New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services) Level 4

at Universal College of Learning

The programme consist of 120 credits. The courses includes:

Respectful Relationships (30 Credits) (72 work experience hours)

Develop an understanding and acceptance of socio-cultural identity, experiences and self-knowledge, and apply this to build respectful relationships with people, family and/or whanau in a mental health and addiction setting. The course covers:

• Listening skills
• Respectful relationships
• Consent processes, protocols and workplace practice
• The needs and vulnerability of children
• Pasifica cultural values
• Falefono and Whare Tapawha models of health and wellbeing

Bi-Culturalism and Marae Protocols (15 Credits) (36 work experience hours)

Gain an understanding of the history of Māori as Tangata Whenua, and knowledge of person-whanau interconnectedness to enable you to relate this to your own role in a health and wellbeing setting.

Role Clarification (15 Credits) (36 work experience hours)

Gain the knowlege and skills to relate the purpose and impact of your own role as a support worker to the aims of the wider health and wellbeing sector. The course covers:

• Biological, psychological, sociological, holistic and alternative approaches to mental health and addiction
• Values, attitudes, skills and core competencies for support work
• Professional boundaries
• Human rights
• Consumer rights and workplace responsibilities
• Stigma, discrimination and social exclusion

Self Awareness (30 Credits) (72 work experience hours)

Develop self awareness through the application of a reflective practice that enables you to develop effective strategies and apply these to help build the resilience of people, family and/or whanau in a mental health and addiction setting. The course covers:

• Theory and practice of self awareness
• Personal risk identification and management
• Reflective journaling
• Self-care strategies
• Theories and practices of resilience building
• Capabilities of children

Professional Development (30 Credits) (72 work experience hours)

Learn to actively contribute to a culture of professionalism, safety and quality, and promote the autonomy of people, family and/or whanau in a mental health and addiction setting by using tools and strategies that support people's recovery. The course covers:

• Health and Safety legislation, including workplace reporting
• Principles and practices of supervision
• Principles and practices of networking
• Information, education and advocacy in mental health and addiction support
• Recovery concepts and practices in mental health and addiction support work, including those related to children
• Developing a recovery plan

Domestic Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

NCEA level 2 or equivalent.  

Additional Requirements

All applicants are required to:

• Declare any previous criminal convictions prior to admission being confirmed. Convictions of any offence may not necessarily exclude applicants from enrolment; the decision is at the discretion of the Programme Leader; and
• Authorise UCOL to obtain a background check from the New Zealand Police Licensing and Vetting Agency
• Attend an interview with the Programme Lecturer. 

English language proficiency

If English is not your first language, you must also demonstrate English language skills equivalent to an IELTS overall band score (academic) of 5.5 with no band score less than 5 (or equivalent including TOEFL). IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form (i.e. combining scores from more than one test is not permissible). UCOL is a TOEFL testing centre.

International Entry Requirements

In addition to the Domestic Entry Requirements, the following applies to international student applicants.

English language proficiency

International student applicants whose first language is not English must have an IELTS Academic score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5 (or equivalent including TOEFL). IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form (i.e. combining scores from more than one test is not permissible). UCOL is a TOEFL testing centre.

Under 20 years of age

In addition to this, international applicants under 20 years of age must have NCEA equivalency.

Domestic Fees: *
$5916.00

International Fees:*
$20,500.00

Graduates of the New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services) will be able to:

• Respect people's socio-cultural identity, experiences and self-knowledge
• Relate the history of Māori as tangata whenua and knowledge of person-whānau interconnectedness to one's own role in a health and wellbeing setting
• Display self-awareness, reflective practice and personal leadership
• Actively contribute to a culture of professionalism, safety and quality in the workplace
• Relate the purpose and impact of own role to the aims of the wider health and wellbeing sector
• Foster hope, support recovery and build resistance

Career options include:

• Disability support
• Diversional therapy
• Housing and budget support
• Tamariki ora support
• Field officer
• Health and wellbeing coach
• Community health worker
• Mental health and addiction support
• Social justice advocate
• Refugee support
• Community development