What Is A Level 6 NVQ Diploma In Occupational Health And Safety Practice?
The Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice is specifically tailored for healthcare professionals entrusted with the responsibility of upholding safety standards within their respective organisations. This qualification serves as a stepping stone in advancing your career and acquiring a CSCS Black Card. It has received accreditation on the Regulated Quality Framework (RQF), ensuring national recognition and opening up job prospects across various sectors such as construction, engineering, manufacturing, industrial facilities, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, transportation, logistics, education, and research institutions.
This qualification is structured as a work-based program, eliminating the need for you to take time off from your current employment.When you join the programme, you’ll be paired with a skilled assessor who will be responsible for evaluating your performance at work and assessing how well you’re meeting the intended learning outcomes. To get started, you’ll be asked to fill out a form that will help your assessor create a customised assessment plan designed specifically for you. This way, it’ll be made sure the assessment process is personalised and meets your individual needs.
The program comprises 10 mandatory units, each designed to equip you with the skills necessary to undertake the role of a health and safety auditor in a managerial capacity within your organisation. You will gain comprehensive knowledge on developing and implementing robust health and safety policies, establishing proactive and reactive monitoring systems, formulating emergency response protocols, conducting systematic reviews, and staying abreast of industry improvements to ensure continuous enhancement.
Should You Already Be Employed To Take This Course?
To enrol on this course, you must be currently working in a similar position where you have the responsibility of developing and implementing health and safety procedures within your organisation. This requirement is important because you must be able to demonstrate your expertise to your assessor. They will evaluate your performance based on the evidence you provide, using standardised criteria as a benchmark. So, being in a comparable role is crucial for you to be eligible for this course.
What Are The Steps To Obtaining A CSCS Black Card?
To obtain a CSCS Black Card, you can follow these steps:
1. Complete the Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice
This qualification demonstrates your expertise in occupational health and safety and is a requirement for obtaining the CSCS Black Card.
2. Pass the CITB Health, Safety, and Environment Test for Managers and Professionals (MAP)
This test assesses your knowledge and understanding of health, safety, and environmental practices relevant to your role as a manager or professional.
3. Apply for the CSCS Black Card on the official CSCS website
The application process will require you to provide relevant information, such as your personal details, qualifications, and proof of passing the NVQ and the CITB MAP test. Make sure to submit all the required documents accurately.
If you're unsure about how to apply for the CSCS card, we have a helpful guide that provides a step-by-step explanation. It covers everything you need to know to successfully apply for a CSCS Managers card.
How Long Does It Typically Take To Complete This Qualification?
Completing this qualification depends on many factors that are unique to each individual, such as your availability, dedication, and motivation to succeed in the course. It involves compiling a comprehensive portfolio of evidence that showcases your occupational health and safety practice skills and knowledge, and then submitting it to your assessor for evaluation. On average, most individuals complete the Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice within a timeframe of 4 to 6 months.
What Are The Prerequisites For Enrolling On This Course?
Before enrolling on this course, it's essential to ensure that you have access to a suitable workplace where you can effectively perform the assigned tasks and gather the necessary evidence. This workplace should provide you with practical opportunities to apply the occupational health and safety practices that you'll be learning throughout the course. Additionally, you must meet the age requirement of being at least 19 years old to fulfil the course prerequisites. These prerequisites ensure that you have the right environment and maturity level to benefit from the course content and successfully complete the qualification.
How Will The Assessment Process Be Conducted?
The assessment process starts off with an initial evaluation that aims to gauge your existing understanding and competence in the field of occupational health and safety. You'll be asked to complete a form that helps assessors determine your current level of knowledge and skills. This evaluation serves the purpose of confirming that you have access to a workplace where you can effectively carry out your tasks and generate the required evidence for your portfolio. Once your specific assessment needs and preferences are identified, a personalised assessment plan will be developed to guide you through the process.
Since this qualification is competency-based, there's no need for additional exams or evaluations beyond the portfolio of evidence you'll be building. Instead, your assessor will observe and assess your performance while you're actively engaged in your job duties. This approach provides flexibility, allowing you to seamlessly integrate the assessment into your daily work routine. The evidence portfolio can take various forms, such as
- Observation report by assessor
- Assignments/projects/reports
- Professional discussion
- Witness testimony
- Candidate product
- Worksheets
- Record of oral and written questioning
- Recognition of Prior Learning
What Job Roles Can You Apply After Completing This Qualification?
These are some of the roles that you can apply for after completing the Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice.
- Health and Safety Manager/Coordinator/Officer
- Risk Manager/Assessor/Analyst
- Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Manager/Consultant
- Occupational Health and Safety Advisor/Consultant
- Construction Health and Safety Manager/Officer
- Industrial Hygienist
- Emergency Response Manager/Coordinator
