What are the new independent advocacy qualifications?
There are two new national independent advocacy qualifications: the Level 3 Certficate in Independent Advocacy and the Level 3 Diploma in Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy - Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (IMCA - DOLS).
These qualifications have been developed by the Department of Health in partnership with City & Guilds and the Welsh Assessbly Government.
Why were the qualifications developed?
To achieve quality and consistency in advocacy training. The introduction of two new forms of statutory advocacy - Inpendent Mental Capacity Advocates and Independent Mental Health Advocates - signalled the need for greater focus on quality and consistency across the advocacy sector.
Who should undertake the qualifications?
The qualifications will be aimed primarily at people who currently provide independent advocacy support, but will also be suitable for people who use advocacy skills as part of another role.
Do IMHA's have to undertake the qualification?
Under Department of Health guidance, all independent mental health advocates are expected to have successfully completed the IMHA module of the qualification by the end of their first year of practice.
What is the structure of the two qualifications?
The Level 3 Certificate in Independent Advocacy consists of four mandatory units and five specialist units. To achieve a full certificate, advocates will need to complete the four mandatory units plus one of the specialist units.
The Level 3 Diploma in IMCA - DOLS consists of four mandatory units plus two specialist units on Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. To achieve the full diploma, advocates will need to complete the four mandatory units plus these two specialist units.
Units can be taken in any order and it is not expected that all units are undertaken at the same time.
How are the qualifications assessed?
The independent advocacy qualifications are QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework) competency-based qualifications. This means the qualifications are assess on real life experience. To complete a unit, leaners must put together a portfolio of evidence - including direct assessment in their workplace - to demonstrate their competence against different learning outcomes.
What are learning outcomes?
Learning outcomes set out what a learner is expected to know, understand or be able to do at each unit. A list of the learning outcomes for each of the units is available on the City & Guilds website.