Care Training East Midlands and Central Skills are pleased to announce that we have achieved Direct Claims Status for NVQs in:

• Advice and Guidance Level 3 and 4
• Business and Administration Levels 2 and 3 (July 2009)
• Health and Social Care Levels 2, 3 and 4
• Health & Social Care for Children and Young People
  Level 3 (July 2009)
• Children’s Care Learning and Development Levels 2 and 3
• Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools Level 2 and 3
• Plant Operations Level 2
• Team Leading Level 2
• Distribution, Warehousing and Storage Level 2.

Direct Claims Status means we can accredit and sign off NVQs at a much quicker rate. We no longer need to wait for the external verifier to assess and sign off NVQs. Once our Internal Verifiers have signed the qualification off then we apply straight to the accreditors for the certificates.

Direct Claims Status was achieved for the NVQ in Business and Administration less than a year after we started providing the qualifications – an outstanding achievement for the tiny team of Filomena and Sue Durkin. Plus, thanks to Sue Durkin, Tom Devonport and Geoff Young Direct Claims Status for the NVQ in Team Leading and NVQ in Distribution, Warehousing & Storage was achieved only 9 months after we started providing the qualifications. We also achieved Direct Claims Status for the NVQ in Plant Operations within 6 months, which really reflects the hard work of the Central Skills team.

In July we had a successful External Verifier (EV) visit for the NVQ in Advice & Guidance and we have maintained Direct Claims Status. Feedback included that there are good relationships between candidates and assessors and candidates spoke highly of the support and guidance given by assessors. There was also good development activities and growth within the centre.

The Childcare NVQ team has also shone spectacularly. In October we were awarded Direct Claims Status for the NVQ in CCLD (Children's Care, Learning and Development) Level 3, and candidate feedback for the visit was exceptional with fantastic comments about the assessor support comments. In April the CACHE Childcare NVQ External Verifier awarded the department the best grade we could have received (1.0), and the External Verifier who assessed the NVQ in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools Levels 2 and 3 in June was immensely impressed. Quotes from this assessment included:

“It would be hard to find fault with any aspect of the provision.”

“Once again there is a clear and strong steer from Maria Cooke towards best practice and continual improvement.”

“The one-to-one tutorials were observed by the EV on the day and embraced all of what would be deemed to be best practice - very well done to all staff concerned.”

Throughout the Childcare NVQ assessments attention to detail and quality of the finished product are continually commended. However, one of our greatest assets which keeps coming up is Care Training's exceptional Assessors and Internal Verifiers. This is due to the hard work and commitment of Doreen Wilson, Louise Grant, Jean Briggs, Nessie Parks, Caroline Wood-Stevens and Josianne Martin.

One External Verifier commented that they were a "cohesive team with a positive and enthusiastic outlook". Another said, “All members of staff are 'learner orientated' irrespective of the roles they play. The assessors [particularly] pride themselves on the interpersonal skills they apply in promoting and supporting individual student access and engagement.”

They have also all had praise from the clients they work with. Just a couple of the comments we've had are:

“My Teaching Assistant has come on in leaps and bounds since starting the NVQ and that her confidence has improved greatly, and this is thanks to Jeanie [Jean Briggs] being so motivational and supportive.”

“I have had a positive experience with Nessy [Agnes Parks]; she’s really good.” - Kim Ingleton, Supervisor, Westdale Kids Club.

To read more praise for our Childcare Assessors, as well as our Health and Social Care Assessors, click here.