Q&A
City & Guilds – Level 2 Certificate for Mental Health Helpline Workers
mhhp is committed to improving the learning experience and from time to time will conduct learner questionnaires as part of the overall monitoring process for quality assurance.
mhhp actively encourages feedback from learners and all those involved in delivery and assessment. Evaluation and feedback forms have been provided throughout the course materials to encourage comments, suggestions for improvement and compliments. Regular standardisation meetings are held to ensure consistent and fair assessment of candidates and any concerns or changes to the programme will be included here together with minutes of the meetings.
A selection of the most frequently asked questions is included below:
Q: I have already completed a Degree in Counselling, why would I want to undertake a level 2 certificate?
A: Working on a mental health helpline requires a variety of specific skills, this qualification is specifically designed to support and develop those vocational skills. The level of the qualification is not so relevant, but more the vocational subject. For further information on vocational qualifications and the Qualification and Credit Framework visit the Qualification and Development Curriculum Agency (QCDA) website.
Q: What are the entry requirements for the Level 2 Certificate for Mental Health Helpline Workers?
A: There are no formal requirements for learners undertaking the certificate. However as the qualification is at level 2, people might find it difficult without prior experience of learning and an appropriate level of literacy.
Q: Is the qualification available outside mhhp?
A: I understand that learners have to be registered within a certain time of completion of the Induction programme for tutors, assessors, trainers and internal verifiers (TATIVs). Can we subsequently add register further learners or do we have to re-do the induction programme?
Q: Do learners have to complete the whole qualification to receive a certificate?
A: Learners do not need to wait until the full programme of study has been completed to receive a certificate of unit credits. Successful completion of a unit will qualify for a certificate of unit credit. However, full level 2 certificates will only be issued to learners who successfully complete all 5 core mandatory units plus two optional units from the four available.
Q: How much does the programme cost and what does this include?
A: Please see the cost of the package and what it includes.
Q: I understand that learners have to be registered within a certain time of completion of the Induction programme for Tutors, Assessors and trainers (TATs). Can we subsequently add register further learners or do we have to re-do the induction programme?
A: Learners must be registered with mhhp within 10 weeks of delivering organisations completing the Induction for tutors, assessors and trainers to give mhhp time to register learners details with City & Guilds. If organisations subsequently wish to register further learners outside the 10 weeks, there is no requirement for repeating the induction for TATs providing they continue to meet the delivery, assessment and verification criteria and can demonstrate current evidence of relevant professional experience and competence.
Q: If I register for the whole qualification and subsequently leave the helpline before completing all of the units will I be able to claim certificates of completion for the units I have achieved and will there be any additional cost implications for this?
A: City & Guilds issue certificates of completion automatically for each unit on claim. However, you can only claim the full Level 2 Certificate having successfully completed the five mandatory units plus two of the optional units. You will need to discuss any additional costs this might incur with your tutor or manager. Some organisations pay for the training fees on behalf of their staff and they may have ‘tie in’ agreements. These agreements vary and might include repayment of either all or a percentage of any training fee, where a member of staff leaves the organisation before completing the qualification.
Q: Some of our helpline workers completed the old accredited training course under OCN. Is possible for these learners to resubmit work they did for the OCN programme or do they have to sit the full course again?
A: It is acceptable for learners to resubmit work from a previous course provided the learner's practice and knowledge meets current requirements if this is relevant in the assessment criteria, for example where there are any new policies, legislation or other such changes. In signing off the work, the assessor will need to make sure that the evidence is authentic, current and relevant in the usual way.
