Physical health equity micro-credential: Letters of support needed from organisations

In New Zealand and overseas, people experiencing addiction and mental health issues tend to have worse physical health than their counterparts in the general population, and a shorter life expectancy. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, cancer, and oral health issues are more common for this population group. (Equally Well | Physical health equity | Te Pou)

In 2021 and 2022, a scoping project undertaken by Te Pou confirmed that the development of a micro-credential on physical health equity for the mental health and addiction support workforce would benefit tāngata whai ora, employers and the sector overall. It also showed strong support at the time from employers and other stakeholders for the development of such a qualification.

Te Pou has worked with Toitū te Waiora and Careerforce to develop a new NZQA level 4 unit standard 33286. Careerforce has developed a draft micro-credential qualification with this unit standard in it, which needs to be approved by NZQA. Te Pou has gathered published research and examples of practice from the sector to support the development of a programme of learning for this micro-credential.

The programme will be delivered via supported online learning - flexible enough to allow a range of approaches to training including on-the-job learning, online learning and assessment, so it can be accessed at any time and from anywhere. The unit standard and micro-credential will be awarded on completion of the learning and meeting the assessment requirements.

To get us to the next stage of the process, Careerforce needs to provide evidence to NZQA of how a micro-credential on this topic will meet the current needs of organisations and the support workforce. This needs to be done through letters of support from providers of mental health and addiction services.

Letters of support need to be addressed to Careerforce and include:

• Your organisation’s letterhead (or be in the body of an organisation’s email)
• Where in Aotearoa/ New Zealand you work
• What your organisation does
• Whether your organisation would enrol staff on this course
• How this micro-credential and unit standard would meet the needs of your organisation
• How this course would benefit your staff, organisation and the people you support
• Name and signature of an authorised representative of your organisation, date of signature

If your organisation would like to show their support for the development of this micro-credential, please send your letter to alexia.black@tepou.co.nz by Friday 25th October.

The purpose of this micro-credential is to provide the health and wellbeing sector with support workers who have the skills and knowledge required to identify early physical health problems in people with mental health challenges or addiction issues and support them to access primary care and/or navigate life choices.

A support worker who completes this micro credential will be able to recognise signs of physical problems and carry out specific tasks within the support worker role while supporting a person with an existing or co-existing mental health challenge or addiction issue.

Assessment of competency for this micro credential is a single compulsory unit standard completed by all learners/ākonga.

On successful completion of this micro-credential, learners/ākonga will have theoretical and practical knowledge to demonstrate competences required to recognise physical health problems and apply in the workplace. They will be able to:

• Understand the inequities created through the linkage social determinants have on people experiencing mental health challenges or addiction issues.
• Understand effects of diagnostic overshadowing.
• Understand approaches to identify and address barriers to accessing support or treatment.
• Understand how to respond to indicators of physical issues for people experiencing mental health challenges or addiction issues.