Somerset College

Summary

Bricklayers don't just build and repair walls; they work with many different materials and tools, using various techniques to produce creative structures and buildings suitable for a specific purpose that will be admired for years to come.

The NVQ is delivered via On Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) which helps candidates turn their existing skills and experience into a nationally recognised qualification and they only train towards the things they don't know how to do. OSAT benefits the employer by ensuring limited loss of production and a qualification within 1 year (quite often, the NVQ can be achieved as quickly as 4 months!).  Upon certification the candidate will be eligible for a CSCS card.  The CSCS card is a mandatory requirement on many construction sites.

Description

The College is tasked by the Government to ensure that the candidate has a safe and healthy work placement.  The College will allocate an assessor who will meet with the candidate and the employer to complete the sign-up documentation and carry out a health and safety in the workplace check; they will also need to see a current employer's liability certificate. 

The candidate will need to have the relevant work opportunities to collect NVQ evidence and complete their portfolio, meeting qualification requirements.  They will need their employer's support to do this.

The assessor will carry out regular reviews and observations at an agreed time and whilst copies of these visits are given to the candidate, progress reports can also be supplied to the employer upon request.

Teaching and Assesment

In addition to building a portfolio of evidence the candidate will be assessed using a range of different methods which could include observations, photographic evidence or question papers.  The candidate will also need to pass the CSCS Operatives Health & Safety test (or have passed it no more than 2 years ago). To achieve this NVQ the candidate must complete 8 mandatory units and 1 optional unit.  The optional units available are:

• Erect Masonry Cladding
• Lay Domestic Drainage
• Erect Thin Joint Masonry Structures
• Place and Finish Non-specialist Concrete
• Plaster and Render Surfaces
• Maintain Slate and Tile Roofing
• Repair and Maintain Masonry Structures

 During sign-up the College assessor will discuss the individual needs with the candidate and employer and advise the most suitable unit to be completed.

Career Opportunities

NVQs develop competent, motivated employees. They demonstrate the high level of employer commitment to the employee and improve the company's image and attractiveness for current and prospective employees. They encourage staff to remain with the company, reducing staff turnover and the cost of recruitment. Successful candidates will be qualified, competent employees, who do the job better, complete work faster, have fewer accidents, and waste less time correcting mistakes.

Entry Requirements

Candidates need to meet the NVQ skill criteria based on their past 3 year's experience, this profile match is carried out by the college assessor who will advise upon further training required if the criteria is not fully met.

Cost

Train to Gain funding and contributions to wage costs may be available under the Government scheme.

Contact

The Business Centre - 01823 366 555 or email enterprise@somerset.ac.uk