FIELD                        COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES

 

Review of Community Support Services qualification

 

National Certificate in Community Support Services (Foundation Skills) [Ref: 1135]

 

The Community Support Services Industry Training Organisation has completed the review of the qualification listed above.

 

Replacement qualification

 

National Certificate in Community Support Services (Foundation Skills) [Ref: 1291].

 

Date new versions published                        June 2007

 

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2012.

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

The qualification has been reviewed as a result of an extensive survey of the sector to determine whether the current qualification was fit for purpose.  A review of the unit standards contained in the qualification resulted in a mismatch between the sector's requirements and the content and structure of the current qualification.  This resulted in the core generic standards contained in the qualification being replaced with new sector specific standards that reflected the skills and knowledge required by the sector at induction level.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

Some of the standards contained in the qualification were inappropriate for induction level learning and were replaced by knowledge-based standards at a lower level.  Wide consultation, incorporating funding bodies, service providers, users and consumers, was undertaken to determine the content for the reviewed qualification.

 

National Certificate in Community Support Services (Foundation Skills) [Ref: 1135]

National Certificate in Community Support Services (Foundation Skills) [Ref: 1291]

 

Review category

C

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

 

There are substantial differences between the new and replaced qualification.

 

Changes to structure and content

·        credits for standard 20829 have increased from 2 to 6

·        the level of the qualification has increased from 1 to 2

·        the elective section has been removed

·        standards 20824 and 20827 have been substituted with two new standards 23686 and 23685, which are more appropriate for entry level

·        generic standards 496, 497, 525, 1277, 1304, 3501, 2349 and 12355 have been removed

·        first aid standards 6400, 6401 and 6402 have been removed and are now recommended for entry in special notes

·        four new sector specific standards 23451-23454 designed specifically for role holders have been added

·        the credit total has changed from 43 or 45, to 43.

 

Transition

 

People currently working towards the replaced qualification may either complete the requirements for that qualification by 31 December 2010 or transfer their results to this one.  The last date for entry to training programmes or courses for the replaced qualification is December 2007.  Assessments for the new qualification can start when it is registered.

 

This qualification contains standards that have been used as substitutes for standards at a higher level.  For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for those standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the substitute standards - see exemption table below.

 

Credit for

Exempt from

20824

23686

20825

23454

20827

23685

20828

23454

 

People who feel disadvantaged by the transition process should contact Community Support Services Industry Training Organisation Limited.

 

Community Support Services Industry Training Organisation Limited

PO Box 25 255

CHRISTCHURCH

 

Telephone                        03 371 9295

Facsimile                        03 371 9285

Email                        enquiries@cssito.org.nz

 

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