New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) strand in Healthcare Assistance

Program Overview

The New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) in Healthcare Assistance equips individuals with the skills to work as healthcare assistants in various healthcare settings. Students learn about ethical and legal frameworks, safe work practices, functional individual needs, communication skills, and socio-cultural awareness. The program requires 100 hours of work experience and emphasizes person-centered care, particularly in inpatient hospital settings. Graduates have career opportunities in acute care, primary care, aged residential care, and community support roles.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This programme, the New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) strand in Healthcare Assistance, is designed for individuals passionate about caring for and assisting others. It equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge to work effectively as healthcare assistants in various healthcare organisations and community settings. The programme emphasizes holistic, person-centred care, particularly in inpatient (hospital) settings. Students learn and practice essential clinical skills like vital signs, bed making, bathing, showering, maintaining oral hygiene, and assisting with meals. The programme also highlights the importance of communication and observational skills, crucial for successful healthcare assistants.

Outline:

Programme Structure:

• Students must complete five courses from the healthcare assistant strand (70 credits).
• The five courses are:
• 724.301 Caring within a health or wellbeing setting (10 credits):
This course focuses on ethical and legal frameworks for person-centred care, the role of the healthcare assistant, relevant regulations, legislation, and protocols, the healthcare system, roles of health professionals, and recognizing and addressing vulnerability and abuse.
• 724.310 Supporting a safe environment for the healthcare assistant (15 credits): This course covers safe work practices, moving and handling clients/patients, infection control principles, risk management, and responding to changes in a patient/client's condition.
• 724.311 Socio-cultural awareness and safety for the healthcare assistant (5 credits): This course explores culturally safe care with a focus on Māori and Pasifika cultures, their customs, the Treaty of Waitangi, and the New Zealand Health Strategy.
• 724.314 Functional individual needs for the healthcare assistant (20 credits): This course examines the human body, its systems, the aging process, common chronic health conditions, and empowering clients/patients to manage functional changes.
• 724.313 Communication for the healthcare assistant (20 credits): This course focuses on communication skills, identifying behavioral changes, the importance of personal care plans, responding to challenging behaviors, and understanding the progression of dementia.

Work Experience:

• The programme requires a minimum of 100 hours of work experience.
• This experience can be embedded throughout the programme or scheduled separately to ensure students have the necessary practical experience.

Other Requirements:

• Students will undergo initial and ongoing checks to ensure they are suitable for working in health and wellbeing sectors.
• Applicants must undergo police vetting and VCA checking.
• Students must meet immune status requirements as per industry needs.
• The programme adheres to relevant legislation and regulations, including the Health and Disability Commissioner (Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights) Regulations 1996, the Privacy Act 1993, and the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.

Careers:

Further Training or Study:

• New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services) (Level 4) with strands in Community Healthwork, Mental Health and Addiction Support
• New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) Nursing Studies

Career Opportunities:

• Graduates can work as healthcare assistants in various settings, including acute care, primary care, aged residential care, and therapeutic programmes.
• Graduates of the support work strand can work in roles supporting people in the community, such as disability support, ACC support work, and in-home support.

Other:

• Students will need to supply their own uniform, which includes a white polo shirt, black pants, and black trainers/shoes.
• Students may be required to complete literacy and numeracy assessments as part of the programme.
• Although the Government vaccine mandate for health and disability workers ended on September 26, 2022, some employers may still require workers to be vaccinated due to their responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Placement is a compulsory component of MIT's healthcare programmes.
To participate in placement, students must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination to MIT.
• Students with medical exemptions preventing vaccination are permitted to work in the healthcare sector, but they will have limited placement opportunities.