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Royal Society for Public Health
Level 2 Award in Health Improvement
QCA Accreditation: 500/1987/9
Course Leader: Dr Holly Blake
Division of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham
Important Course Information
Introduction
This Level 2 qualification has been developed with the support of the Department of Health. The government white paper, entitled Choosing Health: Making healthy choices easier published in 2004, identified the need for a new role of NHS Health Trainer to be established, to advise, motivate and support individuals to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
This short RSPH Level 2 award has been developed in support of the wider Health Trainer role identified in the white paper, for which Level 3 qualifications are being developed by other awarding bodies. It is also valuable in supporting the training of workplace health champions which are becoming increasingly important in both NHS and non-NHS settings.
The RSPH Level 2 Award provides an introduction to the fundamentals of health and wellbeing, of barriers to making a change of lifestyle and of how to help people to make changes to improve their health. It is relevant to target groups across a range of community and organisation settings.
It provides an ideal way of equipping key staff (and students) with basic health advice and methods of support which they can then use to inform and assist their colleagues in making healthy lifestyle choice and/or patients to whom they are giving lifestyle advice.
The Award is mapped to relevant elements of the National Occupational Standards for Health Trainers and is therefore also appropriate both as a qualification to support a workplace health champion role but also as a stand-alone stepping stone for those aspiring to become Health Trainers.
This Qualification is Useful in a Range of Settings
- Health sector (hospitals, surgeries)
- Care sector (care homes, residential homes)
- Local authorities
- Prisons
- Leisure and fitness industry
- Education sector (schools, colleges, universities, youth workers)
- Retail sector (pharmaceutical, supermarkets, health food shops)
- Other public services (police, fire, armed forces)
- Large corporate employers (workforce support and welfare)
Qualification Aim
The aim of this award is to equip candidates with a knowledge and understanding of the principles of promoting health and wellbeing and of how to direct individuals towards further practical support in their efforts to attain a healthier lifestyle.
Course Overview
This award provides individuals with the underpinning knowledge and understanding necessary to work effectively in helping people who need support and encouragement to make positive changes in their lives, including how to help them access further assistance (in, for example, identifying barriers to change, and setting goals) towards the objective of adopting and maintaining a healthier lifestyle.
Outcomes Summary
Candidates will know and understand:
- The importance and benefits to public health of promoting health and wellbeing in the workplace and community settings.
- The factors that facilitate and create barriers to health improvement.
- The principles of behaviour change and maintenance and of how to apply them in helping people to make changes.
- The responsibilities associated with handling confidential and sensitive information.
- Methods that may be used to evaluate a programme to promote healthier lifestyles.
Qualification Structure
The Level 2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement is a single unit qualification. All outcomes are assessed.
Guided Learning Hours
This is based on 10 guided learning hours. This is made up of one full day of taught study, with assessment at the end of the day, plus additional pre-course reading or activity.
Relevance to National Occupational Standards and Public Health Practice
This award provides an essential grounding in key areas of health training, on which further knowledge, understanding and competencies can be built. The award is mapped to the relevant knowledge and understanding elements of the Skills for Health Competences for Health Trainers:
HT1: Make relationships with communities.
HT2: Communicate with individuals about promoting their health and wellbeing.
HT3: Enable individuals to change their behaviour to improve their own health and wellbeing.
Form of Assessment and Grading
The assessment will consist of one examination paper of 30 multiple choice questions to be answered in 45 minutes at the end of the study day.
To attain a pass, candidates must achieve 20 correct answers out of 30 (66%).
To attain a credit, they must achieve 26 correct answers out of 30 (87%).
Pre-Course Entry Requirements
There are no pre-course entry requirements. It is recommended that candidates for this Award have good oral communication skills, basic standards of literacy and numeracy and an ability to relate to people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Examination Entry Requirements
Candidates must have completed the pre-course reading or activity and attended the full study day to attain the knowledge outcomes. The School of Nursing, Midwifery and Physiotherapy is a RSPH registered training centre.
Examination Results and Certificates
Certificates for successful candidates will be sent to the course organisers for distribution to candidates.
Course Contact Details
Administrator: Sharon Goodwin, Post-registration Courses & Office Administrator, Division of Midwifery, Nottingham City Hospital Campus. Tel: 31927 Email: sharon.goodwin@nottingham.ac.uk
Course Leader: Holly Blake, Lecturer, Division of Nursing, Queen's Medical Centre Campus. Email: holly.blake@nottingham.ac.uk
Registration Form
More dates are being planned, so watch this space.
