Certa Qualification Purpose Statement
Certa Entry Level Diploma in Independent Living (Entry 3) (QCF) 601/7003/7 /
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QUALIFICATION OVERVIEW
The Certa Entry Level Diploma in Independent Living (Entry 3) is a nationally recognised qualification. It meets the needs of learners working at Entry 3, who need some support with their learning, including people with learning difficulties and disabilities. The qualification will help them gain the knowledge and skills they need to live independently in their own home and within their local community.
What does this qualification cover?
The qualification has 37 credits, so learners will need to study for up to 370 hours.
There is one mandatory unit, Independent Living. This helps learners discover what independent living means, and enables them to monitor their progress to independence.
A wide range of other units cover topics such as:
  • Household Skills, eg, household expenses, recycling and managing waste
  • Personal Care, eg drug and alcohol awareness, understanding relationships
  • Personal Development, eg developing assertiveness, self-advocacy
  • Leisure Activities, eg assisting in sport or leisure events, accessing information online and using email
  • Accessing Community Facilities, eg accessing commercial services, financial services
  • Rights and Responsibilities, eg living in a diverse society, law and order.
Learners choose units from each of these six areas, to make a course that meets their individual needs.
What specific knowledge, skills and competences will the learner develop?
Learners will developa range of knowledge and skills such as:
  • looking after themselves at home, eg, knowing different ways to keep clothes in good condition, using wash labels for washing and ironing, using a washing machine including selecting the correct product, using an iron safely
  • living in the community, eg naminglocal public facilities and how these might be used, naming local community interest groups and what they do, crossing the road unaided where there is no pedestrian crossing, identifying a range of road signs and stating what they mean
  • an awareness of what they already know, can do and have learned, what their goals are, and which agencies they can go to for help.
Who is this qualification for?
The Entry 3Diploma is suitable for learners who:
  • want to developskills for living independently in their own home and in their local community
  • need some support fortheir learning
  • are not yet ready for study at Level 1 (GCSE Grades D to G)
  • do not have any formal qualifications
  • wish to have their learning recognised by a formal qualification.
Are there any age restrictions?
The Entry 3 Diploma is for learners aged 16 years or over.
Do learners need any prior qualifications, attainment or experience?
There are no formal entry requirements.
How are learners assessed?
Tutors assess the Entry 3Diplomavia tasks that learners build into a portfolio of work as their learning progresses. There are no formal examinations or tests. Many assessments are very practical, eg, asking learners to use the wash labels to sort clothes for washing.
Are there different versions of this qualification? If so, why should learners choose this one?
Certa has three Diplomas in Independent Living, at Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3. Each helps learners to develop independence both at home and in the community. Entry 1 is a very basic level of learning, while learners at Entry 3 are ready to move to Level 1 (GCSE grades D to G). Qualifications at Entry 2 support learners not yet ready for learning at Entry 3.
Learners should choose this Diploma if they are not yet ready to study at Level 1 (GCSE Grades D to G), and want a full time course that will help them to develop a wide range of independent skills both at home and in the community.
Certa also offers Certificates in Independent Living, at each of the levels Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3. These are shorter qualifications with 15 credits, so learners study up to 150 hours. Each Certificate covers either independent living in the home, or within the community, which is reflected in the qualification titles. The Certificates may suit learners who are not willing or able to study full time, or who wish to develop independence in either the home, or in their community, but not both.
Certa also offers Awards in Independent Living. These are short courses with just 6 credits, so learners need to study for just 60 hours, making them suitable for learners who need to ‘top up’ their skills. Each Award is available at Entry 1, Entry 2 or Entry 3. There is an Award at each of these three levels, in each of the following areas:
  • Household Skills
  • Personal Care
  • Personal Development
  • Accessing Community Facilities
  • Leisure Activities
  • Rights and Responsibilities.
The table shows all the Certa Independent Living qualifications. The Entry 2 Diploma is shaded to show how it fits in the qualification suite.
CERTA QUALIFICATIONS IN INDEPENDENT LIVING
SIZE / LEVEL / CREDITS / Maximum Learning Hours
Awards:
  • Household Skills
  • Personal Care
  • Personal Development
  • Accessing Community Facilities
  • Leisure Activities
  • Rights and Responsibilities
/ E1 / 8 credits per Award / 80 hours per Award
E2 / 8 credits per Award / 80 hours per Award
E3 / 8 credits per Award / 80 hours per Award
Certificates:
  • Looking After Yourself and Your Home
  • Living in the Community
/ E1 / 14 credits per Certificate / 140 hours per Certificate
E2 / 14 credits per Certificate / 140 hours per Certificate
E3 / 14 credits per Certificate / 140 hours per Certificate
Diplomas:
  • Diploma in Independent Living
/ E1 / 37 / 370
E2 / 37 / 370
E3 / 37 / 370
WHAT COULD THIS QUALIFICATION LEAD TO?
The Entry 3Diploma is thefinal step on the qualification ladder for learners who want to learn to live independently both in their home and within their local community. It can lead to a range of courses at Level 1 (GCSE Grades D to G).
Will the qualification lead to employment? If so, in which sector or job role, at what level?
This qualification is not available in an apprenticeship, and does not lead directly to employment. However, it will support learners who are well on their way to independence. This may increase their confidence and their chances of gaining employment in the future.
Will the qualification support progression to further learning?
The Entry 3 Diploma supports progression to a range of Certa courses at Level 1 (GCSE Grades D to G).
Steps on the qualification ladder:
  • Certa Entry Level Diploma in Independent Living (Entry 1) 601/6985/0
  • Certa Entry Level Diploma in Independent Living (Entry 2) 601/6995/0
  • Certa Entry Level Diploma in Independent Living (Entry 3) 601/7003/7– this qualification
Certa developed the Entry 3Diploma with a number of Centres that specialise in supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities into mainstream courses at Level 1 (GCSE Grades D to G). This makes sure the Entry 3Diploma prepares learners for learning at the next level, as well as for being independent in their home and in the local community.
WHO SUPPORTS THIS QUALIFICATION?
A number of Centres support this Entry 3Diploma, including those listed below.
  • Doncaster College UKPRN 10002005
  • Hull College UKPRN 10003200
  • Rotherham College of Arts and Technology UKPRN 10005534
These centres are all based in Yorkshire and the Humber and are part of the Certa local learning community. The tutors attend regular training and best practice sessions. This enables them to learn from each other and from Certa to maintain high standards for the course.
To find out if Certa offers this qualification near where you live, please contact
To find out more please go to

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