NVQ vs a Masters???

Turner1974

My fiancee recently got a job with a care home after several months of looking for work. They told her that for a £1 more an hour she needs an NVQ level 2 in health and social care. She told them she doesn't have it but does have a Masters in social care. They told her that this wasn't enough and she couldn't have the pay increase. I've helped teach NVQ2 health and social care before at a local college so know it's pretty basic stuff. Am I right in thinking they're just ripping her off or is there a specific reason why a masters isn't sufficient?

colino

They're not ripping her off, just playing by their own backward rules. Many see Degrees and other qualifications as out of touch from "hands-on" vocational training.

mynameistallulah

colino wrote: »

They're not ripping her off, just playing by their own backward rules. Many see Degrees and other qualifications as out of touch from "hands-on" vocational training.

Nothing backward about the rules - a Masters offers no hands on training, so in a care assistant role is irrelevant. An NVQ assesses her practical skills, and once these are proven she can move to a higher rate of pay.

Turner1974

mynameistallulah wrote: »

Nothing backward about the rules - a Masters offers no hands on training, so in a care assistant role is irrelevant. An NVQ assesses her practical skills, and once these are proven she can move to a higher rate of pay.

That seems like a bit of a joke to me. A masters is the equivalent of a NVQ 5. Surely common sense should prevail.( and BA and MA studies both involve a sizeable amount of practical training in a host of social care settings)

jason1231972

Turner1974 wrote: »

( and BA and MA studies both involve a sizeable amount of practical training in a host of social care settings)

Has she actually tried to demonstrate this to her employer? If so, how, and how did they react?

It's nothing personal against her. It's a case of the NVQ (key word, vocational) being the qualification that is needed for her employers to 'tick the box' that she has a specific set of skills, as prescribed by the NVQ course.

She might have lots of hands-on experience, but these qualifications have very specific standards and criteria that must be met.

It's like saying that so-and-so with a PhD and 10 years' university lecturer experience must be able to teach primary school children. They can't, not without a specific teaching qualification, even if they already have 'higher' credentials.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

You need both: the practical training of the NVQ and the theoretical and academic training coming from the Masters. Best not to overfocus on one or the other.
Theory and Research based developments are key to updating Professional skills as are up to date skills in practical Social Care land.

mynameistallulah

Turner1974 wrote: »

That seems like a bit of a joke to me. A masters is the equivalent of a NVQ 5. Surely common sense should prevail.( and BA and MA studies both involve a sizeable amount of practical training in a host of social care settings)

No, it is not a joke, you clearly do not understand the difference between the two. Has she asked if she can do her NVQ through work?

LittleVoice

mynameistallulah wrote: »

No, it is not a joke, you clearly do not understand the difference between the two. Has she asked if she can do her NVQ through work?

And presumably her Masters will provide evidence for at least some of the knowledge requirements of the NVQ.

Turner1974

mynameistallulah wrote: »

No, it is not a joke, you clearly do not understand the difference between the two. Has she asked if she can do her NVQ through work?

Like I said, I've helped teach NVQ LV 2 in health and social care for a full year. So I do understand the difference. And don't fool yourselves into thinking the 'V' in NVQ (lv 2)is a massive chunk of the course.The vocational part of the course is extremely limited. They have one unit(unit 5) where they do 60 hours in the field, and even this is optional(you can do unit 11 instead).Think I'd understand more if it was level 3, because that does warrant the V in it's title.
I get what you're all saying though, they want proof. Just find it strange that she could teach NVQ 2 with her masters but still doesn't qualify for it.

SeduLOUs

OK a suggestion. Find the detailed specifications of what is involved with both the NVQ and the Masters and play match up. If you can give a detailed report explaining how each aspect of the NVQ has been properly covered within the masters then you should be good.

On the other hand, this report is going to take a lot of effort. It might just be worth keeping the employer happy and doing the NVQ. It will refresh the knowledge anyway, and if she's done a masters she won't have much difficulty. It will also prevent her coming across similar issues in future jobs.

I work in a GP surgery where everyone does NVQs in customer services, health care, team leading etc etc. They wanted me to do key skills in maths (I do finance) and it took me several weeks to convince them that my (A*) at GCSE maths and my grade (A) A Level in maths was more than sufficient, but that's just the way these places are. I didn't fit the mould, and they didn't know what to do with me.

Person_one

Turner1974 wrote: »

Like I said, I've helped teach NVQ LV 2 in health and social care for a full year. So I do understand the difference. And don't fool yourselves into thinking the 'V' in NVQ (lv 2)is a massive chunk of the course.The vocational part of the course is extremely limited. They have one unit(unit 5) where they do 60 hours in the field, and even this is optional(you can do unit 11 instead).Think I'd understand more if it was level 3, because that does warrant the V in it's title.
I get what you're all saying though, they want proof. Just find it strange that she could teach NVQ 2 with her masters but still doesn't qualify for it.

If they can put off paying her more, they will. I think that's all it boils down to. Its about saving money on a technicality not about them seriously thinking the NVQ trumps the masters.