FOI22/23 157 SCQF Levels 4 & 5 Mental Health & Wellbeing Award

Date published: 20/04/2023

Mental Health and Wellbeing Award SCQA levels 4 and 5 - and similar I refer to the above offering regulated by SCQA. You do not allow complaints about educational offerings, and I have to assume that SCQA know what they are doing to the very highest degree? HOWEVER Farming out training in mental health to any third party outfits who have no actual appropriate medical training strikes me as "alarming". More than alarming. It sounds shocking. Arming people off the street - so to speak - with a little knowledge in this topic sounds dangerous even! Given the topic my questions are:

1. Is this training in Mental health awareness in any way endorsed by the Scottish Government and specifically the NHS in Scotland?

2. Are they in fact aware of these courses?

3. Exactly how does SCQA monitor who is allowed to do this training. It is all very well seeing an examination paper or something at the end of a course, and issuing a certificate, but what about the ongoing oversight of the teaching?

4. What mental health qualifications do trainers have?

5. Would the SCQA care to comment if a company that is part first aid training and part a security guard provider really suitable to host such training>I say host not provide the actual training. Would such a company be allowed to give a day's training in - occupational therapy, speech and language therapy....professions allied to health?

Mental Health topics as high street training without medical oversight? I sincerely hope not. I suggest this goes to the front of the queue. I will be very happy to hear that the Scottish Government, but particularly the mental health directorate at NHS Scotland, are satisfied these courses are being provided in a fully medically appropriate framework by the private sector, with the correct medically trained oversight. Personally, getting people into a shop and giving them training in mental health awareness sounds absurd, alarming. I am not an expert, I have a doctorate, I am not a doctor of medicine. Thank you for answering my questions.

1. Is this training in Mental health awareness in any way endorsed by the Scottish Government and specifically the NHS in Scotland?

The Awards in Mental Health and Wellbeing are qualifications at SCQF levels 4 and 5 and not a training programme.  They are not endorsed by the Scottish Government or the NHS Scotland.  The awards in Mental Health and Wellbeing support the Scottish Government’s Mental Health Strategy 2017–2027. Its guiding ambition for mental health is simple but, if realised, will change and save lives: ‘We must prevent and treat mental health problems with the same commitment, passion and drive as we do with physical health problems.’

2. Are they in fact aware of these courses?

The Scottish Government were involved during the development stage and have collaborated with SQA since their implementation.

3. Exactly how does SCQA monitor who is allowed to do this training. It is all very well seeing an examination paper or something at the end of a course, and issuing a certificate, but what about the ongoing oversight of the teaching?

SQA quality assures the delivery of these Awards by selecting centres for verification each year and reviewing their assessment approaches and judgements. The awards are suitable for a wide range of learners, however, the main target groups are:  

Young people
Adults
People working with voluntary and charitable organisations supporting individuals

4. What mental health qualifications do trainers have?

The Awards at levels 4 and 5 are auto-approved for schools and colleges. This means that these types of centres do not need to formally seek approval from SQA to deliver them. Other types of centres, such as employers and training providers need to seek and gain approval from SQA before they can deliver these qualifications. Regardless of how they gain approval, all centres are required to ensure that assessors are competent. Competence can be demonstrated through qualifications and/or occupational experience. All centres are subject to on-going quality assurance checks of the assessment process by SQA. Education Scotland is responsible for evaluating the quality of learning and teaching in Scottish schools and education services through inspection and review.

5. Would the SCQA care to comment if a company that is part first aid training and part a security guard provider really suitable to host such training>I say host not provide the actual training. Would such a company be allowed to give a day's training in - occupational therapy, speech and language therapy....professions allied to health?

Only centres approved by SQA are able to deliver and have their candidates certificated in SCQF Level 4 and 5 awards in Mental Health & Wellbeing.