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Posted By Byers
Greetings to all the members.
This is the first time I have used this forum so please bear with me!
As I sit here with my bleep by my side, looking out of the window - of an NHS hospital, snow falling all around (be safe everyone: try to remember your own health and safety!) my thoughts keep dwelling on career progression/change.
I am a Registered Operating Department Practitioner (HPC Regulated) committed to oncalls and nights (an NHS standard!) with a huge interest in Health and Safety.
I am 29 and see the prospect of my career taking a slightly divergent path into Health and Safety exciting. My ambition is to become a H&S Consultant.
I would have to fund this path myself and am aiming to start the Nebosh National Diploma, in September. Obviously, people will suggest to start with the Nebosh General, but I feel, as I am funding this myself: I have to be sensible with my bank account. Intelligence and an iron will, will be my foundations.
Can anyone please offer any words of encouragement or advice? Do you feel it is an exciting and rewarding career to be in? Does employment come easy: do employers sanction further development i.e Msc etc.
Thanks for you time,
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Edward Shyer
Byers,
Have you made any enquiries into doing the diploma course yet.? Although there are no prior requirements for the diploma it should be noted that most of the providers suggest that the cert or NVQ level 3 is taken before enrolling on the diploma course.
Cost effectively look at the success rates for the diploma and you will see that it does not have very high examination pass rates. I know of people who have spent many years in H&S and failed the diploma at the first attempt. When you consider the cost of re-sits you may find it cheaper to go for the cert first with the added advantage of getting a basic feel for what you are letting yourself in for.
As a career move it is difficult to asses as some people get on the ladder relatively quickly and others seem to be unfortunately unlucky. Check out the careers forum and make your own conclusions.
Have you considered getting involved with the H&S side of things at your present workplace (beats looking out of the window at snow).
Regards
Ted
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Posted By Glyn Atkinson
I would also recommend that the NEBOSH General Certificate is the bedrock of what you are attempting to do, change path and learn about a new career.
DIPLOMA WITHOUT CERTIFICATE - DIFFICULT TO GIVE EXAMPLES BUT HERE GOES - TRY TO BUILD A MECCANO MODEL WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTIONS OR TOOLS TO DO THE JOB, AND WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF HOW NUTS AND BOLTS FIX TOGETHER.
This Certificate qualification is very thorough in the content - it gives insight and knowledge at a starter level that would be the starting reference point for a higher level of study.
Without the start of a General Certificate background, I would definitely not be in my present employment or those that came before it in Health and Safety.
Just because it is a lower level of entry, do not think that a Certificate course is easy - far from it.
There are a lot of people out there who have only the Certificate as a qualification, and earn a good and lifetime living from that qualification.
Just my thought on your venture ! Good luck in what ever you decide !
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Byers
Thanks guys for your advice.
Please understand that I am in no way suggesting that the General Certificate is easy: it was purely, in essence, the fact that I will have to self-finance my pursuits.
Work-wise, there is an appointed H&S adviser (for the hospital), but I know she feels under-valued and a sense that she would be better appreciated in industry.
With the present climate of the NHS, where cut-backs are rife: it seems logical and factual that the hospital will limit the amount of H&S advisers employed - the old adage of "how many people does it take to change a light bulb".
I for one feel, the more H&S advisors - the merrier: but chances are slim.
So it follows, my self-financing route. Surely the National Diploma covers what is in the General Certificate and more in-depth? It's always an advantage to have a "feel" for a discipline: but is it always financially viable and time effective? Maybe I want things to quick?
Are there ways of preparing myself right now, for the Diploma, this September,without having to embark on the General Certificate and feeling the purse strings?
I appreciate your time and thoughts on my ponderings,
Thanks
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