Training News

Eastwood Park candidates achieve in record time | Sep 07

W NVQ Level 3 Decontamination Eastwood Park Training & Conference Centre in Gloucestershire has just announced the national achievements of their first candidates taking the new NVQ Level 3 Decontamination.

The seventeen candidates from both the NHS and Private Sector located across the UK from the Shetlands to Plymouth succeeded in gaining their award in under a year, where normally this can take from 18 to 24 months. Eastwood Park is IDSc’s - Institute of Decontamination Sciences - approved centre for the delivery of this qualification.

This achievement is due to the new “activity based” assessment practice designed and delivered by Eastwood Park. This innovative delivery programme drastically reduces the amount of candidate written evidence required, focussing more on the application of knowledge and performance within their job. Commented Bridget Herniman, NVQ Manager at Eastwood Park, who has been responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of the national roll out of the brand new Level 3 NVQ Decontamination programme: “This new practice really does motivate the candidates and assessors to achieve in an appropriate timescale.

We are confident that the 200 registered candidates who are now starting to work with our assessors and verifiers across the UK will be able to make similar progress. Recognition too should go to the IDSc for their continued contribution to resourcing the national roll out and their excellent support.” Eastwood Park has 60 assessors plus seven internal verifiers. All staff involved in delivery of this NVQ are occupationally competent and knowledgeable in all aspects of decontamination as well as being highly trained in assessment and verification practice. City and Guilds has accredited Eastwood Park with “Direct Claims Status” due to the high level of support and practice achieved by the delivery team. This means Eastwood Park can now certificate candidates on achievement without having to wait for the bi-annual External Verifier Visit.

Eastwood Park is also in the process of tendering for funding to support the delivery of the NVQ Level 3 in Health (Decontamination). Currently Eastwood Park is able to access 100% funding for specific learners as well as assessor training to be rolled out in the spring next year (08). This funding is being used to support Decontamination Units in their succession planning by providing free training to qualify work-based assessors.

For further information on Eastwood Park’s NVQ Decontamination programme, its innovative assessor and verifier training or on funding contact training@eastwoodpark.co.uk or 01454 262777.
.