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CSCS Card Guidance from Able Skills
Why do we need CSCS cards?
CSCS cards give you access to construction sites and have become mandatory for 2010 so it is the requirement for all on-site workers to obtain their CSCS cards (Construction Services Certification Scheme).
In effect, if you don't have a CSCS card, you will be ineligible to work on most construction sites in the UK and risk exclusion from work within the industry.
How can Able Skills Help?
Able Skills can help in a number of ways and it very much depends on your past experience as well as your current circumstances.
In order to obtain a CSCS card you will be required to sit an online multiple choice Health and Safety test, these are available at various test centres around the Country.
The cards are colour coded in line with your qualifications and there are varying levels of cards:
- For someone with no formal construction qualifications a Green Site Operative card would apply.
- For someone registered for an NVQ (but not yet achieved) or a Construction Award, a Red Trainee card or for a time served candidate, a Red Experienced Worker card would apply.
- For NVQ Level 2 this would be a Blue Skilled Worker card
Experienced Workers – Renewing a CSCS card
Subjects covered by Able Skills:
Plastering - Tiling - Carpentry - Bricklaying - Painting & Decorating
If you have been working in your particular trade for a very long time and are currently attempting to renew an existing Experienced Worker card, you will not be able to if you do not hold NVQ/SVQ at level 2.
Under the CSCS rules for 2010, the requirement is for you to hold NVQ/SVQ at level 2 to be eligible for an Experienced Worker card.
Able Skills can help you to achieve your trade specific NVQ in a relatively short period of time following the introduction of EWPA (Experienced Worker Practical Assessment). The process will initially provide you with an Experienced Worker card which will enable you to continue to work. Please call Able Skills on 01322 280202 so that we can explain the procedures required to generate the right card for you.
An Experienced Worker card is issued on a temporary basis, while NVQ/SVQ is being achieved. The card is only valid for one year and is non-renewable. It is expected to be replaced by a Skilled Worker five year card on achievement of NVQ/SVQ Level 2 or higher. You will only qualify for a Skilled Worker card once you have achieved NVQ/SVQ level 2.
All candidates must pass the Construction Skills Health and Safety Test
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Achieve NVQ = |
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New Entrant / Trainee Workers – Applying for a CSCS card
If you are looking to gain entry to the construction industry in any of the trades listed above, the first port of call for you will be to undertake training and obtain a recognised training qualification. Able Skills offers City & Guilds training coupled with NVQ training and registration as follows:
Plastering 8 weeks
Tiling 8 weeks
Carpentry 8 weeks
Bricklaying 8 weeks
Painting & Decorating 6 weeks
Once you have completed your choice of subject, we will register you onto an NVQ programme so that once you are working in your specific industry, we can monitor and assess you for the purposes of achieving an NVQ level 2. You will also need to sit a CSCS test and this will generate a site card for you:
You will qualify for a Trainee (Craft and Operative) as you will have been registered for NVQ/SVQ (or Construction Award) but not yet achieved the level 2 or 3 and by having sat a CSCS test, you will have met current Health and Safety requirements.
Once you achieve the NVQ at level 2, you will qualify for a Skilled Worker card
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Site Workers / Labourers – Applying for a CSCS card
The Construction Site Operative card is available to operatives who carry out basic site skills only (e.g. Labourers).
There are two ways to apply for a green card: via NVQ level 1; or by employer's recommendation (see below), which is only open for a limited period of time. Your employer must use the industry accreditation competencies when assessing you for this card.
All applicants must pass the construction health and safety test.
For those who have completed the working at heights health and safety test, this can be endorsed on the card.
The following is a guide to the minimum activities a construction site operative would be expected to perform to achieve industry accreditation.
As a result of Practical Experience or through Induction or Other Training, the employer certifies that the applicant can, under instruction or supervision:
- Organise own work
- Work as an individual
- Work as part of a team
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Use hand tools relevant to the occupation
- Use power tools relevant to the occupation
- Care for and maintain tools and equipment
- Secure tools and equipment
- Report information orally
- Meet work deadlines
- Identify and select materials and components relevant to the occupation
- Handle material and components using accepted and safe methods and procedures
- Protect the work, resources and materials
- Follow instructions for maintaining a clean and secure workplace
- Follow company guidelines and procedures for accident and emergency situations
- Maintain personal cleanliness
- Follow organisational policy on personal behaviour
- Follow organisational requirements for current legislation and official guidance
Progression
If you decide that you would like to specialise in one particular area of construction and receive qualifications in a particular trade, Able Skills offers
Plastering 8 weeks
Tiling 8 weeks
Carpentry 8 weeks
Bricklaying 8 weeks
Painting & Decorating 6 weeks
Once you have completed your choice of subject, we will register you onto an NVQ programme so that once you are working in your specific industry, we can monitor and assess you for the purposes of achieving an NVQ level 2. You will also need to sit a CSCS test and this will generate a site card for you:
You will qualify for a Trainee (Craft and Operative) as you will have been registered for NVQ/SVQ (or Construction Award) but not yet achieved the level 2 or 3 and by having sat a CSCS test, you will have met current Health and Safety requirements.
Once you achieve the NVQ at level 2, you will qualify for a Skilled Worker card
Working on site but without level 2 qualifications and
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Achieve NVQ = |
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CSCS
Able Skills can help you to achieve the qualifications you may be lacking which in turn will provide you with the right card to be able to undertake the right work.
We have various options available for either training or assessment so please give us a call and we will be happy to hear what category of candidate you are and hopefully, we can help you get to where you need to be.
Able Skills is open 7 days every week – 08.30 – 16.30
Tel: 01322 280202 Fax: 01322 280301 Email: info@ableskills.co.uk
