To allow first line and middle managers the opportunity to enhance their managerial, leadership and self-development skills, knowledge and understanding.

The Level 3 Management Technical Certificate aims to develop learners who wish to:

·         Acquire knowledge and understanding relevant to the role of the middle manager

·         Progress their career, and need the knowledge and understanding to support their goal

·         Progress towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Management

·         Gain a nationally recognised qualification, which is the Management Advanced Apprenticeship.

The Level 3 Management Technical Certificate allows learners to develop the essential generic background knowledge and understanding for a range of first line and middle management roles (EDI 2009).

The Technical Certificate focuses on the theory required by the management industry. The award also underpins the NVQ, helping the learner progress to higher levels of working and advanced qualifications (Hawk Training 2009).

The need for knowledgeable and skilled staff is essential to help develop and drive the National Health Service forward. City and Guilds (2009) state that both learners and employers benefit from the Technical Certificate. Employers who encourage and support staff on the Apprenticeship have found it:

·         Enhances the skills of the employees, thereby improving performance in the workplace

·         Boosts the motivation and confidence of the employee

·         Provides an independent measure of performance against national standards

·         Generates better personal and organisational performance.

The Technical Certificate element of the Advanced Apprenticeship puts ‘substance behind the practice’ and encourages the learner to build up their knowledge (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations OCR 2009). Therefore this qualification is for individuals who wish to gain the underpinning theory and understanding, through off-the-job learning by attending a taught course provided by a local college in partnership with the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.

To ensure the knowledge and skills of National Health Service staff stay up-to-date with a rapidly changing healthcare business 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 four interlinked elements, including:

·         A Technical Certificate

·         Key Skills

·         National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) (on-the-job practical element)

·         Employment Rights and Responsibilities.

The Apprenticeship in Management includes an additional element which is the Employment Rights and Responsibilities (ERR) award. This covers the employment rights and responsibilities of employers and employees. It covers topics such as health and safety laws, employment and anti-discrimination legislation and trade union roles. It also examines the organisation, disciplines and representative structures of the industries concerned, as well as the impact on the sector of public law and policies. This fourth element of the Management Apprenticeship is usually assessed by the completion of a written workbook (Institute of Leadership Management 2008).

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 from levels 1 to 5, all of which lead to an NVQ award, Key Skills qualification and a Technical Certificate. 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.

Therefore as part of the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust commitment to the improvement of administrative services, the Trust encourages appropriate staff to undertake the Advanced Apprenticeship in Management. Individuals have the chance to further enhance their customer service knowledge, understanding and skills, thus enhancing personal, professional and organisational advancement.

City and Guilds (2009) Introduction to Management courses. (Retrieved 24.04.10) http://www.cityandguilds.com

Department for Children, Schools and Families (2009) NOS benchmarks for performance. (Retrieved 24.03.10) http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/nos_benchmarks

EDI (2009) EDI Level 3 Certificate in Management. (Retrieved 28.04.10) http://www.ediplc.com/Management%20Tech%20Cert%203.

Hawk Training (2009) Advanced Apprenticeship in Management Programme Components. (Retrieved 27.04.10) http://www.hawktraining.com

Institute of Leadership Management (2008) ILM Level 3 S/NVQ in Management. (Retrieved 17.04.10) http://www.i-l-m.com/ ILM/L3SNVQM/0508.pdf

OCR (2009) OCR NVQ’s in Business and Administration: Datasheet N461 0807. Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations.

Training and Development Agency for Schools (2009) Apprenticeships overview. (Retrieved 24.03.10) http://www.tda.gov.uk

1. Explain the principles that underpin professional development.

2. Identify leadership skills and qualities.

3. Evaluate the process of allocating work.

4. Identify the process of monitoring the progress of quality work.

5. Analyse the role of communication in the managerial context.

6. Recognise the health and safety roles, responsibilities and requirements of managers.

7. Identify the skills required to handle conflict.

Formative: taught lessons including 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, by the college provider.

Summative: a summative assessment is undertaken towards the end of the taught course. Candidates are given two hours to complete the two units. These have been divided into the two, one hour multiple choice tests.

The course is open to individuals employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust. The staff member must be working in a setting, where they have the opportunity to gain evidence for the qualification.

The candidate is expected to complete the Apprenticeship within six to twelve months of the start date.

The course is open to individuals employed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust. The staff member must be working in a 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 Level 3 Technical Certificate can only be taken in combination with the three other Advanced Apprenticeship elements, which include the Key Skills and the Employment Rights and Responsibilities awards and the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ).

Level 2 in Team Leading would be advantageous for this course.

Contact Jane Hughes (Faculty Administrator) Healthcare Careers Development Unit:

(0121 42) 41760 or hcdu@heartofengland.nhs.uk