To enable healthcare assistants to develop sound knowledge and understanding of the theory that underpins the care role.

The Technical Certificate in Health and Social Care is delivered through a number of taught lessons (off-the-job learning) and they provide apprentices with the underpinning knowledge related to their specific area of work (National Occupational Standards 2009).

The Level 2 Health and Social Care Technical Certificate has been designed for people who support and assist individuals with their physical or emotional care, daily living needs or maintaining their independence. It is also relevant healthcare personnel who usually work under supervision.

The Technical Certificate includes four core units, which are applicable to health and social care settings, these include:

- 001 ‘Developing own practice as a health/care worker, identifying own role in relation to employer requirements and being able to identify goals, agree a personal development plan and review progress of that plan’.
- 002 ‘Understanding and applying principles and values that inform all health and social care practice’.
- 003 ‘Effectively communicating and sharing information with and about others in a health and social care setting’.
- 004 ‘Understanding legal and workplace requirements, awareness of hazards and risks in the workplace and good health and safety practice’.

To ensure the knowledge and skills of National Health Service staff stay up-to-date with a rapidly changing healthcare sector; the traditional vocational qualifications (work-based learning) were re-designed. (Department for Children, Schools and Families 2009) As a result Apprenticeships were developed. These competence and work-based training qualifications now incorporate three interlinked elements, including:

- A Technical Certificate
- Key Skills
- National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) (on-the-job practical element)

Apprenticeships have been designed to enable apprentices to learn on-the-job, building up knowledge and skills, gaining qualifications and earning money at the same time. There are hundreds of different apprenticeships, which range levels 1 to 4, and all of which lead to NVQ, Key Skills and Technical Certificate qualifications. The Training and Development Agency for Schools (2009) state that Apprenticeships are now considered to be the ‘gold standard’ for work-based training, as employers continue to recognise the value and importance of these qualifications (Life Long Learning UK 2009).

The Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust delivers the Level 2 Technical Certificate in Health and Social Care as part of the Health and Social Care Apprenticeship. The Trust believes strongly in increasing the skills, knowledge and understanding healthcare assistants. As the duties of healthcare assistants develop and they take on what were once traditional nursing roles, the Trust wants to ensure they have a skilled and well trained workforce. Whilst also protecting the health and safety of patients by providing high quality, workplace and competency-based training.

001 Developing own knowledge and practice in a health and social care setting.
- Identify own role in relation to employment requirements.
- Identify own learning and development goals.
- Agree a personal development plan.
- Review own progress towards learning and development goals.

002 Supporting the care, protection and well-being of individuals in a health and social care setting.
- Investigate values, rights and responsibilities.
- Understand the right, needs and responsibilities of individuals.
- Identify ways of working which respect differences.
- Identify own responsibilities in protecting individuals from harm or abuse.

003 Communication with, and completing records for individuals in a health and social care setting.
- Identify the skills needed to communicate effectively.
- Describe own role supporting individuals to communicate effectively.
- Identify reasons for and ways of sharing information and keeping records.

004 Understanding health and safety practice in a health and social care setting.
- Identify relevant laws and workplace requirements in relation to health and safety at work.
- Identify hazards and risks in the workplace.
- Describe good health and safety practice in a care setting.

1. Formative: taught lessons which include group and individual discussions; written and verbal feedback; Question, Pause, Nominate, Answer (QPNA); mind-map construction; one to one progression review with tutor/mentor; continuous monitoring throughout the course.
Summative: completion of Technical Certificate 001 Tasks A and B.

2. Formative: taught lessons which include group and individual discussions; written and verbal feedback; Question, Pause, Nominate, Answer (QPNA); mind-map construction; one to one progression review with tutor/mentor.

Summative: completion of Technical Certificate 002 Tasks A to F.

3. Formative: taught lessons which include group and individual discussions; written and verbal feedback; Question, Pause, Nominate, Answer (QPNA); mind-map construction; one to one progression review with tutor/mentor.

Summative: completion of Technical Certificate 003 Tasks A to C.

4. Formative: taught lessons which include group and individual discussions; written and verbal feedback; Question, Pause, Nominate, Answer (QPNA); mind-map construction; one to one progression review with tutor/mentor.

Summative: completion of Technical Certificate 004 Tasks A to D.

The course is open to healthcare assistants employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, who do not hold any healthcare qualifications.

Technical certificate taught over 12 to 14 weeks, with the candidate expected to complete the Certificate within six months of the start date.

The course is open to healthcare assistants employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, who do not hold any healthcare qualifications. The healthcare assistant must be working in a care setting, where they have the opportunity to gain evidence for the qualification. Learners should also have a reasonable level of English and maths, although assistance to improve will be given by the way of the Key Skills element of the Apprenticeship.

The Technical Certificate is suitable for healthcare assistants working in different departments and specialties across the Trust, such as paediatrics, radiology, emergency and mental health care.

Currently the Technical Certificate is not available as a standalone qualification, within the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust. Although in the future healthcare assistants may be able to up-date their health and social care theoretical knowledge, by undertaking just the Technical Certificate element of the Apprenticeship.

Contact Healthcare Careers Development Unit:
(0121 42) 41760 or hcdu@heartofengland.nhs.uk