National College of Further Education (NCFE)
Level 1 Certificate in Drug Awareness
There are no pre-entry requirements for this course and only nine taught hours so this is a good way to gain a recognised qualification that links the National Qualifications Framework.
Our R-evolve staff will make sure the learning experience is fun and will guide you through the learning process and preparing your evidence of learning. If you have had any challenges with learning in the past let us know – we are confident we can help you gain this qualification.
This qualification is aimed at those, possibly volunteering within the Drug and Alcohol Field, who wish to have a nationally recognised qualification, or those who require basic drug and alcohol knowledge to enter the field or further their career within it, or you can just come along to learn and have fun.
The course could also help you gain employment, improve your career prospects or if you are
studying additional qualifications in the following:
Counselling - Child Care - Sport & Recreation - Community Work - Youth Work
You can also use it as a stepping stone to our level 2 Certificate in Drug Awareness or a range of level 2 courses.
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Drug Awareness Studies and their applications
This course comprises of 3 mandatory units:
1. Understand drug use / misuse
2. Recognise and respond to drug use /misuse
3. Communicate with young people about Drugs
And four optional units:
1. Work with communities
2. Understand solvent and volatile substance abuse
3. Show awareness of issues concerning alcohol use / misuse
4. Consider blood borne infections related to drug use / misuse
Candidates must complete the three mandatory units and two optional units
At thirty six taught hours there is an increased commitment required to gain this certificate,
however the R-evolve training team will remain committed to ensure you have fun and learn.
The course is an ideal qualification for those who wish to develop knowledge in drug awareness, and want to obtain a nationally recognised qualification in drug awareness at an intermediate level. This qualification may be used by those who wish to progress to practitioner level accreditation (Level 3 – See NVQ information).
The course could also help you gain employment, improve your career prospects or if you are
studying additional qualifications in the following:
Counselling - Child Care - Sport & Recreation - Community Work - Youth Work
You can also use it to move onto further study such as:
NVQ’s at level 2 & 3 in Health & Social Care
Other level 2 / 3 qualifications in Health & Social Care
Links to key skills for life
Both level 1 and level 2 NCFE courses can be linked to key skills for life. Therefore candidates
and their tutor may decide that participants can take an assessment. If you are assessed and are successful, you will be given a certificate to show which key skills you have achieved. These key skills can be very beneficial to future employment, education or training.
Open College Network London
‘The Complete Drugs Course’ at level 2/3
Each unit requires 20 taught hours.
Understanding drugs and their effects – 6 credit
This unit takes an in depth look at a wide range of drugs exploring the legal status, street names, forms, methods of use, perceived positive effects to users, and both short and long term negative effects.
Understanding working with drug users – 6 credits
This unit spends time looking at the issues and challenges involved in working with both adult and young drug users including treatment options and approaches,
Understanding working in the drugs field – 6 credits
The final unit focuses in on the issues that impact on work in the drugs field such as national
policies and guidance, national strategy and funding.
Key benefits of the OCN ‘The Complete Drugs Course’ include:
• It can take candidates to level 3 (Particularly useful for those not working in the field so unable to do NVQ).
• Over the years innumerable people have completed this course and moved on to work in the drugs, or drug related field
• Many others have gone on to use the level 3 learning to move on into Higher Education & Training
National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)
Health & Social Care – Level 3 (Includes DANOS units)
NVQ's are
National vocational qualifications (NVQ's) are work-related, competence-based qualifications. They reflect the skills and knowledge needed to do a job effectively, and show that a candidate is
competent in the area of work the NVQ framework represents.
NVQ's are based on national occupational standards. These standards are statements of
performance that describe what competent people in a particular occupation are expected to be able to do. They cover all the main aspects of an occupation, including current best practice, the ability to adapt to future requirements and the knowledge and understanding that underpin
competent performance.
Within reason, NVQ's do not have to be completed in a specified amount of time. They can be taken by full-time employees or by school and college students with a work placement or part-time job that enables them to develop the appropriate skills. There are no age limits and no special entry requirements.
How NVQ's are achieved
NVQ's are achieved through assessment and training. Assessment is normally through on-the-job observation and questioning. Candidates produce evidence to prove they have the competence to meet the NVQ standards. Assessors sign off units when the candidates are ready. The assessor tests candidates’ knowledge, understanding and work-based performance to make sure they can demonstrate competence in the workplace.
When new candidates start an NVQ, the assessor will usually help them to:
• identify what they can do already
• agree on the standard and level they are aiming for
• analyse what they need to learn
• choose and agree on activities that would allow them to learn what they need
At this point, candidates might take a course if that seems the best way to learn what they need. Or they might agree with their employer or supervisor to do slightly different work to gain the
evidence of competence they need.
Candidates compare their performance with the standards as they learn. They look at what they have achieved, how much they still need to do and how they should go about it, until they are assessed as competent for a unit or a whole NVQ. The system is right for candidates who already have skills and want to increase them, but also for those who are starting from the beginning. As the system is so flexible, new ways of learning can be used immediately.
OK - you’ve read a lot and are losing interest BUT DON’T because:
The R-evolve experienced NVQ assessor starts in post on 16th July 2007 and will be
visiting local providers and other interested parties to help them link all this up to DANOS (Drug and Alcohol National Occupational Standard) So you know you can rest assured staff competencies are catered for.
Other training R-evolve have planned include:
Advocacy Training: This course will aim to give participants skills to effectively help them support service users to raise any issues of concern, complaint or grievance.
Attending Meetings Skills: Aimed at helping participants gain the skills to attend meetings with a clear understanding of procedures and how to make an effective contribution to the whole process.
Safer Injecting Skills: The title says it all - how to make the injecting process as safe as possible. Aimed at both those working with injecting users and those injecting.
Blood Bourne Viruses: Again important knowledge for all working with at risk groups and those in at risk groups. Knowledge gives you the power to keep yourself safe.
Basic Drugs Awareness: For those without time to gain accreditation - we will be looking to
provide this to any group/individual who would like to know more but can’t commit to formal
courses. This could include Teachers, School Governors’, Parents & Carers, Youth Workers, Connexions Staff, etc. The list is endless. So just contact us and we will arrange it.
We don’t want to be like a University - issuing a prospectus. We do want to respond to your needs. So please let us know what you want and if we can’t help then we will know who can.
For more information on courses, please contact Tammi Gillett: gillett@network.in-volve.org.uk