Qualification and Programme overview
This programme has been in designed in consultation with people with lived experience, and a Careerforce Disability Advisory Group brought together for this purpose, to ensure that the disability sector was respected, represented and visible.
The programme aims to develop the skills and knowledge required of disability support workers in roles that provide person-centred support in the disability sector.
This Level 3 programme leads to the awarding of the following qualification:
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) (Support Work strand).
This programme aims to develop the skills and knowledge of graduates to support and empower people in home and community settings. The Certificate in Health & Wellbeing
(Support Work – Disability) Level 3 is a more contextualised programme than the regular Support Work programme, giving the sector increased assurance that graduates have
knowledge and skills that apply to the disability sector. The certificate awarded to graduates will feature the description “Support Work – Disability”.
The programme includes developing and/or recognising the following competencies:
1. Applying knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations and codes in a health and wellbeing setting to provide health and wellbeing services in an ethical and professional manner.
2. Recognising and responding to signs of vulnerability and abuse.
3. Communicating effectively in a culturally appropriate manner to support a person’s health or wellbeing.
4. Providing person-centred culturally appropriate health and wellbeing support to maximise a person’s independence.
5. Recognising and responding to signs of functional, behavioural, environmental or other health or wellbeing change in a person.
How is this programme delivered?
This Careerforce programme is delivered in the workplace and supported by the employer. Online learning and assessments are completed through Aka Toi, the Careerforce online learning platform, which enables the use of multimedia and interactive learning activities as well as theory content and assessment. Paper-based resources are available from the Careerforce Resource Library.
What is the enrolment criteria?
This programme is ideal for those with or without disability sector experience who want to enhance their specific disability support skills and capabilities. It can be used in multiple sectors wherever disability is prevalent. The learner can be working in residential, community-based or home-based settings.
Employers must ensure learners are given the opportunity to meet the graduate outcomes of the qualification.