Reading Stef1's review on NVQ's I decided that I'd give you my experience of this qualification as I have carried mine out at college for the last 2 years.
What are NVQ's?
Introduced in 1988. National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are work-related, competence-based qualifications. They ... Read review
Advantages: Useful for practical jobs Disadvantages: lots of questions to be answered
...the area of work the NVQ represents.
What NVQs can I do?
There are NVQs for almost all jobs.
NVQs cover general, industrial and commercial sectors. They are divided into eleven groups:
Tending animals, plants and land
Extracting and providing natural resources
Constructing
Engineering
Manufacturing
Transporting
Providing goods and services
Providing health, ... ...development.
Getting an NVQ shows you can do a job to national standards and have the up-to-date skills employers are looking for. In terms of work, a qualification which proves you can do a job well is a valuable possession and which makes it worthwhile.
With NVQs the practice is as important as the theory - they show what you can do as well as what you know.
You don't have to sit through hours, days, weeks or even years ... more
Reading Stef1's review on NVQ's I decided that I'd give you my experience of this qualification as I have carried mine out at college for the last 2 years.
What are NVQ's? Introduced in 1988. National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are work-related, competence-based qualifications. They reflect the skills and knowledge needed to do a job well , and show that the person is able in the area of work the NVQ represents.
What NVQs can I do? There are NVQs for almost all jobs. NVQs cover general, industrial and commercial sectors. They are divided into eleven groups: Tending animals, plants and land Extracting and providing natural resources Constructing Engineering Manufacturing Transporting Providing goods and services Providing health, social care and protective services Providing business services Communicating Developing and extending knowledge and skills
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NVQs are organised into five levels, based on the how competent you need to be on each level.
Level 1 - Foundation skills in occupations Level 2 - Operative or semi-skilled occupations Level 3 - Technician, craft, skilled and supervisory occupations Level 4 - Technical and junior management occupations Level 5 - Chartered, professional and senior management occupations
Levels 1-3 are most applicable to learners within the ages of 14-19 whilst 4 and 5 would be more applicable to older, more experienced workers.
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BENEFITS NVQs can help you prepare for work or help your career development. Getting an NVQ shows you can do a job to national standards and have the up-to-date skills employers are looking for. In terms of work, a qualification which proves you can do a job well is a valuable possession and which makes it worthwhile. With NVQs the practice is as important as the theory - they show what you can do as well as what you know. You don't have to sit through hours, days, weeks or even years of a course, and there are no exams at the end. NVQs are about putting learning into practice. NVQs are flexible - you can do an NVQ as part of your normal job, work towards one at college or through open learning and private study, or a combination of these. There are no age limits and no special entry requirements.
Who are NVQs designed for? NVQs are available to anyone at any age or stage of their career. NVQs are flexible and accessible - within reasonable limits, you can decide the pace, place and way in which you learn. Most people working towards an NVQ are in work but they are available to others through a number of different ways.
My Experience with NVQ's ==================== After leaving school, I decided I wanted to carry on from my Food and Nutrition GSCE to a higher level. I enrolled at Swansea College on the NVQ Catering course but after a discussion with the tutor I as told to go on the BTEC course as this would give me both qualifications at the same time.
Starting in September 2003 I was told there were 2 NVQ qualifications we would be studying for - Food and Beverage Service and Food and Beverage Preparation, at level 1 in the first year and onto level 2 in the second year.
The qualifications each have around 10 units to be done over the 2 years. In the Service unit there would be for example a unit on taking payments at the till, serving food and drinks to customers and keeping the area clean and tidy. In the Food Preparation unit there are units with the titles like 'Prepare and cook hot deserts', 'Prepare a pasta dish' and 'Prepare a meat dish'. These have to be seen to have been done at least 3 times in order for the assessor to know that you are competent in what you are doing.
The course was full-time so every week, out of the 4 days in college, I would be in the college's own student kitchen or cafe either preparing the dishes or serving them. The lecturers then observed what I had done and written an assessment. I think this has to be done for each unit around 4 times.
I did have to spend £200 on the chefs uniform, serving uniform and knives, but I got this back from the college a few weeks later after applying for a grant.
A part of the NVQ requested that I do some assessments while on Work experience last month, so my lecturers came out an assessed me too, which completed all the units I hadn't finished.
Once all the practical assessments are complete ,there are then question packs to be answered on each unit and also some additional questions asked by the assessor (which can get a little repetative at times).
The only problem I had was not getting all the assessments done in the kitchen and cafe done in time. This meant a big rush at the end of the course, with me making 7 dishes in one day!
Having just finished the course, I have gained certificates in Food and Beverage Service and Food and Beverage Preparation both at Level 2 as well as my BTEC in Hospitality Supervision.
CONCLUSION -------------------- I think that the NVQ is a really worthwhile qualification to do. It has been set up by businesses by the standards that they want so you will be sure to know everything an employer wants and needs from an employee if they ask for an NVQ. They are very convienient as you can carry them out at work or college as part of your course or job with no time spent away. They are really easy to complete and the qualification you earn will look good on your CV. Employers should pay for the course so there are no costs for you. The only money I had to spend was on my uniform. But it was worth every penny. So in answer to the title.. Yes they are worth it.
If there's anything I've left out let me know please. Thanks for reading.
Here's where I got my chefs uniform from as they are very well priced and deliver quickly. http://www.russums-shop.co.uk
Advantages: Makes getting a job as a carer easier, proves competence, raises care standards in all settings Disadvantages: A bit repetitive
NVQ In Care
Train and gain evidence of competence
The awards to be achieved are:
National Vocational Qualifications in Care. Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Mine is a City and Guilds qualification.
For each unit there is a certificate then a certificate on completion with all units on.
Work at a qualification while you earn at your place of employment. Gain relevant qualifications to gain promotion and better working practises.
Level 2 is for Care Assistants/Support ... ...years now. I remember when NVQ first became available and was really interested. I completed NVQ level 2 in Care in April 2001 and have been chasing level 3 since then. Hopefully I will complete it by the middle of next year.
NVQ In Care level 2 assesses the care that you deliver. We were told at our induction day that it would change the way we work. Well, for me I don’t think it changed the way I worked, but it did change the way I thought about ...
solamarie 06.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of NVQ
Advantages: Something many people have to do, can be a useful stepping stone. Disadvantages: Far too much complex paperwork for a vocational qualification, lack of support.
...the National Vocational Qualifications or NVQ are vast and wide-ranging. NVQ's are becoming a vital part of the workplace particularly in the manufacturing and service sectors were they are slowly becoming a prerequisite before starting work in such fields. In my field, the health profession 50% of care assistants/nursing auxiliaries etc were supposed to have their NVQ 2 in care by the end of 2005. There are several reasons why this became an impossibility ... ...reasons for this.
The NVQ is described as a vocational qualification to be completed in the workplace. You are assigned an assessor who can either be shipped in from an external body such as a college or has been trained as an NVQ assessor by the workplace. The idea is that your assessor observes your work and documents how you behave, be it towards your clients/service users in the care sector, customers in the retail sector etc. They also observe ...
Shortsharpshock 18.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of NVQ
Advantages: Got a pay rise! Disadvantages: Got a head ache! but had fun
...my work by completing my NVQ 2 in care.
As I passed level 2 I was asked to do level 3, this meant another pay rise so I started almost straight away.
I have completed level 3 now and am waiting for my results, I think NVQ's are a great way to further your career or just gain more confidence in your work, I have gained so much from doing my NVQ's and could now get a job in any nursing home of community care projects and they would be a great start ...
janemain 14.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of NVQ
Advantages: Recognised by employers, relevant to work Disadvantages: None that I can think of.
...I have recently passed my NVQ level 4 in Accounting with the AAT, so I thought that I would write and tell you all a little bit about NVQ’s (or SVQ’s (Scottish Vocational Qualification's) if you are in Scotland).
NVQ stands for National Vocational Qualification which, as the name suggests, means that the qualification received is suitable for the Vocation (work) you are doing, or wish to do.
I decided to have a look for NVQ on the web and was directed ... ...is an NVQ?
An NVQ is a qualification based on National Occupational Standards and often requiring “insider knowledge” to enable completion. NVQ’s are in 5 levels, starting at 1 and going to 5.
They fit into the work place:-
Level 1 - Foundation skills in occupations
Level 2 - Operative and semi-skilled occupations
Level 3 - Technician, craft, skilled and supervisory occupations
Level 4 - Technical and junior management occupations
Level 5 ...
claireydeacon 07.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of NVQ
Advantages: Good stepping stone into employment Disadvantages: Doesn't pay well.
...awarding bodies.
How an NVQ is made up.
A typical level 2 qualification consists of 9 units of competence, usually 6 mandatory and 3 optional, although some of the older ones are 8 mandatory and 1 optional.
These units are then broken down into elements, i.e. unit 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3, all these elements are needed to complete unit one.
To achieve an element you must fulfil the Performance Criterion (PC’s), the Range and the Knowledge and Understanding ... ...what you need to do i.e. use correct software, the Range covers the type of tasks you must complete i.e. produce a letter.
The K&U’s cover the knowledge required to do the job, i.e. Data Protection Act & etc. This then is the makeup of the qualification, is it worth the effort?
There are two answers to this (guess what they are :o} )and there are two types of unemployed people who seek qualifications:
The dodger who comes to keep the employment ...
carpathian 05.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of NVQ
Advantages: Phenomonal job satisfaction. Disadvantages: can be quite upsetting at times.
a loose routine within a hospital but a lot of the work is down you your own initiative and common sense.
As a Health Care Assistant, you can complete NVQ?s, up to NVQ3. These are workplace based qualifications (generally available to most workplaces these days). As each NVQ is completed the pay increases ? The salary is approximately 11,000 (with no NVQ) ? 13,800 (when completed NVQ3) per annum.
With each NVQ completed, responsibility increases; allowing you to do such things as dressings; taking bloods; inserting canuler?s; performing ECG?s etc (so long as required training has been undertaken.)
Prior to working in the hospital, various courses and lectures have to be attended. These are compulsory and are provided in an ?induction? course by the hospital. These courses and lectures include; moving and positioning; first aid and CPR ...
Advantages: job satisfaction, training, meet very interesting poeple Disadvantages: hard work, not for the faint hearted, low pay, the job can be 'public whipping boy'
training for your job to be able to register.
In my county in Wales , where I work, all care workers will eventually have to be registered with Care Standards.
Currently our county has the highest amount of employees trained to do thier job.
The raining needed for the various jobs are-
Care worker-
home care, project worker, sessional worker-
require NVQ Level 2 health and socail care.
Instructor , home leader, senior care, care supervisor- require NVQ Level 3 Health and social care
Managers- NVQ Level 4 Health and social care or NVQ Management Level 4
Homes which are registered withthe care council will need a NVQ 4 Registered home manager qualification.
As my qualification is social work I have had to be registered since 2003- I had to re-register this year as re-registration is every three years. I pay to register.
I am ...
Advantages: Everything, you learn confidence, skills and pride. Disadvantages: None
As the title suggest I am here to sing the praises of College. I had my daughter at the age of 17, got no school qualifications and then returned to College at the age of 25 (once I grew up and returned to my senses!). I firstly did an NVQ in Business Administration, I got a pass in Level 3 and 6 RSA typing and word/text processing exams. I then went on to an Access Course in Law and Business at the same College. I had the opportunity to go to University, which I did, and I am now working in a satisfying, well paying environment, I pay all my own bills and bring up two children, with my husbands support. All this proves the these College courses really do work and I will forever pleased that I took the first scary step into the real world. ...
wide range of courses to choose from, you will know your results there and then, the big name employers recognise Brainbench
Not Free(Cost $8), new users might find the testing interface a bit strange, takes time to ship the certificate bearing in mind that i am still waitin (*)
