PDA Brief Interventions for Substance Misuse SCQF level 7

The PDA in Brief Interventions for Substance Misuse been designed for delivery as a taught course for the Higher National (HN) Unit incorporating reading and self-study and learning gained through application and practice for the three Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Units. All will be assessed through examples generated by real work experience, reflection and the production of essays.

This award will allow addiction services to develop in line with the rest of the caring professions by having a recognised career and developmental pathway for individuals working with clients within addictions or related fields (ie mental/general healthcare and social care). It will also accredit learning and provide a qualification which formally embraces personal development in the application of learned theory and specialist skills gained in the work setting.

The PDA is primarily to develop learners within addiction and related services. Eligibility of potential candidates will be at the discretion of the delivering Centre with the proviso that candidates are able to demonstrate learning in a relevant workplace setting to enable holistic assessment. Failure to meet this requirement will affect the ability of learners to satisfy the full assessment requirements for the PDA.

Learners should be employed in an addictions, health, or health and social care setting with a guarantee that they are able to undertake this award and apply learned theories and principles through their practice.

It is recommended that candidates have prior knowledge of basic alcohol, advanced drugs and alcohol brief intervention. It is preferable for candidates to have undertaken courses on infection control — patient contact; Hepatitis C and blood borne viruses; equality and diversity; management of aggression; data protection and information technology security. These courses are currently available in a variety of different formats including e-learning. Candidates must also have access to clinical supervision or health and social care equivalent.

The Units in the PDA have been mapped against the National Occupational Standards for health and social care. Candidates would have the opportunity of progressing to other PDAs, which could perhaps lead to a full HN qualification or SVQ in Health and Social Care at level 3.

Centres with devolved authority are eligible to seek approval through their own internal approval process.

Centres without devolved authority will have to come forward for approval and should contact the Business Development Team for guidance.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA's general requirements as outlined in the guide to approval.

The PDA takes a portfolio building approach to assessment. This is necessary as the Units provide candidates with the opportunity to demonstrate their learning through practice that will be observed and validated. The HN Unit will be assessed through essays and reflective accounts which will provide evidence of knowledge and practice, which may also be used for the three SVQ Units. The SVQ Units will be assessed through direct observation, reflective accounts/professional discussion and product evidence.