As part of the Care in Practice (CiP) Framework (CiP) there is a new entrance level qualification, the Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice.
In line with the CiP Framework, all new social care staff, who are registering with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council for the first time, if supported by their employer to do so, will have the opportunity to complete this new work-based, qualification within the first 6 months of commencing employment as part of their induction process.
The Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice will provide workers with foundational knowledge and skills to enable them to work as an adult social care practitioner within health and social care services.
This qualification consists of 7 units (see below for a list of units and their purpose) that will enable social care practitioners to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become confident in their practice and to work safely and effectively.
Qualification Overview:
The following table tells you about the units to be completed:
| Unit Title | Unit Purpose |
|---|---|
| Standards and Values Underpinning Social Care Practice | This unit will help learners to understand their responsibilities and the values required to work as a registered social care practitioner. It will also help the worker to understand the importance of person-centred practice in social care. |
| Understand Safeguarding in Social Care Services | This unit will help learners to understand their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding individuals, as a registered social care practitioner. |
| Safe Moving and Positioning of Individuals in Social Care Services | This unit will help learners understand their responsibilities and how to move and position individuals safely in practice. It will also help learners to recognise, respond to and report unsafe practice in relation to moving and positioning. |
| Environmental Health and Safety in Social Care Services | This unit will help learners to understand their responsibilities in relation to health and safety in the social care setting – including in relation to: – Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) – Fire Safety – Infection Prevention and Control |
| Understand Safe Medication Practice in Social Care | This unit will help learners to understand their role and responsibilities in relation to the safe management of medication in social care practice. |
| Safe Food Handling and Dysphagia Awareness in Social Care Services | This unit will help learners to understand their responsibilities in relation to safe food hygiene in social care settings. The learner will also be helped to understand what dysphagia is, how it effects individuals and their responsibilities when supporting someone with swallowing difficulties. |
| Emergency First Aid in Social Care Services | This unit will help learners to understand their responsibilities when delivering basic emergency first aid. |
NB Learners must fully complete all 7 units to be able to achieve this qualification.
After achieving the Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice and their induction, social care practitioners may then be supported by their employer to work towards the achievement of a higher level, work-based social care qualification aligned with their job role and career progression.
Useful links
Qualifications and Courses | OCN NI