QCF credits : 14

This certificate replaces the Initial Award in Mental Health Work (3594) and provides a progression route for workers to access the level 3 certificate in Community Mental Health Care.

This qualification is particularly appropriate to Support, Time and Recovery workers (STR), rehabilitation workers, health care assistants and community support workers. It provides a framework for an employer's induction programme. It supports career development and not only provides the foundation for a career in mental health but enables access to N/SVQs and other awards.

Qualification structure

There are around 90 guided learning hours required to complete this qualification. This qualification requires candidates to be working in the adult mental health sector. The certificate is made up of five mandatory units:

• Unit 001  Principles and values of mental health work
• Unit 002  The experience of mental distress
• Unit 003  Effective communication in mental health work
• Unit 004  Working in a mental health environment
• Unit 005  Developing as a mental health worker

Each unit will be assessed by a variety of centre-devised assessment methods to provide evidence that the candidate has demonstrated the outcomes within each unit. The main methods of this assessment will be questioning, obeservations and assignments. These will then be externally verified by City & Guilds verifiers. Additionally there will be a synoptic multiple choice assessment available online through GOLA.