Independent Advocacy Qualification
What are the new independent advocacy qualifications?
There are two new national independent advocacy qualifications: the Level 3 Certificate in Independent Advocacy and the Level 3 Diploma in Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy – Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (IMCA – DOLS).
These qualifications have been developed by the Department of Health in partnership with City & Guilds and the Welsh Assembly Government. They have been endorsed by Skills for Care and Development and Skills for Health and are accredited by QCA.
Why were the qualifications developed?
To achieve quality and consistency in advocacy training. The introduction of two new forms of statutory advocacy – Independent Mental Capacity Advocates and Independent Mental Health Advocates – signalled the need for greater focus on quality and consistency across the advocacy sector.
Who should undertake the qualifications?
The qualifications will be aimed primarily at people who currently provide independent advocacy support, but will also be suitable for people who use advocacy skills as part of another role.
What is the structure of the two qualifications?
The Level 3 Certificate in Independent Advocacy consists of four mandatory units and five specialist units. To achieve a full certificate, advocates will need to complete the four mandatory units plus one of the specialist units.
The Level 3 Diploma in IMCA – DOLS consists of four mandatory units plus two specialist units on Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. To achieve the full diploma, advocates will need to complete the four mandatory units plus these two specialist units.
Units can be taken in any order and it is not expected that all units are undertaken at the same time.
How are the qualifications assessed?
The independent advocacy qualifications are QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework) competency-based qualifications. This means the qualifications are assessed on real life experience. To complete a unit, learners must put together a portfolio of evidence – including direct assessment in their workplace – to demonstrate their competency against different learning outcomes.