Training Providers
Advocates who wish to undertake the Independent Advocacy Qualification will need to sign up with a City & Guilds accredited training provider. It is expected that the qualification will be offered by different training provider organisations across the country. Advocates can choose to undertake all the units with the same training provider, or different units with different training providers.
Training providers must be registered with City & Guilds before they can offer the qualification. If you are a training provider and want to offer the qualification, you first need to register as a City & Guilds centre. This can be started at any time. Contact you regional City & Guilds office to be guided through the process.
If you are a training provider who is already registered as a City & Guilds centre, contact your regional office if you want to provide the qualification. Regional offices can provide advice on delivery of the qualifications and additional training requirements.
Assessment
Training providers can design course programmes in different ways. It is expected that most course programmes will include tutor-led training courses and private study, in addition to advice on putting together a portfolio of evidence and direct assessment in the workplace.
Course programmes for each unit must be designed to meet that unit's learning outcomes. A unit's learning outcomes set out what a learner is expected to know, understand or be able to do. To do a complete unit, learners must put together a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their competency against the different learning outcomes. As it is a competency -based qualification, the portfolio of evidence must be based on real life experience, including direct assessment in the workplace.
The number of credits awarded for each unit reflects approximately how many hours it will take to complete that unit. One credit equals ten hours of learning and assessment - so a seven credit unit will take approximately 70 hours of learning and assessment.
Once a unit is succesfully completed, learners are awarded a certificate of unit credit from City and Guilds. The credits for that unit are also recorded on their QCF learner achievement record.
Training Materials
The Department of Health is funding the development of training materials for several units, including the Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA), Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) units.
These materials are designed for training providers delivering the qualification. Once finalised, these materials will be made available to training providers registered with City & Guilds. It will be for the training provider to decide whether they use these materials or training materials developed themselves.
Costs
There will be four components to the costs. First, the cost of any training courses; second, the cost of the assessment of the portfolio; third, the cost of the observation; fourth, the cost of the registration with City & Guilds. Some training providers will roll all this into one fee; others will quote for just one component. It is very important to ask what the training providers what the entire costs are before signing up to any course.