Management Assistant

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Management Assistant. The qualification provides an opportunity for the learner to acquire a range of skills to be able to coordinate the activities of the organisation and provide professional administrative and secretarial support to managers, either as part of a team or individually. They also coordinate activities of assigned personnel and provide current and updated relevant information to the manager as support for upcoming meetings. The Management assistant can also function as a Senior or Executive secretary, depending on experience and is the gatekeeper who promotes the professional image of the manager and the organisation. The management assistant also needs to be able to manage special projects using resources given according to good governance procedures. The qualified learner will be actively engaged in becoming a well-rounded, multi-skilled person, prepared for further, more specific study and a number of alternative career choices within the secretarial or personal assistant field. A qualified learner will be able to: • Plan, organise and support department meetings and workshops. • Apply appropriate personal and interpersonal skills to a range of situations to facilitate the smooth relations between internal and external stakeholders according to organisational standards. • Apply basic knowledge of relevant administration governance, policies and procedures to manage resources effectively in the organisation. • Plan, administer and provide support services to a special project within an organisation. • Promote professional documentation by utilising effective and accurate information processing and research skills to enhance the professional image of the organisation or industry.

This qualification is a response to current legislation which states the following: Programmes offered to meet industry needs, including those supporting apprenticeships and N-Courses, are reviewed, updated and made available to and accessed by employers. To prevent proliferation, current legacy qualifications with the same outcomes were analysed and will be absorbed to form part of the Management Assistant occupational qualification. The qualification will not have the specialisations for Legal or Medical secretary as these can be acquired additionally and are very job specific. The Management Assistant has an important role as an interpreter between people, as a creator of team spirit, and as a mentor, may have a significant impact on the atmosphere of the organisation. Management Assistants will need to be able to align views and sympathise with others, and also understand how people gather and assimilate information and in future, working across time zones will become common practice and virtual connections such as email, phones, web-casts and teleconferences will provide new opportunities for automating routines, and release time for more demanding work and developing working methods. Management Assistants need to be proactive and manage their own work instead of waiting for clearly defined assignments. That means greater independence and bigger responsibility: self-management and life-long learning as valued skills. The Management Assistant needs good interaction and communication skills to support the atmosphere of the work community and be able to handle challenging situations. Contact with stakeholders is also an important part of their work, so they need to be open-minded and understand diversity. This qualification seeks to address the current and future needs of industry to equip the Management Assistant with the necessary skills. Different organization structures also provide new career opportunities for secretaries and assistants in specialist, management and supervisory roles. Management Assistants may specialise in managing corporate reputation and image in social media, both externally and/or internally. All parties involved in this industry were consulted such as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) lecturers, Professional Bodies and Associations and relevant SETAs.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • Level 4 with Communication.

• Plan, organise and support department meetings and workshops.
• Apply appropriate personal and interpersonal skills to a range of situations to facilitate the smooth relations between internal and external stakeholders according to organisational standards.
• Apply basic knowledge of relevant administration governance, policies and procedures to manage resources effectively in the organisation.
• Plan, administer and provide support services to a special project within an organisation.
• Promote professional documentation by utilising effective and accurate information processing and research skills to enhance the professional image of the organisation or industry.