28 November 2008

From next year, a number of Pact Otago and West Coast staff will be able to do the National Certificate in Community Support Services, Level 3 through Pact.

Pact is being supplied with materials from industry training organisation CareerForce, but Pact will deliver and assess the course.

After completing the certificate, staff can opt to go on to the National Certificate in Intellectual Disability.

The course will involve not only classroom learning (although staff can work through workbooks at their own pace if they prefer) but also a practical element. Staff have to show assessors they are applying what they have learned.

Any staff with particular needs, such as those who have dyslexia or other challenges with literacy, can be supported to work through the certificate.

There will be no charge to staff apart from the cost of registering with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority ($25), although most staff will already be registered through having done first aid training.

Pact will offer 30 places to staff a year and will teach the unit standards in Otago once a month and the West Coast probably every other month. It will not be offered in Southland at present because of the availability of free courses there through the Southland Institute of Technology.

The ability to progress through formal qualifications is a bonus for existing Pact staff wanting a nationally-recognised qualification and to learn more about supporting clients.