Q: Who qualifies for certification and how?
A: Practitioners who have passed the NCSCT assessments and have been verified by their manager as working in the NHS or an NHS-commissioned Stop Smoking Service gain certification. Practitioners who have passed the Stage 1 Assessment gain Stage 1 NCSCT Certification and practitioners who have passed both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Assessments (when available) qualify for Full NCSCT Certification.
Practitioners who do not work for NHS commissioned services do not receive certificates, but will be listed on the ‘certification’ page of the NCSCT website. http://ncsct-training.co.uk/stage1-non-nhs
Q: When will my name appear on the list of NCSCT Stage 1 Certified Practitioners?
A: For NHS-verified staff your name will appear on the list of NCSCT Stage 1 Certified Practitioners once your manager has confirmed that you work for an NHS or NHS commissioned stop smoking service. A separate list exists for Non-NHS staff.
Q: Can I opt out of having my name on the certified trainees list?
A: When you pass the Stage 1 Assessment you will be prompted to contact us at training@ncsct.co.uk if you would prefer for your name not to be included in the lists on our website.
Q: Will prior learning be taken into account by the NCSCT’s certification process?
A: Prior leaning will not be taken into account. In the first instance, all practitioners will be required to pass the online Stage 1 and Stage 2 Assessments in order to achieve Stage 1 and Full NCSCT Certification respectively. The system for periodic re-certification has not yet been finalised but may be based on information supplied regarding the activity levels, average success rates and continuing professional development (e.g. update training) of the practitioner concerned in the period since previous certification or recertification. Information regarding the process for recertification will be made available on the NCSCT website when available.
Q: Will achievement of Stage 1 or Full NCSCT Certification affect the pay banding status of NHS Stop Smoking Service staff?
A: The NCSCT is not in a position to recommend specific pay arrangements for NHS staff. We have, however, developed a reference tool for commissioners and stop smoking service leads that maps the links between NCSCT competences, the Public Health Skills Framework and the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF). This document is available in the ‘resources’ section of the NCSCT website as ‘Competences Required for Delivering a Standard Treatment Programme’. It should assist PCTs who are planning to review their service structures, staffing mix and pay levels.
Q: Will NCSCT certification be linked to other training or skills frameworks so that certified practitioners can get training credits from other organisations?
A: Once the NCSCT’s training system has been established, we will be exploring any possible system links that might be of benefit to the NHS stop smoking workforce in terms of professional recognition and career development.
Q: Will NHS practitioners who have not yet achieved NCSCT certification be able to continue to deliver stop smoking interventions?
A: Yes, but in the interests of ensuring minimum standards of knowledge and skills across the service network we would encourage PCTs to aim to increase the numbers of certified staff in their area over time as a marker of quality.