NVQ Health and Social Care Award

Candidate work role requirements

This S/NVQ is for those working in a Health or Social Care setting. It is designed for full or part time workers, paid and voluntary, permanent or temporary as well as day or night workers.

The qualification pathway for Adults at Level 3 is relevant to those supporting adults of any age, in any setting.

Candidate entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for candidates undertaking this S/NVQ, however centres must ensure that candidates have the potential and opportunity to gain evidence for the qualification in the work place.

These S/NVQs are not approved for the use of those who are under 16 years of age.

There may also be age restrictions placed on individuals when undertaking certain work activities within Health and Social Care. These too should be clarified with the appropriate regulator where there is any uncertainty about such restrictions.

Legal considerations

Sector guidance about pathways through the optional units for staff in particular work roles and functions will become available from the SSC and regulatory bodies in each of the four countries. This will allow relevance to national workforce development needs.

Candidates entering the Health and Social Care workforce may be legally required to undergo criminal record checks prior to taking up employment/work placement.

Centres, employers and placement providers will need to liaise closely with one another to ensure that any requirements for the particular area of work are fully met.

As the requirements vary between sectors and countries checks should be made with the appropriate regulatory body and/or government departments if centres, employers or placement providers are uncertain of the requirements.

Background to the National Occupational Standards (NOS) development

The review and updating of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) and S/NVQs in Care were undertaken by Skills for Health and the UK alliance for Social Care whose membership is: The Care Council for Wales, the Northern Ireland Social Services Council, the Scottish Social Services Council and Topss England. S/NVQs are well established in the Health and Social Care sectors and are the required or recommended qualification for over 80% of the social care workforce and a growing number of the health workforce.

The review has resulted in new qualification structures that provide smaller, more accessible awards which allow greater transferability between the sectors and specialisms. The Health and Social Care S/NVQs therefore reflect the needs of those who work in the Health and Social Care sectors to demonstrate initial competence to practise safely, acquisition of specialist skills and continuous professional development (CPD).