Primary Healthcare Support Level 3 - Qualification
Overview
This qualification is for support workers in primary care settings in Wales, who provide support to individuals accessing primary care services under the direction of a professionally registered practitioner, such as a GP or registered nurse. It provides a core qualification that recognises roles currently undertaken by healthcare support workers working with individuals within primary care settings.
To undertake this qualification, learners must be employed in primary and community care in positions where clinical skills are central to their role. The qualification was developed to provide better governance of practice in Wales through external quality assurance for this developing and expanding role.
It is expected that all primary and community-based healthcare support workers will have the opportunity to complete this qualification and/or to achieve elements of it for continuing professional development to support changes in practice over time.
Key information
Learners must be 18 years old or over to undertake this qualification, and be employed in roles where primary healthcare is either all or part of their work.
The qualification is delivered through 1:1 support with an assessor.
A combination of mandatory and optional units will need to be completed, making a total of at least 60 credits.
Learners are required to build a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding and their competence in practice.
A range of assessment methods can be used such as:
- Direct observation of practice
- Written assignments
- Oral questioning / professional discussion
Learners will undertake a set of mandatory units which provide the core skills for the role, and they will be able to select optional units which are appropriate for their setting.
Mandatory units
- Point of care testing
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Professional practice
- Safeguarding
Optional units
- Physiological measurements
- Obtain venous blood samples
- Wound care
- Stroke awareness
- Learners achieving this qualification are qualified to practice in primary care healthcare support roles at skills Level 3
- The qualification has been developed to provide an entry point to Level 4/Band 4/assistant practitioner education and training