Bricklaying NVQ On Site Assessment

OSAT: NVQ Route - On Site Assessment for Bricklayers with less than 5 years experience

If you have underpinning qualifications or have spent less than 5 years working as a Bricklayer, we recommend the following:-

As an NVQ approved assessment centre, Able Skills can offer NVQ on site assessment (OSAT) to those of you who have underpinning qualifications or who have been working within the Bricklaying industry for less than 5 years and who have reached a level of competence which falls in line with NVQ Occupational Standards.

We have our own Assessors and Internal Verifiers, all of whom are City & Guilds and CAA approved. As long as you are working within the Bricklaying Industry, we can come and assess you on site.

In order to qualify and register for this Bricklaying NVQ, the following criteria must be met:

•    You must work within a 60 mile radius of Dartford – Postcode: DA1.
•    You  will need to be employed in a role that is related to Bricklaying

These qualifications (NVQs) focus on practical skills and knowledge. Developed and approved by people who work in the industry, they are a great way to get into construction or to boost your career by developing new skills and knowledge through the assessment of work based competence.

Able Skills has been providing quality Bricklaying training for many years now and we have watched many of our students move ahead in the Bricklaying industry, opening their own businesses and securing Bricklaying contracts.

As their work has increased and their skills perfected, they have reached the point where they are competent to achieve their Bricklaying NVQ and this is where we have been able to help out further.

All of our Bricklaying instructors, Simon and Paul are competent and qualified NVQ Assessors and have all had experience of on-site assessments; they have each had the benefit of assessing past Bricklaying students as well as existing time served Bricklayers who have been in the industry for some time.

Bricklaying NVQ Assessment process

The process will start with an interview between you and your assessor whereby an action plan and timetable will be drawn up. You will be required to gather and record evidence as indicated on your assessment plan and you would benefit from a work based recorder (Supervisor or foreman); this will help to confirm work which you have undertaken which an Assessor was unable to be present at.

Assessments will be at your work place whereby we will be observing you undertaking Bricklaying work and we will examine and discuss any evidence you have provided. An assessor will sign off completed units, where sufficient quality and quantity has been provided, any shortfalls of evidence will be discussed and any training requirements identified.

In between visits, you will continue to generate further evidence. The units required to achieve a level 2 Bricklaying NVQ (QUA 813) are:

QCF 01 - Conforming to general safety in the workplace
QCF 02 - Conforming to efficient working practices in the workplace
QCF 03 - Moving and handling resources in the workplace
QCF 40 - Erecting masonry structures in the workplace
QCF 41 - Setting out masonry structures in the workplace

Supported by ONE optional unit from:

QCF 42 - Erecting masonry cladding in the workplace
QCF 43 - Laying domestic drainage in the workplace
QCF 44 - Erecting thin joint masonry structures in the workplace
QCF 45 - Placing and finishing non specialist concrete in the workplace
QCF 46 - Plastering and rendering surfaces in the workplace
QCF 47 - Maintaining slate and tile roofing in the workplace
QCF 50 - Repairing and maintaining masonry structures in the workplace

There is no time scale on achieving a Bricklaying NVQ. If your line of work allows, NVQs can be achieved in a relatively short space of time however, if the Bricklaying work you are doing is restricted or repetitive, the NVQ process can take longer because the opportunity to meet all of the required NVQ units will not be available to you.

OSAT for Employers

OSAT is a method of delivering NVQs for experienced workers within the Construction Industry which meets the needs of both the industry and individuals.

Programmes are designed to assess individuals in their normal working environment as the focus is on what individuals do in their normal working environment so therefore the benefit to Companies are:

•    There is no downtime because Bricklaying Assessments are carried out on site
•    More qualified and competent employees generate a higher quality product
•    Employees complete work faster and waste less time correcting mistakes
•    Creates greater awareness of health and safety issues which means there are fewer accidents

The benefits to individuals are:

•    helps workers achieve vital skills so they achieve CSCS cards quickly and easily
•    takes account of existing skills so workers only train towards the things they don't know how to do
•    achieves Bricklaying qualifications to show to potential customers

OSAT and CSCS

An increasing number of companies, contractors and clients are looking for operatives and employees to prove their competence via the CSCS card and working towards or achieving the Bricklaying NVQ will allocate the following:

Red Card - EXPERIENCED WORKER

The card is issued on a temporary basis, while a NVQ or SVQ is being achieved. It is expected to be replaced by a skilled five year card on achievement of NVQ or SVQ Level 2 or higher. All applicants must pass the Construction Skills health and safety test.

The card is valid for one year and is non-renewable.

An Experienced Worker Card cannot be replaced by a Construction Site Operative or a Basic Skills Green Card.

Blue Card - SKILLED WORKER

You may qualify for a blue skilled card if you have achieved an NVQ or SVQ level 2 or if you have completed an employer sponsored apprenticeship which included the achievement of a City and Guilds Craft Certificate.

All applicants must pass the Construction Skills health and safety test.

Learn Bricklaying

If you are not ready for OSAT but you would like to work towards achieving a Bricklaying NVQ, Able Skills can offer various Bricklaying training programmes to get you started.

We recommend either our 6 week or 8 week Bricklaying training courses as we feel that these will provide you with sufficient skills and knowledge to allow you access to the Bricklaying industry.

It is during these particular Bricklaying courses where you will also receive guidance on how to complete an NVQ and where you will receive all the support you need to move towards being a proficient Bricklayer

OSAT fee structure:

Profiling appointment - £150.00 (inc vat)

Portfolio/Registration/Certification - £350.00 (inc vat)

Site Visit - £250.00 (inc vat) per visit

Bricklaying Image Gallery

Book the Above Course

We are sorry but this course is not available for online booking. To book this course, please call us on 01322 280202 or use the form below: