Learning and Qualifications Services
New Learning Disability Qualification:
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated 1st November 2007
I have heard that a new qualification has replaced LDAF. Is this correct?
The new qualification, the Induction Award: supporting people with a learning disability was launched in June 2007. It has replaced the Induction and Foundation units of the LDAF qualification.
Is the Induction Award very different from LDAF?
There are some similarities and some differences.
There are four units that cover broadly the same areas as the current Induction and Foundation units. However, unlike the LDAF Induction and Foundation units, it is available at both Levels 2 and 3 . The learning outcomes link directly to the Common Induction Standards and the NVQ Core Units.
What are the unit titles?
There are 4 units at each level. They are:
Principles of learning disability support
Your role as a learning disability worker
Health and safety in a learning disability service
Protecting people with a learning disability from abuse
You can view the draft units on the ldq website:
www.ldq.org.uk
How are the units assessed?
This is through the completion of written tasks as with the LDAF qualification. There are some differences in assignments between the awarding bodies, but they all cover the same learning outcomes.
Which awarding bodies will offer the new qualification?
City and Guilds, NOCN, EdExcel, and EDI offer the new qualification. Each awarding body publishes its own handbook and has its own systems for centre approval and quality assurance.
Some learners in our organisation are registered for the ‘old’ LDAF units but they have not yet completed their assignments. What are the arrangements for these learners?
Learners who are registered on LDAF units but have not yet written their assignments have up to two years to complete them and apply for certification. Registration for the LDAF qualification with NOCN has closed so you cannot register any new learners on this qualification with this awarding body. City and Guilds registration has been extended until September 2008. You can contact City and Guilds for further information.
What has happened to the mandatory and optional units which were part of the LDAF qualification?
Learners will not be able to access these as part of the new qualification but they will be remain as free-standing units from NOCN.
Skills for Care plan to introduce learning disability knowledge sets intended for use beyond induction. These could be used as the basis for further accredited units and awards in the future. The knowledge sets are being developed by HASCA. The final version is expected to be available at the end of 2007. Visit the Skills for Care website www.skillsforcare.org.uk for further information.
Our organisation already links its induction to the common induction standards. Will our staff have to do this qualification as well?
The new Induction Award links directly to the Common Induction Standards. In August 2007 Skills for Care and the Valuing People Support Team issued guidance which said ‘by completing the award a worker will also have met all the requirements of the common induction standards’.
This means that workers will not have to repeat their work.
Do workers in my organisation have to do the Induction Award?
The guidance from Skills for Care and Valuing People Support Team issued in August 2007 states ‘both the Commission for Social Care Inspections National Minimum Standards and the Valuing People guidance state that workers supporting people with a learning disability should complete a learning disability specific qualification. Skills for Care recognises the Learning Disability Induction Award as the route to achieving the Common Induction Standards in a learning disability context.’
Where can I find a full version of this guidance?
You can read the full guidance at
http://valuingpeople.gov.uk/dynamic/valuingpeople92.jsp
What are the advantage to our learners and our organisation of doing the Induction Award?
The Induction Award gives a learning disability focus to the Common Induction Standards and NVQ in Health and Social Care, which are generic standards and qualifications. This means that they apply to all areas of health and social care. By doing the Induction Award your staff will gain real knowledge from day one of how to support individuals with learning disabilities.
What is BILD doing about the new Induction Award?
BILD has developed new publications and training materials
to support this qualification. Four study books are now available and you can
purchase them online.
The new Trainer Pack will be available from January 2008. BILD has also produced
Assignments for the Induction Award on CD,
click here for more information.
BILD offers a range of services including satellite centres, assessment
package, in house training and events.
We are supporting our existing customers
to make sure the transition to the new qualification is as smooth as possible,
and we will be pleased to advise new customers on the best way for them to
access the qualification through BILD.
Does BILD offer NVQ services as well?
We offer a range of NVQ services to help you support your staff to achieve NVQ in Health and Social Care at Level 2 and 3, including satellite centres, in house training, events and materials. You can obtain further information about these from the website or by contacting BILD (see below).
Where can I find out more information?
The following websites have general information about the new induction award:
Skills for Care – www.skillsforcare.org.uk
BILD will have regular updates on our website
Information from Awarding Bodies
City & Guilds – www.cityandguilds.com
OCN – www.nocn.org.uk
Edexcel – www.edexcel.org.uk
EDI – www.ediplc.com
For further information on BILD qualifications services
Email: lqs@bild.org.uk
Telephone: Jackie Pountney or Vanessa Spencer-Maggs on 01562 723025
Page ref: '03ldaf_faqs' Owned by: ldaf@bild.org.uk Last updated: 01/11/2007