I wanted to share this with you guys as some of you may be in a quandry as to what to do with your NCRQ?

I did my NVQ5 (as was) in Health and Safety with She Knows Health and Safety Limited way back in 2010, my career has progressed as a result and I have (with the helpful guidance of Linda at She Knows and other IOSH mentors) achieved my Fellow Status 18 months ago (very proud of my achievements).  Linda is supporting those who were going through the NCRQ route to ensure they obtain a qualification through the NVQ6 City and Guilds, and I am super happy to say I have joined the team as an assessor on this qualification.  Here is some information that Linda has put together to help with the possible transition.

People have been asking me about using their NCRQ assignments as part of their work towards their  City & Guilds level 6 NVQ. With the NCRQ assignments, your learning may have been nearly completed, the NVQ just asks you to prove you can do the job with documents & emails created during your working day. Using your NCRQ assignments cuts down the amount of NVQ work as I have cross referenced them against the knowledge criterion in the NVQ, so I hope this helps you feel that it wasn’t a waste of your time and helps you decide on your next steps.

SHE Knows has reduced the price of the NVQ due to the reduction in work for your assessor, costs include your C&G registration, the NVQ workbook, 1 visit for observation and support, assessing of NCRQ assignments and work-based evidence subsequently submitted via email, shared drive etc. and C&G certification.
If you are interested in moving onto the NVQ level 6 please email me, linda@she-knows.com with your CV, NCRQ unit assignments, so I can check the cross referencing and reduce the amount of work you have to do and any certificates of completion with AIM/NCRQ.

I have also asked IOSH about any future membership application changes and the reply was that all applications (irrespective of route – NEBOSH, Degree, NVQ) will have to do an online portfolio – no further information issued so far. However, if it’s like the ones I currently mark for IOSH then it is a reflection of the H&S NVQ at the moment! So NVQ evidence you collect now, may be able to be used and uploaded for your IOSH membership upgrade application.

If you are unsure on what to do, here is my advice. Set yourself a trial to see how easy it is to collect evidence.

Create a series of folders to put your work documents & emails into (see below). This way if you do decide to sign up with us – you are ahead of the game! Our next NVQ start date is 13th February.

Meeting minutes, invites, agendas
Auditing schedules, reports and close out actions
Risk assessments
Site inspections, worker observations & monitoring (air, temperature, dust, vibration etc)
Training creation & delivery (TBTs, inductions, power points, behavioural initiatives
Accident investigations, recommendations, update of SSoW, training etc & meeting minutes
Policies written, emergency procedures, simulations of emergencies (fire evac, work at height rescue, spill kit response etc)
External communication with HSE, council/EHO, council planning authority, police etc
Improvement projects you have driven or participated in. This can be anything from improvement to PPE or LEV, change in site layout/walkways, recruitment & induction/training process – it’s a very flexible unit.

thanks Linda linda@she-knows.com