EU-HCWM “Developing an EU Standardised Approach to Vocational Educational Training Awards in Healthcare Waste Management” Project No LLP UK-LEONARDO-LNW PROJECT UPDATE Funded by the EACEA with the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union NHS NPAG Waste Birmingham

Project outline Purpose - to develop a framework for a healthcare waste management qualification & training package, which will provide a unified approach to the development of a Vocational Educational Training Programmes for Healthcare Waste Management across the EU Member States. Methodology & Outputs - will reflect best practices and best available technologies for the management and treatment of healthcare wastes.

PROJECT MAIN TASKS The project has set the following objectives: 1.Conduct & report on an assessment of the healthcare waste management situation 2.Prepare a comparative analysis report of the above findings 3.Develop a National Occupational Standard for the post of healthcare waste manager in a healthcare facility. 4.Develop a Vocational Educational Training Programme in line with the requirements of the national occupational standard. 5.Develop an e-learning platform for the NOS 6.Develop an EU wide network for dissemination and support of the project outputs

Next Steps 1.Last task in 2015 was to Publish the External Evaluation Report for the Qualification Framework and the Proposed Overall Training Programme 2.Develop the e:learning platform 3.Develop the EU Professional Network 4.Develop a Pan European Implementation Plan for the Award

The project is entering its final phase now and the partners are focused on three main work packages: Professional Network Development E:Learning Portal Exploitation Plan In terms of dissemination activities the main focus is the final conference in November this year. Work Packages

The task of developing professional networks in all EU member states is being undertaken by the following project partners: EUHP ISWA NHS Confederation via linked networks REC Network Professional Networks (1)

The idea of the professional networks was to provide a group of stakeholders across EU member states who would be able to share/transfer skills and knowledge about best practice through an online platform. Participants could include representatives from the following stakeholder groups: Healthcare Waste Managers – Public/Private Sectors Healthcare Waste Contractors – Treatment/Transport Vocational Trainers in HCW Technology/Equipment Suppliers Environment/Waste Management Consultants Professional Networks (II)

While the professional networks will consist of a broad range of stakeholders it is hoped that the healthcare waste managers within that group both from the public and private sectors would form a pan European professional body e.g.: European Institute of Healthcare Waste Managers (EIHWM) This would be a suggested output of the project within the Exploitation Plan and would be an accredited professional body solely for healthcare waste managers. Professional Networks (III)

The e:learning portal is being developed at the moment and it includes two versions as we have a two tier approach to the vocational learning process across the EU. The majority of partners will use the platform to provide HCWM training as there is an absence of vocational learning in those member states. Those of us who do have a vocational qualification framework established will use the platform within that formal framework and it will have all the assessment and verification functionality to support this. E:Learning Portal

In the case of the UK version of the portal we will have three distinct qualifications available: 1.Healthcare Waste Manager 2.Healthcare Waste Treatment Manager 3.Healthcare Waste Transport Manager These will be degree level vocational qualifications and will be known as Professional Development Awards. More on this at the Final Conference. E:Learning Portal

Currently working on the exploitation plan and are looking at ways of addressing the sustainability of the project outputs. At the moment we are trying to focus on building the professional networks and developing an e-platform to allow professional network interaction. In addition we intend to propose the professional body for HCWM and provide a web site and newsletters etc. in this regard. This would be hosted for 5 years beyond the life of the project. More on this at the Final Conference in November. Exploitation Plan