FIELD                 COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES

 

Review and revision of Social Services qualifications

 

Review of National Certificate in Whānau/Family and Foster Care (Level 4) with an optional strand in Caregiving for Young People [Ref: 1075]

 

Revision of National Diploma in Whānau/Family and Foster Care (Level 6) [Ref: 1147]

 

Te Kaiāwhina Ahumahi Social Services Industry Training Organisation has reviewed 1075 and revised 1147.

 

Date new versions published                                                          December 2007

 

The next review of both these qualifications is planned to take place during 2009.

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

The key stakeholders in whānau/family and foster care were consulted as a result of concerns raised in relation to aspects of some unit standards in this qualification, and as a consequence of the developing professionalisation strategy for foster carers.  The unit standards in the domain had been revised in consultation with key stakeholders.

 

This review was initially commenced as a consequence of unit standard revision.  It was then determined that qualification 1075 needed to be reviewed for the following reasons:

·         assessments against unit standards in the National Certificate showed that some unit standards were superfluous, or a barrier to completion for some candidates;

·         most carers who completed the National Certificate cared for young people, raising the question of whether the optional strand for the National Certificate should be optional or part of the compulsory requirements.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

A number of unit standards were removed, and the optional strand was incorporated into the compulsory requirements for the National Certificate, leading to a change of name for the qualification.  The National Certificate was amended as a consequence of a change in terminology from 'caregiver' to 'carer'.  A special note recommending that candidates hold a current first aid certificate was added.

 

National Certificate in Whānau/Family and Foster Care (Level 4) with an optional strand in Caregiving for Young People [Ref: 1075]

National Certificate in Whānau/Family and Foster Care (Level 4) [Ref: 1075]

 

Review category

B

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

 

Changes to structure and content

·      Unit standards 497, 6401, 6402, and 17455 were removed.

·      The optional strand in Caregiving for Young People was incorporated into the compulsory requirements.

·      The credits changed to 104 credits as a consequence of the above changes.

·      A special note was added recommending that people participating in a programme that leads to award of the National Certificate hold a current First Aid Certificate.

·      The title of the qualification changed to reflect the removal of the optional strand.

·      A number of amendments were made to change the terminology used to refer to candidates from 'caregiver' to 'carer'.

·      The title of one unit standard was amended following unit standard revision.

 

Transition

 

People currently working towards version 1 of this qualification may complete that version or transfer their results to version 2.  The last date for people to complete version 1 of this qualification is December 2009.

 

Both versions of the qualification will be recognised by Te Kaiāwhina Ahumahi Social Services Industry Training Organisation.

 

Revision of the National Diploma in Whānau/Family and Foster Care (Level 6) [Ref: 1147]

 

Reason for the revision

 

This revision was undertaken as a consequence of revision of unit standards in the qualification.

 

Main changes resulting from the revision and review

 

The qualification was amended as a consequence of a change in terminology from 'caregiver' to 'carer'.  A special note clarifying assessment requirements for Unit 21150 was added to the National Diploma (to be consistent with the National Certificate in Social Services (Kaitautoko) (Level 5) [Ref: 1271].

 

Changes to structure and content

·      A special note was added to clarify requirements for assessment against unit standard 21150 in the context of this qualification.

·      A number of amendments were made to change the terminology used to refer to candidates from 'caregiver' to 'carer'.

·      The titles of two unit standards were amended following unit standard revision.

 

Transition

 

People currently working towards version 1 of this qualification may complete that version or transfer their results to version 2.  The last date for people to complete version 1 of either qualification is December 2009.

 

Both versions of the qualification will be recognised by Te Kaiāwhina Ahumahi Social Services Industry Training Organisation.

 

Key to Qualification Review Categories

 

Category A

The qualification is published as a new version with the same NQF ID

Changes are made to SSB name, contact details or purpose statement

No change is made to title, rules or components of the qualification

No transition arrangements are required

Category B

The qualification is published as a new version with the same NQF ID

Changes are made to title, rules or components

The new version of the qualification recognises a similar skill set to that recognised by the previous version

The SSB is confident that people awarded the new or previous version are comparable in terms of competence

Transition arrangements are required if candidates must gain additional/different credits for the new version

Category C

A new (replacement) qualification is published with new NQF ID

Significant changes are made to the qualification in terms of components, structure, type or level

The SSB views people with the replacement qualification as being significantly different in terms of competence from those with the replaced qualification

Transition arrangements are required

Transition may be limited to phase-out dates

Category D

Qualification will expire.

There is no replacement qualification

Qualification is no longer required by industry

The qualification is designated as expiring and a last date for meeting the qualification requirements is set