Careerforce has developed a range of resources that support employers to provide successful workplace-based training to their staff. These include enhanced learning and assessment resources, and the development of a literacy and learning support package for employers. This package includes free employer professional development workshops, and funds eligible employers for every active trainee undertaking the online literacy assessment.

“A large proportion of care and support workers have no previous qualifications, and there can be significant literacy issues. That’s why we have embedded literacy into the new training materials developed for the compulsory unit standards. Ultimately, however, the intervention which can make the most difference is ensuring that employers know their learners’ needs, and have the resources and tools to address them. That’s why we’re committed to working with employers and funding them directly so they can address the specific learning needs of their trainees,” says Ray.

As part of future-proofing the care and support worker qualification pathway, on 15 August trainees will be able to enrol in the National Certificate in Health, Disability, and Aged Support (Core Competencies) (Level 3) version 5. Like the revised Foundation Skills national certificate, this qualification will contain fewer compulsory unit standards and more elective unit standards, allowing employers and trainees to “build” a qualification tailored to their needs.

ENDS

Careerforce is the industry training organisation for the health, disability, and aged support sectors.

For more information on the revised Foundation Skills qualification, and the package of supports which accompany it, go to www.careerforce.org.nz/FoundationSkillsV3

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