Understanding Substance Misuse - Level 3 Certificate (RQF) Course

The Understanding Substance Misuse – Level 3 Certificate (RQF) Course leads to a fully accredited RQF qualification and is designed to help the student develop an understanding of issues, possible responses and interventions for a wide range of drugs.

This distance learning course can be an excellent resource for those interested in this subject area, but it is particularly aimed at those who are working directly or would like to work with people who have alcohol or drugs misuse problems and will lead to a fully recognised RQF (Regulated Qualifications Framework) qualification in this subject. These are nationally recognised qualifications that are superseding the old NVQ framework qualifications.

The course raises an opportunity for personal development and occupational competence in an area identified by government policy as one requiring special attention. The overall Government's policy is laid out in "Drug Strategy 2010 – Reducing Demand, Restricting Supply, Building Recovery: Supporting people to live a drug-free life.".

The Course Objectives are to:

• Provide a nationally accredited certificated programme in a wide range of substance misuse issues and the variety of responses and interventions available.
• Provide a flexible learning opportunity that is accessible to a wide range of learners.
• Provide the student with knowledge and understanding that can be used by those who either personally, voluntary or professionally have a special interest in this field.

This qualification is widely used to train drugs and alcohol workers and has been mapped to the Drugs and Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS) and the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework. The course provides also comprehensive "underpinning knowledge" for the substance misuse modules of the NVQ and SVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care.

The course helps students to develop their knowledge, skills and competence in the following DANOS units:

AA1 - Recognise indications of substance misuse and refer individuals to specialists
AB2 - Support individuals who are substance users
AB5 - Assess and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance users
AD1 - Raise awareness about substances, their use and effects
AF2 - Carry out assessment to identify and prioritise needs

On successful completion of this course students will receive a Level 3 Certificate Qualification with 13 Credits issued by Training Qualifications UK (TQUK). This Qualification is worth 8 UCAS Points.

You will receive access to the course materials through an online portal for a 12-month period. Students can use the portal for accessing their course materials, submitting assignments and to log tutor questions. 

Please Note: An optional hard-copy version of the course notes can be purchased for an additional £48.00. This is useful for learners who also want to study away from the computer and means they have course notes they can keep and refer back to beyond their online course license.

Delivery of the hard-copy materials is usually within 5 to 10 working days by a recorded delivery service.

There are no particular entry requirements for this course, so students can sign up providing they are comfortable studying at a Level 3 standard.

You can start this course at any time, and you would be registered for a one-year period. You also have access to a personal tutor who can be contacted through the online portal or by email. Your tutor is available to assist with any queries and to mark your assignments for the Awarding Organisation.

As the course is self-study, you can complete it as quickly as you like. Support extensions are available if students do not complete the course within the one-year period.

Students will be required to complete a number of assignments. Your personal tutor will review, mark and provide you with feedback on your work. Coursework assignments can be returned by uploading to the online portal, by email or by post.

We recommend that assignments are completed and returned as word-processed documents through the online portal. Handwritten documents can be accepted but need to be clear and legible and may be subject to a longer marking time.

On successful completion of this course students will receive a Level 3 Understanding Substance Misuse Qualification issued by Training Qualification UK (TQUK). This qualification has been accredited on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (Ofqual Qualification No. 603/0154/5). This is a Level 3 Certificate Qualification with 13 credits and it is worth 8 UCAS Points.

You can find further information on qualifications and their levels on the Ofqual Qualification & Credit Framework level descriptors page.

TQUK (Training Qualification UK) are one of the newest, most dynamic awarding organisations in the industry, seeking to bring a fresh approach and excellent service to training providers, colleges and learners. TQUK qualifications are designed by leading professionals and delivered to centres and learners with integrity and compliance in mind. TQUK have rigorous quality assurance controls and procedures in place and are committed to maintaining the highest standards of customer service, qualification delivery and assessment. The course is delivered and assessed by NCC, a licensed TQUK centre. TQUK are fully approved as an awarding organisation by Ofqual and award RQF courses in a number of sectors. RQF courses have various credits values which can be applied to the National Credit Transfer System. TQUK accredit courses which are developed by industry experts and work hand in hand with organisations ensuring the calibre and worth of courses provided.