Information, Advice and Guidance (distance learning) - NCFE Level 2 Certificate

<p>The Level 2 Certificate in Information Advice & Guidance is ideal for you if, for example, you are front line staff, work in a voluntary organisation, further education with adult or community groups, or with young people. The course will develop your knowledge and understanding of the key principles of information, advice and guidance and how to apply these within your own context. It will also prepare you for further training and to support a role where you may give initial information, advice and guidance to others. If you are already working in the sector this qualification is designed to enable you to select and use relevant knowledge, ideas, skills and procedures to complete clearly defined tasks and deal with straightforward problems. You will be able to take responsibility for completing tasks and procedures and exercise autonomy and judgement in the workplace under the guidance of line management. This course will also help you prepare for employment in a role where the delivery of accurate information, advice and guidance is important.</p>

<p>This is a distance learning qualification course where you will use textbooks to complete assessment activity electronically. You will be supported by a tutor who will provide feedback (electronically) on your progress and will suggest other learning activities to help you develop the knowledge and understanding you require to successfully complete the qualification. The textbooks provided have been developed to improve your knowledge and understanding to meet a specific range of learning outcomes. These outcomes are also mapped to National Occupational Standards so you can be sure that what you are learning is relevant to the workplace. You will plan a programme of study around your other life commitments. Distance learning material can be studied at any time and in any location where you can access a PC, laptop or tablet and broadband. You should aim to complete your course in 6 months although it may be possible to achieve this earlier if you have more time to spend on study.</p>

<p><strong>Qualification content</strong> This qualification consists of 5 units and you will study learning material, complete activities and submit assessment questions for marking, for all of these units;</p>

<ul>
<li>Information, Advice & Guidance in practice</li>
<li>Developing interaction skills for information, Advice & Guidance</li>
<li>Signposting and referral in information, Advice & Guidance</li>
<li>Information, Advice & Guidance - context</li>
<li>Skills for Advice providers</li>
</ul>

<p>You should not underestimate the time commitment required to complete a distance learning qualification at Level 2. Your tutor will also support you to improve your English skills alongside your learning of your vocational subject. This will include assessing your current skills from the work you produce and providing additional learning activities related to your subject that are designed to develop your skills in these areas. This is a vocational course leading to a qualification and the cost of it is subsidised by public funding. You will be required to complete all of the necessary coursework/assignments or exams by the given deadlines. Please note: if you do not successfully complete the course within the required timescale you will not be able to repeat it at the subsidised fee. For further information on the syllabus for this course please go to <a href="https://www.qualhub.co.uk/qualification-search/qualification-detail/ncfe-cache-level-2-certificate-in-information-advice-or-guidance-532">www.qualhub.co.uk/qualification-search/qualification-detail/ncfe-cache-level-2-certificate-in-information-advice-or-guidance-532</a></p>

<p>There is a minimum entry age of 19 for this qualification. An Application process is applicable to this course. Please read the application page on the website before applying. Once you have read the application page you may go ahead and apply. If at this stage we feel the course is not suitable for you, we will make you aware of suitable alternatives. For term dates please refer to <a href="https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/about/term-dates/">www.skillsandlearningace.com/about/term-dates</a>.</p>

<p>This is a Level 2 assessed course. The online materials have been developed to provide you with the underpinning knowledge you require to complete the qualification. The learning materials are mapped to learning outcomes required by awarding organisations to satisfy the requirements of the qualification. At the beginning of your course, you will be assigned a tutor who will be able to mark your work on-line and give you feedback and suggestions as you progress. Once completed, your work will be marked and internally verified. An external verifier from the awarding body will review your work before you receive your certificate. The visits from external verifiers only take place twice a year so there may be a delay in certification being awarded after you have completed your course. As soon as your certificate is received by Skills & Learning it will be forwarded to you.</p>

<p><strong>Awarding body:</strong> NCFE CACHE<br />
<strong>Assignments/Course work:</strong> Assessed questions for each learning outcome<br />
<strong>Examination(s):</strong> No set examination</p>

<p>Please note that this qualification must be completed within the deadline set.</p>

<p>This qualification is designed for those people who work in, or are looking to work in an Information, Advice & Guidance role such as:</p>

<ul>
<li>Careers Advisor</li>
<li>Counsellor</li>
<li>Customer Service Advisor</li>
<li>Debt Advisor</li>
<li>Employment Advisor</li>
<li>Help-desk Advisor</li>
<li>Housing Support Worker</li>
<li>Learning Support Worker</li>
<li>Legal Services Support Workers</li>
<li>Peer Mentor</li>
</ul>

<p>With a range of employers such as:</p>

<ul>
<li>Local authorities</li>
<li>Careers advice services</li>
<li>Voluntary sector organisations</li>
<li>Student services</li>
<li>Citizen advice services</li>
<li>Housing associations</li>
</ul>

<p>There are no specific entry requirements for undertaking this certificate, however the nature and demands of the qualification together with the assessment criteria requirements, means that you will need to have or are working towards a Level 2 English qualification. You will need to be able to read and understand given tasks, provide answers that are clear, logical and understandable and organise relevant information clearly and coherently. You will need good IT skills and access to a computer, laptop or tablet with regular and reliable internet connection. This can be at home, at work,or in a library. You can check the suitability of this course for a preferred career path or route to employment by looking at various job profiles on the National Careers Service website <a href="https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/">https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk</a>. There is an expectation that if you enrol on this course you are willing to commit fully to the period of time involved in this course, the associated home study and the assessed work required. You should consider your readiness to commit to study and we have a study support toolbox to help you with this: <a href="https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/toolbox/">www.skillsandlearningace.com/toolbox/</a></p>

<p><strong>Resources required to achieve your qualification</strong> <strong>Essential: </strong>Access to a PC, laptop, notebook or tablet with broadband/Wi-Fi.</p>

<p><strong>Desirable:</strong> Headphones.</p>

<p>There may be further materials you could obtain to further support your study. You will be guided by your tutor prior to any purchase.</p>

<p><strong>Course Costs</strong> For information regarding any <strong>funding</strong> for this course <strong>please refer to</strong> the Finance page on our website <a href="https://www.skillslearningace.com/learning-with-us/finance/" target="_blank">www.skillslearningace.com/learning-with-us/finance/</a>.</p>

<p><strong>Please be aware that once you have submitted the Learning Agreement, you are committed to this programme of study. If you do not start the learning package when advised, or submit work when requested, the cost of the registration fee (£125) will be passed on to you.</strong></p>

<p>You may wish to progress to a Level 3 Certificate in Information, Advice & Guidance or consider other health and social care qualifications. There are a variety of e-learning courses that can be started at any time of the year. See our website <a href="http://www.skillsandlearningace.com/">www.skillsandlearningace.com</a> for more details. Other courses may be offered by Skills & Learning or other local providers.</p>

<p>There are a range of courses available to help the development of skills for work. There are a variety of e-learning courses that can be started at any time of the year. See the website for more details. Up to date English and maths Functional Skills and Essential Digital Skills qualifications can help you progress at work or into further or higher education. Skills & Learning work with local employers to offer Sector Based Work Academy Programmes and Apprenticeship training. Your tutor may also be able to discuss the possible next step options with you.</p>

<p>You may like to talk with a Careers Adviser about other courses. General careers advice and guidance can be provided by the National Careers Service <a href="https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/">https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk</a> For further information please contact us on 01202 123444.</p><p>Need support planning your next steps? Our experienced Careers Advisors at Skills &amp; Learning can offer personalised guidance on choosing the right course, exploring career paths, developing interview skills, updating your CV and much more. Book a FREE appointment today and get the support you need to achieve your goals. Visit: <a href="https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/learning-with-us/next-steps/" target="_blank">https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/learning-with-us/next-steps/</a>. Call us at 01202 123444 for more information.</p>

<p><strong>English, maths and computing skills:</strong> all of our courses support the development of relevant English, maths and computing skills.<br />
<strong>Refunds:</strong> please see details of our cancellation policy in our Terms and Conditions on our website <a href="https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/policies/terms-and-conditions/">www.skillsandlearningace.com/policies/terms-and-conditions</a> or in our brochure.<br />
<strong>Attendance:</strong> before enrolling you should ensure that you can attend all classes offered as far as possible.<br />
<strong>Places on courses:</strong> many of our courses are in high demand. If you have been offered a place but no longer require it, please advise us immediately as you may be preventing another learner from taking the place. Where learners do not attend the first session, without having given prior notice, Skills &amp; Learning reserve the right to offer the place on the course to another learner; you will not be eligible for a refund it it is outside of the terms outlined in our cancellation policy.<br />
<strong>Fully funded learners:</strong> if you have been offered a fully funded place on a course and no longer require it, you must advise us before the course starts so that your place can be offered to someone else. We reserve the right to withdraw future offers of fully funded places if you regularly do not start or complete funded courses.<br />
<strong>Home study:</strong> you will&nbsp;be required to do significant&nbsp;study at home between sessions to assist with your learning and progress.<br />
<strong>Qualification Levels:</strong> there is further information about qualification levels on our website.<br />
<strong>Proof of identity:</strong> please bring photographic ID and your National Insurance number with you to your first session. You will also need to provide it for any external examinations you take.<br />
<strong>Off-site activities:</strong> with some courses, there may be the opportunity for off-site enrichment activities at additional cost, for example: gallery, museum or exhibition visits. Where this is an integral part of the course, your tutor will discuss the arrangements with you during your induction.<br />
<strong>Parking at centres:</strong> parking at centres may be limited; please be prepared to use on street parking or pay and display car parks. For information regarding each centre, please visit the venue section of our website <a href="https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/our-centres/">www.skillsandlearningace.com/our-centres/</a>.<br />
<strong>Refreshments:</strong> tea/coffee or vending machine(s) are available at some venues. Further information can be found in the venue section of our website <a href="https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/our-centres/">www.skillsandlearningace.com/our-centres/</a>.<br />
<strong>Unspent Criminal Convictions</strong> we require learners to disclose any unspent criminal convictions. Please refer to <a href="https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/policies/disclosure-of-unspent-convictions/">www.skillsandlearningace.com/policies/disclosure-of-unspent-convictions</a>.<br />
If you have any <strong>accessibility or disability issues</strong> that we need to accommodate or if you think you may need any other support to complete your chosen course, please contact: 01202 123444 or e-mail <a href="mailto:enquiries@salbcp.com">enquiries@salbcp.com</a>. All enquiries are treated in confidence.</p>