Certificate in Information, Advice or Guidance (Level 3)

This NOCN Level 3 Award in Information, Advice or Guidance and the NOCN Level 3 Certificate in Information, Advice or Guidance is delivered online, and will provide you with the skills and underpinning knowledge required by employers in a broad range of contexts where information, advice or guidance is provided.

The qualifications aim to up-skill the personal advisor workforce and to fill the acknowledged gap in provision at this level. They give formal recognition to the work of those who may have already been giving information, advice or guidance in an informal role.

These are flexible credit-based qualifications are responsive to both your needs as a learner (the employee) and the employer, and show incrementally what you have achieved.

What will we cover?

Course content includes:

The services of your organisation
The differences between information, advice, or guidance
Confidentiality
Effective communication
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
Identifying client needs
Legislation
Codes of practice
Networks and groups
Limitations
Professional development.

Research is also encouraged to support your own development and understanding of the sector and can be shared in the sessions to highlight best practice and networking.

Practical

You will plan and conduct an information, advice, or guidance group, using a detailed session plan. Following your session, you will complete a specific reflective practice sheet to celebrate strengths and analyse client feedback while identifying and supporting future development areas.

You will also receive constructive feedback at regular intervals, which is structured and offers clear guidance and additional ideas.

Assessment

There will be pre- work allocated prior to the course starting to enable self-assessment of current skills and knowledge as well as a learning style questionnaire and Individual learning plan (ILP). Expectations of regular submissions are highlighted at the start of the course, to ensure that the completion timescales are met. Tutorial attendance is also expected to maximise opportunities for support and guidance.

Who is the course for?

Our Level 3 Certificate in Information, Advice and Guidance is for anyone in any work sector needing to develop their skills in providing personalised support, as identified in the report "Now It’s Personal: Personal advisers and the new public service workforce".

Due to the demands and nature of the qualification and the assessment requirements, you will need to have literacy skills which are a least at Level 2 of the National Standards in Adult Literacy. To meet this requirement, learners may achieve Functional Skills at Level 2 in English which aligns with the Level 2 Adult Literacy Standards. This level is required in all three skill areas of literacy (speaking and listening, written and reading).