Addiction Professionals and Adfam have a jointly developed competence-based certification for practitioners supporting families affected by alcohol and other drugs. Adfam brings years of experience of working with families and Addiction Professionals bring their expertise as the professional body and membership organisation for the sector.
Addiction Professionals/Adfam Drug and Alcohol Family Worker Professional Certification is specifically designed for practitioners working with families affected by alcohol and other drugs use, and outlines a unique role profile. It provides practitioners with a number of benefits:
- A professional competency-based certification mapped to National Occupational Standards (NOS).
- A role profile and commitment to the Addiction Professionals Standards of Conduct and Ethics.
Registration
To acquire registration:
- practitioners' employers assess their competence in each of the NOS units outlined in the role profile. Practitioners will be required to develop a portfolio of proof of competence which may be asked for as part of random sampling and which will allow them to demonstrate continued professional development in order to become re-accredited at the end of the 3 years.
- Practitioners will be asked to write a 1000 word reflective piece, addressing what is important in work with adult family members affected by a loved one’s substance use, or working with the children of people who use alcohol and other drugs. You should cover areas such as attitude and approach; adapting your skills or knowledge from other fields to this area of work, and what models you use in your work with family members. You should make clear how you have adapted your approach to the family member as the primary beneficiary, and how you may have changed or learned from experience. Please also give us a sense of the kind of topics that you would typically cover with family members and what needs you find yourself supporting them with. THE REFLECTIVE PIECE WILL BE ASSESSED BY ADFAM.
Certification is valid for three years. To be eligible for re-certification, a practitioner must provide up-to-date evidence of their on-going competence in the units concerned.
SPECIAL OFFER 1 year's free Addiction Professionals membership for those who apply for the Drug and Alcohol Family Worker Professional Certificate. NB applications must submit their application for the certificate within 3 months of joining. Please contact us for details on how to apply.
Promote effective communication and information sharing
NOS Code: SCDCPC311
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Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace
NOS Code: SFHSS03
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Either Reflect on, develop and maintain your practice (young people)
NOS Code: SCDLDSS6
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or Reflect on, develop and maintain your practice
NOS Code: SCDHSC0033
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Develop practices which promote choice, well-being and protection of all individuals
NOS Code: ASTH416
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Contribute to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults
NOS Code: CCSCCS17
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Either Assess and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance users
NOS Code: SFHAB5
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or Work with children and young people with additional requirements to meet their personal support needs
NOS Code: SCDHSC0315
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Raise awareness about substances, their use and effects
NOS Code: SFHAD1
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Work with families, carers and individuals during times of relapse or crisis
NOS Code: SFHMH13
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Assess the needs of carers and families
NOS Code: SCDHSC0427
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1 Make sure that you have Practitioner Membership or Advanced Practitioner Membership. This can be as an individual, or as an associate member of an organisation affiliated to Addiction Professionals.
2 Fill out the application form.
4 Make sure you provide a Workplace Assessment Report. Please note: the supervisor/ manager completing the form does NOT need to provide a portfolio of evidence in support of their assessment. However, they must be familiar with the applicant's work and be in a position to make an objective judgement about their competence in relation to the unit/s concerned. They must also outline the type of evidence on which their judgement is based (i.e. how they have assessed the applicant's competence).
5 Make sure you have included a Senior Manager Approval Form with your Workplace assessment report.
6 Make a payment
Checklist
| Individual or associate AP Member? | |
| Application form completed? | |
| Workplace Assessment Reports completed? | |
| Senior Manager Approval Form completed? | |
| Payment made? |
When making applications please ensure the following steps have been taken. We will respond to applications within 10 working days.
Costs
£75 Certification for 3 years.
1 Make sure that you have Practitioner Membership, Advanced Practitioner Membership or a Associate Membership through an organisation.
2 Fill out the application form.
3 Make sure you provide a Workplace Assessment Report for each of the 9 units.
4 Make sure you have included a Senior Manager Approval Form with your Workplace assessment report.
When making applications please ensure the following steps have been taken. We will respond to applications within 10 working days.
Checklist
| Practitioner / Advanced Practitioner or Associate Member? | |
| Application form completed? | |
| Workplace Assessment Report/s completed? | |
| Senior Manager Approval Form completed? | |
| Payment made? |
Cost
The cost for recertification is £75. Recertification lasts for a period of 3 years.