Bergzicht Training, a non-governmental organisation focusing on skills development, recently received full accreditation from the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) as an education and training provider for community health work.
Students who now complete the organisation’s health and frail care programme will receive a certificate endorsed by the HWSETA for a skills programme linked to the community health work (NQF Level 2) qualification. The skills programme comprises 37 credits and 370 hours of training.
“Even though we have always maintained the highest standards and have used the services of qualified nurses throughout the 13 weeks of the health and frail care training, this accreditation allows us to show potential employers that our programme does meet the necessary standards as required to train nursing assistants and frail care workers,” explains Bergzicht’s chief executive officer, Renske Minnaar.
“The accreditation will also allow us to connect with more training partners, in particular those who wish to only employ well-trained student interns. This will offer our students more options to choose from when they do their work-based training.”
Bergzicht’s programme is presented over 13 weeks, with students completing 10 weeks, focusing on theoretical and practical training and three weeks of work-based training at a local health and frail care facility.
The programme is taught by Sister Helen Kiewiedo, a qualified nurse and an accredited assessor and moderator registered with the HWSETA. It equips participants with the skills and knowledge to take care of sick or frail persons like patients suffering from HIV/Aids or cancer or recovering from a stroke, as well as the elderly, sick babies or children.
“In the near future, we are also planning to open up this popular programme to students who are interested in pursuing a career as a nursing assistant or a home-based care worker and are able to pay for the programme. By introducing fully-paid programmes, we will not only be able to offer the programmes more frequently but also meet the huge demand that currently exists for this training.
“These fees will cover some of the overhead costs and at the same time allow us to offer free training to those who really cannot afford the training. We will also be able to provide more accredited community health workers for Stellenbosch and the greater Western Cape,” said Ms Minnaar.
“Most importantly, we will provide more students with sought-after skills and get more people off the street and into employment.”
If you are interested in enrolling for programmes at Bergzicht Training, visit www.bergzichtraining.com or email reception@bergzicht.org.za
