Frequently Asked Questions

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If you don't find the information you are looking for, get in touch by email at nes.dew@nhs.scot 

What is a Professional Development Award?
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Professional Development Awards (PDA) are aimed at developing the skills of those in employment. They are principally designed for those who wish to extend or broaden their skills base in a particular area of work practice.

What is the PDA in Technology Enabled Care?

The aim of the PDA in Technology Enabled Care is to equip Scotland’s health, social care, social work and housing workforce with the knowledge and skills required to help embed technology and digital into health and social care practice supporting positive health, care and wellbeing outcomes for people.

The PDA in TEC does not focus on technology. The award is not learning about specific technology, it’s aimed at developing and broadening knowledge and skills, providing an opportunity for participants to build confidence reflecting on this ever-developing area of health care and social care practice.

Who is this qualification suitable for?

This qualification will be of interest to people who are new to or have an interest in Technology Enabled Care and those who are already working in this area who want to further develop and advance their knowledge,  skills and abilities in this ever-evolving area of health and social care practice. 

The award will enable participants to develop their work-based learning skills and be able to use the award to progress in their career through Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

How many credit points will the PDA in TEC give me?
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The group award is made up of 2 Higher National Unit credits and comprises 16 SCQF Credit Points at Level 7.

 

What is SCQF Level 7?

SCQF - stands for Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. It provides a way of comparing qualifications to help you make choices in your learning. SCQF are compared using two measures: level and credit points.

There are five characteristics in total that the PDA takes into account:

Characteristic 1 – Knowledge and Understanding 
Demonstrate and/or work with:

  • An overall appreciation of the body of knowledge that constitutes a subject/discipline/sector.
  • Knowledge that is embedded in the main theories, concepts and principles of the subject/discipline/sector.
  • An awareness of the dynamic nature of knowledge and understanding.
  • An understanding of the difference between explanations based on evidence and/or research and other sources, and of the importance of this difference.

Characteristic 2 – Practice, Applied Knowledge, Skills and Understanding
Apply knowledge, skills and understanding:

  • In practical contexts.
  • In using some of the basic and routine professional skills, techniques, practices and/or materials associated with the subject/discipline/sector.
  • To practise these in both routine and non-routine contexts.

Characteristic 3 – Generic Cognitive Skills

  • Present and evaluate arguments, information and ideas that are routine to a subject/discipline/sector.
  • Use a range of approaches to address defined and/or routine problems and issues within familiar contexts.

Characteristic 4 – Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills 4: 
Use a wide range of routine skills and some advanced skills associated with a subject/discipline/sector, for example:

  • Convey complex ideas in well-structured and coherent form.
  • Use a range of forms of communication effectively in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
  • Select and use standard ICT applications to process and obtain a variety of information and data.
  • Use a range of numerical and graphical skills in combination.
  • Use numerical and graphical data to measure progress and achieve goals/targets.

Characteristic 5 – Autonomy, Accountability and Working with Others 5

  • Exercise some initiative and independence in carrying out defined activities at a professional level in practice or in a subject/discipline/sector.
  • Accept supervision in less familiar areas of work.
  • Exercise some managerial or supervisory responsibility for the work of others within a defined and supervised structure.
  • Manage limited resources within defined areas of work.
  • Take the lead in implementing agreed plans in familiar or defined contexts.
  • Take account of own and others’ roles and responsibilities when carrying out and evaluating tasks.
  • Work, under guidance, with others to acquire an understanding of current professional practice.
     

The above descriptions are for guidance only – it is not expected that every point will necessarily be covered.
 

What is the qualification structure of the PDA in TEC?

The group award consists of one mandatory unit and 4 optional units. The Professional Development Award in Technology Enabled Care will be awarded on successful completion of  the mandatory unit (8 SCQF credit points) and one optional unit (8 SCQF credit points).

 Mandatory Unit:

  • Working with Technology Enabled Care – (J48M 34)

 Optional Units

  • Technology Enabled Care: Call Handling – (J48S 34)
  • Technology Enabled Care: Installation, Maintenance and Repair – (J48R 34)
  • Technology Enabled Care: Response – (J48P 34)
  • Using Digital Technology to Support People in Health, Housing and Care – (J48N 34)
How long does the PDA in TEC take to complete?

The notional length for each unit is 40 hours, requiring approximately 80 hours of learning to achieve the full award. The PDA in TEC is not a regulated qualification so there is no specific timeframe. Individual delivery centres will advise on their expected timeframes for completion.

The SQA supports a flexible and responsive approach for each participant, however deliver centres will expect participants to progress at a reasonable pace.   The participant assessment plan should confirm the agreed timeframe for completing the award.

What are the entry requirements?

Entry is at the discretion of the delivery centre. Participants would benefit from having attained the skills, knowledge and understanding required by one of more of the following or equivalent qualifications and/or experience:

Examples of formal entry qualifications include:

  • SVQ Level 2 or 3 in Social Services and Healthcare or equivalent
  • Experience of working in a technology enabled care service
  • Experience of working in a call/alarm receiving centre or a contact centre such as NHS 24/111
  • Experience of working in health, social care or the housing sector or have an interest in technology enabled care
Where can I find out more information?

You will find more information,  including the  Group Award Specification and the individual unit specifications  on the SQA webpage at: -  https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/94657.html 

Assessment Support Packs are available to SQA delivery centres once approved to deliver the PDA in TEC.

 

What is the cost to complete this qualification?
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Contact individual delivery centres for this information.

Where can I do this qualification?

You will find a location directory at: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/94657.html

When can I start?

You should  access the location directory and contact individual delivery centres for this information.

You will find more information,  including the Group Award Specification and the individual unit specifications  on the SQA webpage at: -  https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/94657.html

How many people can undertake the qualification at a time?

It would be up to individual organisations and approved delivery centres to agree participant numbers based on available resources and general business requirements.

What is covered in the unit – Using Digital Technology to Support People in Health, Housing and Care

There are 3 outcomes with associated knowledge and skills covered in this unit:

 Outcome 1

Promote the use of digital technology as a contemporary approach to support health and care delivery.

Knowledge & Skills

  • Digital technology and communication needs of individuals (language, sensory, physical, mobility and cognitive issues)
  • Differences/similarities between face to face communication and communication using digital technology
  • Augmentative and alternative communication  
  • Using digital technology as the individuals preferred way of communicating
  • Rights, choices and preferences — ‘What matters to me’ and ‘How to support me’
  • Trust in, and, attitudes towards digital technology from a service user and workers perspective
  •  Social exclusion and technology

 Outcome 2

Empower people to adopt the use of digital technology to support their health and social care needs.

Knowledge & Skills

  • Empowerment
  •  Health literacy and patient activation
  • Active involvement of service users
  • Shared Decision making
  • Respecting choice and accepting risk
  • Using apps, social media and other forms of technology to self-manage
  • Social exclusion, isolation and loneliness
  • Local policy and procedures, e.g. managing risk positively, record keeping, and upholding care principles

 Outcome 3

Evaluate new and emerging digital technologies and reflect on how these could be used to assist people to self-manage and live independently.

Knowledge & Skills

  • Augmentative and alternative communication technologies and devices
  • Technology enabled care equipment/devices
  • Emerging technologies — examples may include: SMART homes, Robotics, Artificial intelligence, Wearable sensors, virtual reality, Apps and the use of SMART phones
  • Innovation in health, housing and care contexts
  • Imagine the future of health, housing and social care
  • Self-evaluation of digital skills
What types of technologies are covered in this qualification?
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The PDA in TEC does not focus on types of technology. The award is designed to increase and broaden knowledge, skills and confidence in digital health and social care helping ensure our workforce have the necessary skills and capabilities to support citizens to better manage their health, and wellbeing.

Which framework does the PDA in TEC sit within?

The PDA in TEC was developed in line with Scotland’s Digital Health and Care Strategy: Enabled, Connecting and Empowering, promoting the digital literacy and future education of the workforce.

Find the strategy at -  https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-digital-health-care-strategy-enabling-connecting-empowering/

Is Information Governance an aspect of this qualification?

Information governance is covered in the mandatory and all optional units as an underpinning knowledge/assessment requirement when candidates are looking at accessing, handling and processing sensitive, personal and organisational information. There is a reminder of this in the Assessment Support Packs particularly if candidates are providing anonymised recordings or information about a patient/service user or organisation.

Why would someone working in TEC undertake this qualification?

The qualification has been designed for new and existing TEC staff,  or people interested in TEC. Staff  can reflect, consolidate, and explore new and emerging technologies in their area of work. This is an opportunity for staff to receive a qualification that recognises their job role for the first time and by encouraging them to reflect and consolidate their experiences it should enable them to think about career progression.