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The key skills units |
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Communication |
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Communication skills are important to all organisations. At work you will have to talk to people, follow instructions and read documents such as reports, health and safety information and so on. |
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The communication key skill is about making sure you get the right messages from written and spoken communication and that you are able to get the right message across to others. It includes spelling, punctuation and grammar, but it is about much more than that it is about using these skills appropriately as part of your job. |
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To find out more: |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6339_com_level1.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6340_com_level2.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6341_com_level3.pdf |
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Application of number |
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All organisations need people who can handle numbers and calculations accurately. Your job will involve you in using numbers in some way you may need to handle money, calculate sales figures, measure, calculate costs or understand graphs or charts. |
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The application of number key skill is not just about doing sums it is about using maths in practical situations that are relevant to your work. |
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To find out more: |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6335_aon_level1.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6336_aon_level2.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6337_aon_level3.pdf |
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Information and communication technology |
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Successful businesses make good use of new technology and they want the people who work in them to be confident about using computers and other kinds of information technology. |
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The information and communication technology key skill is about using IT to find, input, reorganise and present information. It means being able to find what you want on the internet or a database, sending e-mails, entering information on to a computer and presenting information using word processing or graphics programs. As with all the other key skills, the emphasis is on using your IT skills in a practical situation to do with your work. |
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To find out more: |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6343_it_level1.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6344_it_level2.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6345_it_level3.pdf |
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Working with others |
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One of the most important qualities employers look for is the ability to work with other people. They know that good teamwork is a major factor in business success and that people who can work together to achieve objectives make a big contribution to this. |
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Working with others is about being clear about your responsibilities and how these fit in with the organisation and the work of other people in your team. It is about working co-operatively and involves asking questions to find out what others would like you to do, carrying out tasks accurately, safely and on time. It also means asking for help or advice when you need it. |
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To find out more: |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6355_wwo-level-1.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6356_wwo-level-2.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6357_wwo-level-3.pdf |
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Improving own learning and performance |
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Organisations are always looking for ways to improve their products and services and they want their staff to help them to do this. They need people who are keen to learn, are able to set and agree their own targets and able to find ways of improving their performance at work. |
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Every time you do something that is new to you, you are improving your own learning and performance. This key skill helps you do this in a more planned way. It is all about setting targets, taking opportunities to learn and reviewing your learning and achievements. The evidence for this skill may come from your home or leisure activities as well as from work. |
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To find out more: |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6347_iolp_level1.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6348_iolp-level-2.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6349_iolp-level-3.pdf |
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Problem solving |
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Employers often say that they want their staff to use their initiative. That means being able to recognise problems and coming up with ideas about what to do about them. This can save the business time and money and avoid waste. |
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Problem solving involves identifying when there is a problem and thinking of different ways of tackling it. You then need to decide on a course of action, carry it out and check that it has worked. The problem wont necessarily be a major issue if it is, the right course of action would probably be to tell a colleague or your supervisor. It is more likely to be something like running out of supplies, equipment failure or making changes to a plan that isnt achieving your planned result. |
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To find out more: |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6351_prob-level-1.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6352_prob-level-2.pdf |
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http://www.qca.org.uk/libraryAssets/media/6353_prob-level-3.pdf |
