Two unit standards have been developed to support those working with mothers and their babies.  This knowledge supports the Baby Friendly Communities and the Baby Friendly Hospitals Initiatives.  This will be available to support workers through the elective set of many of the qualifications.

A national qualification for Dental Assistants

A new qualification aimed at standardising the training requirements for Orderlies (based on existing DHB training programmes)

Careerforce has sought feedback on a proposed new level 4 national certificate for the mental health and addiction sector.

It is proposed that this qualification comprise a compulsory section and an elective section covering seven elective topics:

1. Older Person
2. Consumer/Peer Support
3. Family/Whanau
4. Infant, Child and Youth
5. Addiction
6. Forensic
7. Kaupapa Maori

	Click here for a pictorial representation of the proposed National Certificate in Mental Health and Addiction Support (Level 4).
	Click here for more information on this project

31 May (compulsory)

8 June (electives)

Careerforce sought feedback on proposed changes to the way in which our unit standards and qualifications are organised on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

The proposed new subfield is Health, Disability and Aged Support. Currently the majority of Careerforce unit standards are in domains which form part of the 'Community Support' subfield.

The proposed domain names are:

• Allied Health Assistance
• Brain Injury Support
• Core Health
• Health and Disability Principles in Practice
• Mental Health and Addiction Support
• Older Persons’ Health and Wellbeing
• Public Health Practice
• Sensory Support
• Supporting People with Disabilities
• Whānau Ora and Community Support

The proposed changes may affect the naming of new qualifications.

The period for feedback closed at 5pm on Friday 28 May 2010.

Click here to view a table showing the relationship between the current structure of domains for which Careerforce has standard setting responsibility, and the proposed new structure.

Designed to recognise the knowledge and skills required of residential or community based support workers who provide support to people after brain injury.

Status:	Analysis of findings complete
	Click here to download a summary of the survey's findings
Next Steps:	The Brain Injury Support Sector Panel will meet for the final time in June to confirm the composition and structure of the qualification. Following this Careerforce will undertake an internal quality assurance process on the unit standards. We will then begin the process of registering the unit standards and qualification with NZQA (a process which normally takes approximately10 weeks).

These qualifications have been reviewed to ensure they are relevant to workers within the health, disability, and community support sectors.  

Status:	Analysis of findings complete
	Click here for a pictorial representation of the proposed revisions to Foundation Skills and Core Competencies
	Click here to download a summary of the survey's findings
Next Steps:	These results are presently being analysed within Careerforce and will be discussed with the Sector Panel in June. Once any refinements are made the revised qualifications will go through an internal quality assurance process before being sent to NZQA for registration (a process which normally takes approximately10 weeks).

A new qualification for those experienced support workers who either aspire to, or are working within, senior support worker roles within the health and disability sector. It is proposed that it contains compulsory unit standards, and elective unit standards designed to enable knowledge and skills specific to the work setting, or population being supported. 

Status:	Analysis of findings complete
	Click here for a pictorial representation of the proposed Senior Support Worker national qualification
	Click here to download a summary of the survey's findings
Next Steps:	The Sector Panel will now consider all of the feedback received, and review the qualification accordingly.

A new qualification for those experienced support workers who aspire to team leadership or management positions within the health and disability sector.

Status:	Analysis of findings complete
	Click here for a pictorial representation of the proposed Team Leader national qualification
	Click here to download a summary of the survey's findings
Next Steps:	The Sector Panel will now consider all of the feedback received, and review the qualification accordingly.

A new qualification primarily designed for Allied Health Assistants and Health Care Assistants. It is proposed that it contains compulsory unit standards common to both roles, and elective unit standards designed to enable specialised knowledge and skills specific to the role, work setting, or population being supported

Status:	Analysis of findings complete
	Click here for a pictorial representation of a proposed Health Care Assistance and Allied Health qualification
	Click here to download a summary of the survey's findings
Next Steps:	The summary of the eConsult will be distributed to the sector panel for their final comments.  The next stage anticipated is the completion of the Dental Assistant and Dietitian Assistant electives; this work should be finished by mid August.  On completion, a targeted electronic consultation to these two groups will then need to be completed and the results analysed.  The new unit standards and whole qualification should be submitted to NZQA for registration in late September.

A new qualification aimed at advocates working under contract to the Health & Disability Commissioner’s Office, as well as managers of consumer advocacy agencies

Status:	Analysis of findings complete
	Click here for a pictorial representation of the proposed National Certificate in Health and Disability Advocacy (Level 5)
	Click here to download a summary of the survey's findings
Next Steps:	The next steps in the development of this qualification are for Careerforce to undertake an internal quality assurance process. We hope to be able to begin the process of registering the unit standards and qualification with NZQA in September 2010 (a process which normally takes approximately 10 weeks).

A new qualification for Public Health workers, and is based on the generic public health competencies developed by the Ministry of Health. 

Status:	Analysis of findings complete
	Click here for a pictorial representation of the proposed National Certificate in Public Health Practice (Level 4)
	Click here to download a summary of the survey's findings
Next Steps:	The next steps in the development of this qualification is for Careerforce to undertake an internal quality assurance process. We hope to be able to begin the process of registering the unit standards and qualification with NZQA in September (a process which normally takes approximately10 weeks).