Health and Health Science update - March 2021
An update on everything new within the Health and Health Science sector.
Skills for Health (SFH) and Health Education England (HEE) have published some resources for Healthcare Science Apprenticeships.
Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard Consultation 2021
This consultation is out for all employers and providers to contribute. The deadline for the consultation is 12.00 noon Wednesday 31 March 2021. Please take this opportunity to have your say before this standard and assessment plan is updated.
> Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard Consultation 2021
Extension to Certification End Dates - Healthcare
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on delivery of qualifications during 2020, eligible qualifications with a certification end date of 2021 have an extended certification end date to 2022 to allow for completion. The following qualifications have an extended certification end date:
Please be aware that all qualifications are no longer live for new registrations:
Qualification Number |
Qualification Title | Qualification Level |
Operational End Date |
Certification End Date | New Certification End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 601/5722/7 | Pearson BTEC Level 4 Certificate in Healthcare Science | Level 4 | 30-Jul-18 | 30-Jul-21 | 31-Jul-22 |
| 600/0304/2 | Pearson BTEC Level 3 Award in Working with Medication | Level 3 | 31-Aug-18 | 31-Aug-21 | 31-Aug-22 |
| 601/1241/4 | Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award in Health and Safety in the Workplace | Level 2 | 30-Sep-19 | 30-Sep-21 | 30-Sep-22 |
| 601/8120/5 | Pearson BTEC Level 6 Award in Children's Eye Care | Level 6 | 31-Oct-18 | 31-Oct-21 | 31-Oct-22 |
| 601/8118/7 | Pearson BTEC Level 6 Award in Children’s Eye Care (Contact Lenses) | Level 6 | 31-Oct-18 | 31-Oct-21 | 31-Oct-22 |
| 601/8119/9 | Pearson BTEC Level 6 Certificate in Children's Eye Care | Level 6 | 31-Oct-18 | 31-Oct-21 | 31-Oct-22 |
| 501/1804/3 | Pearson Edexcel Level 2 Diploma in Emergency Care Assistance | Level 2 | 31-Dec-19 | 31-Dec-21 | 31-Dec-22 |
| 600/1730/2 | Pearson Edexcel Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Laboratory Science | Level 2 | 31-Dec-19 | 31-Dec-21 | 31-Dec-22 |
| 600/1664/4 | Pearson Edexcel Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities | Level 2 | 31-Dec-19 | 31-Dec-21 | 31-Dec-22 |
| 601/0117/9 | Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award in Employment and Personal Learning Skills in Health | Level 2 | 31-Dec-20 | 31-Dec-21 | 31-Dec-22 |
| 600/9666/4 | Pearson BTEC Level 3 Award in Employment and Personal Learning Skills in Health | Level 3 | 31-Dec-20 | 31-Dec-21 | 31-Dec-22 |
| 601/0119/2 | Pearson Edexcel Level 2 Diploma in Optical Retail Skills | Level 2 | 31-Dec-19 | 31-Dec-21 | 31-Dec-22 |
Update on First Aid qualifications delivery
First Aid Quality Partnership has released an update on Practical demonstration and assessment of Rescue Breaths while COVID-19 transmission remains high.
In response to the increased prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and the increased transmission of the new variants, the FAQP and HSE supports the position of Resuscitation Council UK that practical demonstration of rescue breaths may be omitted from first aid training courses, as a precautionary measure while COVID-19 transmission rates remain high.
Specifically;
- if a Training Provider, a Trainer, a Learner or an Employer is concerned about the removal of a face covering in order to demonstrate rescue breaths, the learner(s) may demonstrate chest compressions only for adult resuscitation. This will not affect the validity or duration of certification, however attendance on annual refresher training is strongly recommended.
- there is good evidence that rescue breaths form an essential part of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation particularly in children, infants and those who have drowned. The benefits of teaching rescue breaths to those who have a duty to provide first aid to these groups far outweighs the extremely small theoretical risk of transmission in the classroom whilst practising this skill. For this reason, rescue breaths should continue to be taught on paediatric first aid courses, lifeguard training, and with other groups such as emergency service workers.
- the above recommendation is temporary and will be reviewed on a regular basis. As the roll out of vaccines continues to grow at a pace and the current peak subsides, we intend to reintroduce the mandatory practising, performance, and assessment of rescue breaths in the classroom once the prevalence in society subsides.
Please see further guidance on First Aid during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the HSE website.