Working with Substance Misuse (7542)

Last Updated: 26 Jan 2018
If you work in substance misuse, including dealing with drug, alcohol or solvent abuse, an Award or Certificate in Working with Substance Misuse will give you the specialist knowledge and professional skills to be more resourceful and effective.
From identifying misuse to supporting individuals through treatment and rehabilitation, you can focus on the substance abuse issues that impact on your work.
Working with Substance Misuse Awards and Certificates are for professionals who work with substance misusers, either directly or indirectly - for example, you might be a social worker, teacher, nurse or police officer.
You may already have a relevant professional qualification, and want to expand your specialist knowledge - or you might be a part-time or voluntary worker, wanting a training option that's shorter and more flexible than a full Level 3 NVQ.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

Depending on the level of the award you choose, you'll cover things like:

  • Assessments, care planning and support for substance misusers
  • Detoxification programmes and medication
  • Working with children who are substance misusers
  • Developing and implementing substance abuse policy.

To get a Vocationally Related Qualification (VRQ) you learn with your training provider - maybe through practical sessions, group discussions or assignments.

VRQs are usually assessed by your training provider using assignments, practical task, exams or online tests.

The Working with Substance Misuse training focuses on practical assessment. You'll be evaluated at work while you're dealing directly with substance misusers.

So to qualify, you need to be working with substance misusers on a full or part-time basis and in paid or voluntary work.

Which level is right for me?

Level 3
Workers in various statutory services with regular contact with substance misusers (eg probation, social services, health services, teachers, police) who want to increase their level of competence around working with substance misusers.

Level 4
Relevant to those already holding a relevant Level 3 diploma, those who want to undertake CPD, or those working within specialist substance misuse services either with adults or children and young people. These services may be statutory or voluntary and will usually have service level agreements with local agencies.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

If you work full-time with substance misusers, this diverse and flexible qualification can continue your professional development and help you specialise in particular areas of policy, theory or practice that interest you.

If you're a part-time or voluntary worker, you could use the skills you gain to move into a full-time or paid role.

If you want to move into community justice or health, you might chose to continue on to one of these qualifications:

  • Health and Social Care (4222) - a qualification for anyone who supports others in their physical or emotional needs
  • Diploma in Health (4223) - become a confident health care worker or specialise in a particular area
  • NVQ in Working with Offending Behaviour (7432) - work with individuals and groups to address their offending behaviour.

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

You must be suitably qualified to carry out training and assessment - you can train internal members of staff or recruit specially.

You need to ensure that you have suitable facilities to carry out the required training to enable learners to achieve industry standards.

These qualifications are work based awards and learners' skills and knowledge are assessed in the workplace whilst working directly with people who misuse substances such as drugs and alcohol.

To find all the requirements for assessment and delivery, download the course handbooks from the centre documents section.

Learners must be working with substance misusers or work within a substance misuse setting or agency on a full or part time basis and in paid or voluntary work.

Level 3

Level 3 will suit workers in various statutory services with regular contact with substance misusers (eg probation, social services, health services, teachers, police). You want to increase your level of competence in working with substance misusers.

There are two qualifications available at this level:

  • Level 3 Award in Working with Substance Misuse
  • Level 3 Certificate in Working with Substance Misuse.

For the award, you'll do enough units to gain a minimum of 10 credits - between two and four units depending on the ones you choose. For the certificate, you'll do enough units to gain a minimum of 18 credits - between three and seven units depending on the ones you choose.

You select units from a wide range, including:

  • Identify and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance abusers
  • Provide services to those affected by someone else's substance use
  • Increase awareness about substances with individuals and groups
  • Test for substance misuse.

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the additional documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

If you work full-time with substance misusers, this diverse and flexible qualification can continue your professional development and help you specialise in particular areas of policy, theory or practice that interest you.

If you're a part-time or voluntary worker, you could use the skills you gain to move into a full-time or paid role.

If you want to move into health and social care, community justice or health, you might chose to continue on to one of these qualifications:

  • Health and Social Care (4222) - a qualification for anyone who supports others in their physical or emotional needs
  • Diploma in Health (4223) - become a confident health care worker or specialise in a particular area
  • NVQ in Working with Offending Behaviour (7432) - work with individuals and groups to address their offending behaviour.

Qualifications in Working with Substance Misuse (7542-01)

Last Registration Date: 30 Jun 2018

Level 3 Certificate in Working with Substance Misuse

  • Accreditation No: 500/3520/4 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 18 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 180 - 180 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 180 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 30/06/2021 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued

Level 3 Award in Working with Substance Misuse

  • Accreditation No: 500/3522/8 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 10 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 100 - 100 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 100 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 30/06/2021 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued

Level 4

Level 4 will suit those already holding a relevant Level 3 diploma, those who want to undertake CPD, or those working within specialist substance misuse services either with adults or children and young people. These services may be statutory or voluntary.

There are two qualifications available at this level:

  • Level 4 Award in Working with Substance Misuse
  • Level 4 Certificate in Working with Substance Misuse.

For the award, you'll do enough units to gain a minimum of 10 credits - between two and four units depending on the ones you choose. For the certificate, you'll do enough units to gain a minimum of 18 credits - between three and seven units depending on the ones you choose.

You select units from a wide range that includes:

  • Support individuals through detoxification programmes
  • Supervise methadone consumption
  • Employ techniques to help individuals adopt sensible drinking behaviour
  • Model pro-social behaviour and relationships with children and young people who use substances.

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the additional documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

If you work full-time with substance misusers, this diverse and flexible qualification can continue your professional development and help you specialise in particular areas of policy, theory or practice that interest you.

If you're a part-time or voluntary worker, you could use the skills you gain to move into a full-time or paid role.

If you want to move into health and social care, community justice or health, you might chose to continue on to one of these qualifications:

  • Health and Social Care (4222) - a qualification for anyone who supports others in their physical or emotional needs
  • Diploma in Health (4223) - become a confident health care worker or specialise in a particular area
  • NVQ in Working with Offending Behaviour (7432) - work with individuals and groups to address their offending behaviour.

Qualifications in Working with Substance Misuse (7542-01)

Last Registration Date: 30 Jun 2018

Level 4 Certificate in Working with Substance Misuse

  • Accreditation No: 500/3312/8 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 18 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 180 - 180 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 180 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 30/06/2021 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued

Level 4 Award in Working with Substance Misuse

  • Accreditation No: 500/3521/6 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 10 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 100 - 100 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 100 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 30/06/2021 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to WalledGarden.com and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

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