NVQ Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety Practice

This qualification is designed for individuals who wish to develop and/or demonstrate their knowledge and skills in managing health and safety for the workplace. It is ideal for individuals who have or will hold an independent role in managing health and safety policies and practices, often with direct reporting responsibilities or as part of the senior management team.

It is appropriate for all sectors of work.

This an ideal learning and assessment method for those who do not have sufficient time or wish to attend a classroom course and take lengthy exams.

City & Guilds does not set entry requirements for this qualification. However, ACT must determine if candidates have the potential and opportunity to gain the qualification successfully. Therefore, candidates must carry out a short self-assessment to confirm they have a suitable health and safety role and can provide or produce evidence to meet the requirements of each of the qualification units.

It is beneficial for candidates to already have acquired the NEBOSH General Certificate qualification or other recognised health and safety qualification at level 3.

Candidates must be aged 19 or over as City & Guilds does not accept registrations for those aged under 19 years.

The NVQ Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice is achieved by successfully completing 7 units with the following learning objectives:

• 601 – Understand and develop health and safety emergency procedures.
• 602 – Understand health and safety systems within the organisation, analyse the audit process and conduct a health and safety audit.
• 603 – Evaluate and improve organisational culture in relation to health and safety.
• 604 – Critically review health and safety policy, implement improvements and understand business functions that relate to workplace health and safety.
• 605 – Develop an understanding of professional ethics in a practical and workplace setting suitable to be able to carry out research to improve health and safety.
• 606 – Identify hazards, assess risks, implement reactive and proactive monitoring systems and develop reporting and recording systems.
• 607 – Prepare a health and safety strategy for the organisation, plan changes to processes and promote health and safety culture.

Candidates must demonstrate they have achieved all units in the qualification via a portfolio of evidence, along with successfully completing an assignment for Unit 605 Professional development and ethics in health and safety practice.  Please note that the assignment for Unit 605 covers the skills and knowledge within the unit and requires evidence to be collected over a period of 12 months.

There are no examinations with this qualification and it is therefore not possible to fail. Instead, candidates are either “competent” or “not yet competent”. Assessment of performance is made by consideration of the results of workplace-based activities that have been submitted by the candidate to our online e-portfolio to meet each unit’s assessment criteria.

Assessment must also include observation of the candidate doing work to meet requirements of a minimum of one unit. Observation can be face-to-face or validated remote observations, which could include use of Teams/Zoom video calls.

Assessors will determine the extent to which evidence submitted confirms completion of the assessment criteria, and provide feedback. Feedback is provided for each unit and work to meet the criteria can be re-submitted with changes until successful completion.

The work of candidates and assessment processes are monitored by our Internal Quality Assurers (IQA) and City & Guilds External Quality Assurers. Once all parties are satisfied that qualification and assessment/quality requirements are met the qualification can be awarded.

The contracted period for the course programme is 14 months from booking. The time it takes to complete the Level 6 NVQ Diploma will depend on the candidate’s knowledge/experience, the work they have already done and the time they have available to complete the units. Typically, the course is completed in 8 to 12 months.

Additional support can be purchased if more than the 14-month contract period is required.

An initial assessment of each candidate is required before the start of the programme to confirm their suitability for the Level 6 Diploma, this involves completion of a short Self-Assessment form and Personal Profile.

The programme is designed to be extremely flexible, and it is up to the candidate how quickly they progress within the contracted period. As there are no set classroom dates to attend this can help to balance work and home life commitments. Candidates can progress through the qualification as they carry out their health and safety role and completed work can be uploaded to our online e-portfolio at any time leading up to assessments.

All programme materials required are provided and will be made available via our online e-portfolio portal, once you have booked and enrolled on the programme. Our tutorial team are all health and safety professionals, Chartered members of IOSH and deliver NEBOSH/IOSH training.

Candidates are allocated a course tutor who will conduct their induction, provide mentor support and assess work submitted. This is carried out using our online e-portfolio and online video calls, for example using Teams/Zoom.

The course includes an induction session with an assessor.  It typically aims to provide candidates with an overview of the qualification, as well as explains the requirements, expectations, and key components of the course. The induction helps candidates understand how the course will be delivered, what resources are available to them, and how to complete assessments effectively.

As part of the induction period candidates will complete a Skill Scan to identify their learning needs to support their completion of the programme. If candidates identify training needs, they will need to develop a plan with their manager to gain competence in those area(s) before attempting the relevant unit(s). Please contact us if you require further advice in this area.

This course is accredited by City & Guilds and on successful completion a Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice is awarded, which is a bachelor degree level qualification.

This level 6 qualification is also accredited by IOSH and, with at least 2 years relevant health and safety experience, allows candidates to apply for Certified membership of IOSH.

Our online e-portfolio system contains programme materials to guide the development and presentation of evidence.  It allows candidates to provide evidence from anywhere, at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Access to the e-portfolio is provided for the whole contract period.

Using our e-portfolio means secure storage of evidence with no bulky paper-based portfolios to manage, store or send through the post.

Our e-portfolio system also enables clear and easy communication between the candidate and assessor.

£1,950.00 + VAT + City & Guilds Fees @ £202 (VAT exempt)