09 June 2015
The importance of obtaining national vocational qualifications is to be marked locally this week by Health and Social Services as part of Vocational Qualifications Day (VQ Day) on Wednesday 10 June.
Islanders who are already working in the care sector in Jersey (including private care/nursing homes and care agencies) have the opportunity to find out about vocational qualifications in healthcare through information stands in the Parade entrance of Jersey General Hospital.
The Vocational Training Centre (VTC) staff will be available at the stand between 11am and 2pm on Wednesday 10 June to answer any queries from staff in the care sector wanting to find out more about VQs.
Ongoing development
There are currently 238 healthcare workers from the Health and Social Services Department (HSSD) and the wider community studying for a vocational qualification, which are offered as part of their ongoing development.
VQ Day celebrates vocational achievement and the benefits of practical, technical and vocational learning across the British Isles. It was set up eight years ago by The Edge Foundation, which champions technical, practical and vocational learning, recognising that people with vocational qualifications deserve the same accolades as those with academic qualifications such as GCSEs and A Levels.
The VTC works in partnership with Edexcel offering a range of vocational qualifications to learners under the Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) enabling healthcare workers to develop their skills and knowledge in various healthcare related subjects.
The programme on offer through HSSD’s vocational training centre has been devised to meet the continuing development needs of health care support workers working within HSSD; community residential, nursing homes and private care providers. These include:
diploma in health and social care
diploma in clinical health care support
diploma in leadership for health and social care and children and young people’s service
certificate in health care support
diploma in perioperative support
Skills and knowledge
Julie Mesny, who leads the vocational training centre at HSSD said “Vocational qualifications have never been more important in healthcare. They allow people to continuously develop their skills and knowledge, resulting in workers who deliver safe and compassionate healthcare. The range of qualifications on offer allows someone to have more opportunities at work. We value vocational qualifications tremendously and think they are essential for workforce development.”
Find out more
You can:
Telephone Rosie D’Arcy (administrator) on 444257
gov.je