www.iosh.com/safetyandhealthforbusiness

NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business All you need to know

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Core contentThe NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business provides an understanding of safety and health in a business context. Learners gain technical knowledge and skills, as well as effective techniques to apply that knowledge in the workplace.

Our research shows that employers want their safety and health professionals to become agents of change, with the ability to apply their technical knowledge with well-honed core and soft skills. This qualification will support organisations to integrate safety and health fully within their business operations and across their value chain.

Building on the IOSH Managing Safely course, this qualification is the ideal next step to becoming eligible for IOSH membership. Being a member of IOSH opens up a world of professional opportunities and resources that will support progress at work and contribute tangibly to business success.

Unit title Assessment method

1 Safety and health management in an organisation

Develop and write a business case

2 Understand how to influence a safety and health culture within an organisation

Research project

3 Understand a strategic, business-focused approach to safety and health

Develop and deliver a presentation

NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business

Qualification Number 603/2513/6

Total Qualification Time 121

Guided Learning Hours 60

Level 3

Assessment requirements Internally assessed and externally quality-assured portfolio of evidence

Learning outcomes and assessmentThere are three mandatory units:The objective of this qualification is to enable learners

to develop an understanding of safety and health in a business context. To meet this objective, learners will: - understand internal and external roles and how

they affect safety and health in the organisation - explore the main functions and aims of an

organisation, and how strategic drivers affect its operation

- learn about monitoring safety and health performance, and how improvement plans can be used to enhance practice

- understand organisational culture and techniques that can help develop a safety culture.

Assessments are based on projects and practical work directly relevant to each learner’s workplace. As there are no sit-down exams, these assessments are marked by a training provider who is quality-assured by IOSH, at a time and place that suits both parties. There is no need for the learner to visit a nominated assessment centre, as submissions are made online.

“I feel better equipped to instil an effective health and safety culture for the benefit of our employees”Peter McAuley, Health and safety manager, Optima Health

How long will the assessments take to mark? Unit 1: business case (approx. 2,000 words): no more than 45 minutes to an hour to mark and annotate

Unit 2: research project: from 60 to 90 minutes, depending on amount of written content and evidence to look through (you will have to look through research, a report and an improvement plan)

Unit 3: research and presentation: no more than 45 minutes (the presentation takes 15–20 minutes to review and is followed by a question-and-answer session or professional discussion)

Career benefits for learnersLearners who achieve this qualification will have greater credibility and confidence when talking to senior management about safety and health in business.

This qualification will also: - provide a route to IOSH membership, enabling

access to a host of benefits, including IOSH Blueprint and CPD

- open doors for those looking to progress into the safety and health profession.

Advantages for organisationsThe qualification responds to insights and intelligence from employers, trainers and practitioners telling us that organisations want to develop their safety and health professionals as subject-matter experts and agents of change.

IOSH’s General Certificate in Safety and Health for Business provides an understanding of safety and health in a business context.

Learners gain technical knowledge and skills, as well as effective techniques to enable them to apply that knowledge in the workplace.

The assessments are based on project and practical work directly linked to the learner’s workplace or case studies from business scenarios.

Assessments based on projects and practical work can be applied directly to each delegate’s workplace.

Because prior completion of Managing Safely is an entry requirement, delegates are away from work for less time than with other safety and health qualifications. There are only 10 days of face-to-face learning.

Learners are able to apply for Associate or Technical IOSH membership upon completion.

NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business

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Why is Managing Safely a prerequisite for learners?In order to study for this qualification, delegates must have completed a Managing Safely course, which provides the core principles and background necessary to undertake this more demanding qualification.

Why the training provider must already have delivered Managing SafelyHaving delivered Managing Safely, the training provider demonstrates to IOSH that they already meet many of the requirements for delivering the qualification, including:- monitoring and observing the delivery of training

and assessments, including the completion of relevant records

- supporting and advising learners, especially around project-style assessments and self-study methods

- sampling assessment decisions.

Length of the qualificationStudy for the qualification is made up of 60 hours’ guided learning and 61 hours’ self-assessment and assessment time for the learner.

This is equivalent to 10 days of taught sessions (guideline).

Who is the qualification for?Aspiring safety and health professionals – those starting a career in safety and health. They will learn not only the technical safety and health skills required to excel in this role, but also how improving safety and health can have an impact on a business’ bottom-line. This is a vocationally relevant certificate that assesses how learners can deliver a business’ safety and health strategy.

Much of the learning of the new HSE Apprenticeship is covered in the NCFE IOSH qualification. There is some overlap in the assessment methodology, which means the learner can prepare for their apprenticeship while doing the qualification.

Managers, supervisors and team leaders looking for career enhancement – those looking to develop their competence and awareness of safety and health in practice. Their motivation is not only to achieve lower incident rates and to prevent harm in their workplaces, but also to understand how positive, proactive steps in safety and health can provide an environment for increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and improved brand reputation.

Existing staff in the safety and health profession wishing to retrain – those who are seeking a slightly different lens. They are interested in enabling business, driving productivity and embedding a culture where protecting people from harm is not just the safety and health officer’s responsibility, but is a shared outlook across an organisation.

Why is the qualification the best in the market? Pitching the qualification to potential studentsIOSH has designed the qualification to give learners not only the technical safety and health knowledge but also the practical business skills they need to succeed. By creating a presentation, making a business case, carrying out research and writing a report, they learn how to marshal complex information and present it rigorously, yet persuasively.

While some competitor qualifications focus on testing knowledge, the emphasis of the NCFE IOSH qualification is very firmly on the practical difference that the learner can make in the workplace.

Other qualifications are much more vocational and gained solely through self-study, delivered online. However, while these courses may be cheaper for the learner, they also fail to meet the needs of the employer.

IOSH combines the best from each approach, offering a qualification that has the perfect balance between academic and vocational learning, backed by the world’s most powerful professional safety and health network.

The length of study for the qualification is less than that of competitors and the price is favourable as well. The learner gains all the technical knowledge required for a safety and health manager, but learning is also applied immediately in a business context, giving learners the confidence to discuss matters with senior managers and at board level.

NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business

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International recognitionThe qualification is recognised internationally and its delivered around the world. Successful learners receive a regulated, internationally recognised qualification developed by the world’s largest member body for safety and health professionals, in collaboration with awarding organisation NCFE.

The Ofqual regulated qualification is equivalent to:

Framework Level

European Qualifications Framework 4

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework 6

Registering your delegates

When a delegate is registered, IOSH issues an invoice for the delegate fee to the training provider, followed by a delegate workbook after payment. The delegate is then given access to the e-portfolio system, which they use to save their work. They are also registered with NCFE so they can receive their certificate once the course is completed.

If you start working with delegates without registering them with us, the delegate will not have a workbook or access to the e-portfolio system.

For more information on this, please refer to the Terms and Conditions.

“There are some contracts that the business couldn’t pursue if there were no health and safety representative in place, demonstrating the significance of the role and the importance of gaining a professional qualification”Peter McAuley, Health and safety manager, Optima Health

IOSH and NCFE promotional and brand guidelines

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Background to the relationship between IOSH and NCFEIOSH is uniquely positioned to see the greater value being placed on safety and health in business. We hear from our members about changes and innovations that are creating safer and healthier workplaces.

In business and industry, the safety and health agenda is changing. Increasingly, excellent safety and health drives new sources of value for organisations.

NCFE’s links to employers indicate that they appreciate and pursue improved productivity, competitiveness, business continuity and brand equity by becoming more responsible and sustainable businesses.

About the qualification and our collaborationThe NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business gives an understanding of what safety and health contributes in a business context. It provides the real-world knowledge and skills organisations and employers demand.

Study for the qualification is interactive, practical, informed by expertise and good practice, and relevant to each delegate’s workplace and sector. The qualification is regulated by Ofqual – the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation – on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Agreed wording for you to use when marketing the product

1 For web copy/newsletter: IOSH has developed, in collaboration with highly

respected awarding organisation NCFE, an employer-led, modular, flexible, business-focused qualification which is regulated by Ofqual on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

2 For brochure copy/large piece of editorial The opening paragraph will include the

sentence below: The NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and

Health for Business has been developed by IOSH, in collaboration with awarding organisation NCFE.

When needing to describe the IOSH–NCFE collaboration in a brochure format, we agree you can use the following text:

‘IOSH Training and Skills has consulted with global organisations and leading practitioners to develop this qualification and its course materials. It collaborated with Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation NCFE to develop the NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business, which is regulated by Ofqual on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. NCFE provides valuable support and experience of designing and developing qualifications for business.’

3 Short description for a leaflet or press advert When just a short sentence is required, please use: ‘This regulated qualification has been developed in

collaboration with awarding organisation NCFE.’

4 Referring to the qualification When writing copy to ensure there is no

misrepresentation in compliance with Ofqual’s General Conditions of Recognition 5.2, the full qualification title must be referred to at least once, as below: NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business.

5 Descriptions for overseas markets Some feedback from international customers says

that “Level 3” means very little outside England. Some comments suggest that including this can make the qualification look UK-centric. NCFE suggests that since the qualification is certificate-sized and does have certificate in the title, there is no harm in referring to either of the following: - the full title i.e. NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate

in Safety and Health for Business. - a shortened version of the title: NCFE IOSH

Certificate in Safety and Health for Business or IOSH Certificate in Safety and Health for Business.

From a regulatory perspective, as long as the agreed rule is adhered to (that the full title is mentioned at least once) then it is clear that learners’ certificates will feature the full qualification title. Then there should not be any issue when referring to the IOSH Certificate in Safety and Health for Business or something similar.

This section defines the promotional and brand guidelines for the NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business qualification.

IOSH and NCFE promotional and brand guidelines

Do not use Example situation

Qualification Course This qualification is regulated…

Regulated by Ofqual Accredited/approved by OfqualAccredited/approved by NCFE

This qualification is regulated by Ofqual on the RQF…

Approved by NCFE Accredited by NCFE IOSH is approved by NCFE to offer this qualification…Centres must be approved by an Awarding Organisation to gain approval for the NCFE IOSH qualification

Consulted on draft content Involved in the development Employers were consulted on the draft content of the qualification and gave feedback to IOSH on what was needed in the qualification

The NCFE IOSH qualification / NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business / This qualification

The IOSH qualificationOur qualificationIOSH has developed (where there is no reference to working collaboratively with NCFE)

The new qualification was developed by IOSH in collaboration with…

Units Modules The NCFE IOSH qualification is made up of three units which can be broken into smaller chunks of learning

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7 For press release purposes

About IOSH The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health

(IOSH) is the world’s leading chartered professional body for people responsible for safety and health in the workplace. We have over 47,000 members in more than 130 countries.

We act as a champion, adviser, advocate and trainer for safety and health professionals working in organisations of all sizes.

Our shared objective is a world where work is safe and healthy for every working person, every day. We’re pursuing this through our 2017–2022 strategy, ‘WORK 2022 – shaping the future of safety and health’.

About NCFE As IOSH is not a registered Awarding body, we

partnered with NCFE due to their relationship with business, strong heritage with learning and international recognition.

We design, develop and certificate NCFE and CACHE branded qualifications, apprenticeships, functional skills and more, with over 500 nationally accredited qualifications in our portfolio. All are supported by our exceptional customer service and unique, friendly approach. Last year, 340,000 learners from 2,000 educational institutions chose us to move their careers forward.

We have been included in the Top 50 Companies for Customer Service benchmarking programme for three years running and NCFE has been awarded a place in the ‘Top 100 Not-for-Profit Organisations to Work for’ every year since 2011.

6 Key terminology

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70/2

8091

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IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safetyprofessionals. With over 47,000 membersin more than 130 countries, we’re the world’s largest professional health and safety organisation. We set standards, and support, develop andconnect our members with resources, guidance,events and training. We’re the voice of theprofession, and campaign on issues that affectmillions of working people. IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registeredcharity with international NGO status.

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IOSH Services Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health Registered office: as above

Institution of Occupational Safety and HealthFounded 1945Incorporated by Royal Charter 2003Registered charity in England and Wales No. 1096790 Registered charity in Scotland No. SC043254