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Posted By Karen Hodkin
I'm starting up my own Health and Safety business for the Dental Profession - I've got the
CIEH Foundation Certificate in Health & Safety in the Worplace, and CIEH Risk Assessment Principles and Practice Certificate, Level 2
as well as 20 years experience as a Dental Nurse with all the qualifications that go with it. Could anyone give me some advice on the best way to promote myself within the profession?
Thanks, Karen
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Posted By MetalMan
Hi Karen, While not wanting to appear to be trying to shoot you down, you may need to look at the possibility of doing an NVQ Level 4 in Occupational Safety and Health to enhance your desirability as a H+S consultant. This will give you Grad IOSH status which is always good to have on any marketing material. With 20 years in the job and the experience you must have with H+S You shouldn't have many problems completing it fairly quickly.
Only my opinion mind you, there are plenty who don't have the IOSH qualifications who make a good living.
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Posted By Amanda
Karen
I agree with the poster above, however I would advise not to restrict yourself to the NVQ route. Have you considered NEBOSH certificate/Diploma along with other providers such as British Safety Council. The route you take depends on how you prefer to learn. I agree your experience in the field will be invaluable once you have gained the Health and Safety knowledge/qualifications to go in tandem with it.
I wish you every success as you begin this new career.
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Posted By MetalMan
I suggested an NVQ to Karen because seeing as she has 20 years experience within dentistry and has already several Health and Safety related qualifications, there is a very good chance that she has a great deal of evidence already to hand that could be used towards an NVQ portfolio. That would enable her to complete it in a shorter period of time. If you have the knowledge backed up with the hands on experience (which this lady probably has!) why make life difficult.
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Posted By Amanda
Metal Man
I am not discrediting your post, only pointing out that - dependant on how this person prefers to learn - there are other options available. As I said in my first response I agree with your post. She will also need to look at what her 'clients' are looking for in a H&S consultant etc.
As this is a forum I assume she is asking for opinions so she can choose her favoured option.
Kind Regards
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Posted By MetalMan
Amanda, I did not think that for one minute. Like you said, purely personal choice, but If you have the experience and the evidence to prove it go NVQ.
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Posted By Karen Hodkin
Thank-you Metal Man and Amanda, your advice is gratefully received and I'm thinking about both the NVQ level 4 and the NEBOSH cetificate/diploma. Could you give me some direction on where best to get details of the courses so I can make an informed decision.
On another note, does either one of you have experience in H&S with relation to dentistry as at the moment I'm concentarting on trying to get work doing Risk Assessments but wonder if there is any other areas I could investigate as well.
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Posted By MetalMan
Hi Karen, do a search on this site for the debate on nvq versus diploma, it's been done to death several times so by the end you will be in no doubt as to your options. Also, try doing a google search on both which should bring up some more info and providers.
You will have all sorts of issues to cover in a dentist surgery, coshh, risk assessments, safe systems of work, ppe, fire, dse,manual handling, lots. Where in the country are you based?
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Posted By Karen Hodkin
I will search as you suggest, I am based in the South East of England.
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Posted By Amanda
Karen
I agree with Metalman's posting above wholeheartedly. By going through previous postings you will get a lot of info on the NVQ/NEBOSH debate. Again I suggest you think about how you prefer to learn before you go down the route. A good training provider should assist you in your choice.
Check out the Training providers who are accredited to run NEBOSH on the NEBOSH site, I should imagine you should be able to find NVQ providers in much the same way.
The only experience I have of Dentistry is a patient so I am unable to assist, however there my be some of my colleagues who access this forum who could assist.
I have always found this forum to be a good provider of information and healthy debate.
Good luck for the future.
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Posted By steve e ashton
Karen
I suggest you need to decide very early on whether you will be focusing exclusively on 'Health and Safety' risk or whether you may have sufficient knowledge and skill to provide advice in 'clinical risk' as well. It can be very difficult to separate the two in any healthcare setting, but if you are offering clinical risk advice then you would probably expect to pay higher PII costs, and may (I suspect) have more work come your way.
As an example: when considering anaesthetic gases - the H+S angle concentrates on scavenger systems design and maintenance, and breathing air monitoring for the staff - the clinical risk angle would focus on delivery system hygiene, maintenance and callibration and patient sensitivity issues.
Similarly, hygiene for staff protection could be fairly basic, but hygiene precautions for clinical risk control are (as you will certainly understand) considerably more extensive and onerous.
Good luck with your new venture.
Steve
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Posted By Linda Crossland-Clarke
Hi Karen
Steve makes a good point, I have emailed you direct with some points to consider and some summary information on what the NVQ would entail.
Regards
Linda
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