OCN London · RQF Level 2

OCNLR Level 2 Award in Information, Advice or Guidance

You don’t just earn this. You learn to use it, one-to-one, on your own real work.

  • LevelRQF Level 2
  • Total credits6
  • Guided learning48 hours
  • Units in this qualification16

Awarded by OCN London · on the Ofqual register

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What you’ll learn

What each unit actually teaches you to do

The OCNLR Level 2 Award in Information, Advice or Guidance is aimed at learners working, or intending to work, in the information, advice or guidance sector. It develops an understanding of the role and the skills required to provide effective information, advice and guidance.

These are the units OCN London registers against this qualification. It is a catalogue, not a syllabus. Which of them you take depends on the combination the qualification requires, and that is set by the awarding body rather than by us. Every unit here is regulated, and every one you earn is yours to keep.

Benefits Advice Work - PracticeReal unit · OCN London
This unit covers the main categories and key features of the UK welfare benefits system. You'll gain knowledge of eligibility criteria and the processes involved in claiming appropriate benefits or funds, including Universal Credit and other key schemes.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand the main categories of welfare benefits.
  • Recognise the key features of the benefits system.
  • Claim appropriate benefits or funds.
Developing Interaction Skills for Information, Advice or GuidanceReal unit · OCN London
This unit provides learners with an understanding of effective interaction and communication skills for delivering information, advice, or guidance. You'll consider the influence of personal values, confidentiality, impartiality, and techniques to establish rapport with clients.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand how to interact effectively with clients.
  • Understand the importance of effective communication skills in the delivery of information, advice or guidance.
  • Understand how own values, beliefs and attitudes may affect interactions with clients.
  • Understand the importance of confidentiality and impartiality in interactions with clients.
  • Outline an action plan for developing own interaction skills.
Information, Advice or Guidance Work with GroupsReal unit · OCN London
It teaches you to understand the role of group work in information, advice, or guidance provision. You'll examine factors influencing session effectiveness and develop skills to plan, conduct, and evaluate group sessions while fostering cooperative relationships.

What you'll be able to do

  • Recognise the role of group work in the provision of information, advice or guidance.
  • Understand the factors which can influence the effectiveness of information, advice or guidance group sessions.
  • Plan information, advice or guidance sessions.
  • Conduct information, advice or guidance sessions.
  • Evaluate information, advice or guidance sessions.
  • Understand the skills required to establish co-operative working relationships within information, advice or guidance group sessions.
Information, Advice or Guidance in PracticeReal unit · OCN London
You'll understand the distinctions between information, advice, and guidance, and how to meet client requirements within these areas. The unit covers role boundaries, methods of delivery, and the importance of accurate record keeping in practice.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand the distinction between information, advice and guidance.
  • Understand ways of meeting the information, advice or guidance requirements of clients.
  • Understand the boundaries of own role in meeting information, advice or guidance requirements of clients.
  • Understand the purpose of accurate record keeping to fulfil good practice guidelines.
Information, Advice or Guidance – ContextReal unit · OCN London
You'll explore the specific information, advice, or guidance needs of a defined client group, considering their characteristics and potential barriers. The unit also covers how to explore choices, enable clients to challenge discrimination, and support client empowerment.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand the specific information, advice or guidance needs of a defined group of clients.
  • Understand how to explore choices and options effectively with a specific group of clients.
  • Understand how to enable clients to challenge discriminatory behaviour and practice they may encounter.
  • Understand the range of potential barriers which may prevent clients from accessing information, advice or guidance services.
Introduction to Information, Advice or Guidance in Schools and Colleges - PolicyReal unit · OCN London
You'll gain knowledge of national UK government policies relating to information, advice, or guidance provision in schools and colleges. The unit covers the requirements set by policy and how these impact the delivery of information, advice, and guidance services.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand the national requirements for information, advice or guidance provision, as determined by current UK government policy.
Introduction to Information, Advice or Guidance in Schools and Colleges - PracticeReal unit · OCN London
It teaches you to understand their responsibilities within information, advice, or guidance practice in educational settings. You'll plan activities, recognise the limits of their role, and identify when to refer clients to other sources of support or expertise.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand own responsibilities in relation to information, advice or guidance practice within an education environment.
  • Plan own information, advice or guidance activities effectively.
Introduction to Information, Advice or Guidance in Schools and Colleges - PrinciplesReal unit · OCN London
You'll explore the principles underpinning information, advice, and guidance in education, including the relationship and distinctions between these activities. The unit covers the key components of provision and how they work together to support clients effectively.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand the relationship between information, advice and guidance as distinct but related activities.
  • Understand the key components of information, advice and guidance provision within an education environment.
Managing InformationReal unit · OCN London
This unit covers the range of resources available to clients within a specific organisation, including various media used to provide information. You'll understand how systems for storage and retrieval of information operate and how clients can access and benefit from these resources.

What you'll be able to do

  • Know the range of resources available to clients within a specific organisation.
  • Know a range of media which can be used to provide information for clients within own organisation.
  • Understand how systems for the storage and retrieval of information operate within own organisation.
Operating within Networks to Support Information, Advice or GuidanceReal unit · OCN London
You'll explore the role of networks in supporting information, advice, or guidance, recognising different types of networks and their benefits. The unit also covers the importance of operating within Codes of Practice and Principles, and the various roles within networks.

What you'll be able to do

  • Recognise the role of networks in supporting information, advice or guidance
  • Understand the need for networks to operate within Codes of Practice
  • Understand the need for networks to operate within Principles
  • Understand the different roles within networks
Signposting and Referral - Information, Advice or GuidanceReal unit · OCN London
It teaches you to understand when it is appropriate to signpost or refer clients to other agencies, distinguishing between signposting and referral. You'll demonstrate good practice in these processes and learn how to monitor and evaluate client referrals effectively.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand when it is appropriate to signpost or refer clients to other agencies, considering their individual needs and circumstances.
  • Understand the difference between signposting and referral, including the implications of each approach.
  • Demonstrate good practice when referring or signposting clients, adhering to relevant policies and procedures.
  • Monitor and evaluate client referrals to other agencies, ensuring appropriate support and outcomes.
Skills for Advice ProvidersReal unit · OCN London
You'll develop essential skills for advice providers, including understanding the role of social policy in advice work, conducting advice interviews, supporting clients in planning and action, negotiating on clients' behalf, and utilising information resources to meet client needs.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand the role of social policy in advice work, including its impact on clients and service provision.
  • Understand the purpose and process of an advice interview, including effective communication and information gathering techniques.
  • Support a client to plan and take action, empowering them to achieve their desired outcomes.
  • Understand how to negotiate effectively on a client’s behalf, advocating for their rights and interests.
  • Understand how to use information resources to meet client requirements, ensuring access to accurate and relevant information.
Specialist Advice Work in Practice - DebtReal unit · OCN London
This unit provides learners with knowledge of factors to consider when advising clients on debt issues, including types of debt and strategies for resolution. You'll also reflect on their own skills and development needs relevant to specialist debt advice.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand the factors to consider when advising a client on debt issues, including their financial situation and personal circumstances.
  • Know about the types of debt and the strategies used to resolve debt problems, including debt management plans and insolvency options.
  • Recognise own skills and development needs in relation to debt advice, and identify opportunities for further learning and improvement.
Specialist Advice Work in Practice - EmploymentReal unit · OCN London
You'll gain an understanding of legal rights and systems supporting employment advice, factors to consider when advising on employment issues, and will identify their own skills and development needs in employment advice provision.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand the legal rights and systems which support employment advice provision, including employment law and relevant legislation.
  • Know the factors to consider when advising a client on employment issues, including discrimination, unfair dismissal, and redundancy.
  • Recognise own skills and development needs in relation to employment advice, and identify opportunities for further learning and improvement.
Specialist Advice Work in Practice - HousingReal unit · OCN London
This unit covers the information needs and legal rights relevant to housing advice, factors to consider when advising clients on housing issues, and encourages learners to recognise their own skills and development needs in housing advice practice.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand the information needs and legal rights relevant to housing advice, including tenancy agreements, eviction procedures, and homelessness support.
  • Know the factors to consider when advising a client on housing issues, including affordability, disrepair, and housing benefit entitlements.
  • Recognise own skills and development needs in relation to housing advice, and identify opportunities for further learning and improvement.
Specialist Advice Work in Practice - Refugee, Immigrant or Asylum SeekerReal unit · OCN London
You'll understand the legal rights and status of refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers, as well as factors to consider when advising on related issues. The unit also addresses confidentiality and encourages reflection on personal skills and development needs.

What you'll be able to do

  • Understand the legal rights and status of refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers.
  • Know the factors to consider when advising a client on refugee, immigrant or asylum seeker issues.
  • Recognise own skills and development needs in relation to providing specialist advice.

The honest bit

You’ve started things before

Most courses were built for a room full of people who aren’t you. A cohort moves on whether or not your week allowed it, and by the third week the thing you’re behind on becomes the reason you stop opening it.

There’s no cohort here, and no timetable to fall behind. Before anything starts, Zavmo asks when you’re sharpest and how long you can realistically sit down for, then builds the sessions around those answers. A bad fortnight changes your pace. It doesn’t put you behind.

And you only pay once you start learning. Searching and planning are free, and you can cancel any time — so the cost of finding out is an afternoon, not a year.

Your passport

Every credit is a stamp you keep

Level 2 credits are regulated. They don’t vanish when a subscription ends or a website closes. They travel to any employer, and Zavmo keeps the map of what you’ve earned and what’s next.

Benefits Advice Work - PracticeDeveloping Interaction Skills for Information, Advice or GuidanceInformation, Advice or Guidance Work with GroupsInformation, Advice or Guidance in PracticeInformation, Advice or Guidance – ContextIntroduction to Information, Advice or Guidance in Schools and Colleges - PolicyIntroduction to Information, Advice or Guidance in Schools and Colleges - PracticeIntroduction to Information, Advice or Guidance in Schools and Colleges - Principles

Each stamp is a real unit registered against this qualification.

Who’d teach you this

The Evidence Evaluator

Assessor

Helps you show what you can actually do, gathering the evidence that proves it as you learn.

Meet all twelve tutors

Where this connects

Where these credits take you

A qualification is never a dead end here. See the jobs its credits open, the national occupational standards its units map to, and the future skills they quietly build.

See Your Progress GrowIllustration
OCNLR Level 2 Award in Information, Advice or Guidance
  • Initiate, and participate in, networks and discussion groups
  • Provide first line asylum legal advice
  • Provide first line immigration legal advice
  • Provide specialist and technical advice and guidance in courts and tribunals
  • Provide specialist asylum legal advice and casework
  • Provide specialist employment legal advice and progress cases with clients
  • Provide specialist health and community care legal advice
  • Provide specialist legal immigration advice and casework
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

Where this can lead

Senior Business Immigration Specialist

The journey from Senior Specialist to a leadership or principal role is about continually challenging yourself, expanding your expertise, and taking on more responsibility. We're here to support that journey, providing the opportunities and development you need to build a truly impactful career in immigration law.

See the whole journey →

Skills it covers

What the job actually needs. These are the standards the units are built against, in the words employers and awarding bodies already use for the work itself.

Initiate, and participate in, networks and discussion groupsProvide first line asylum legal adviceProvide first line immigration legal adviceProvide specialist and technical advice and guidance in courts and tribunalsProvide specialist asylum legal advice and caseworkProvide specialist employment legal advice and progress cases with clientsProvide specialist health and community care legal adviceProvide specialist legal immigration advice and caseworkProvide specialist money and debt legal advice and progress cases with clients

How you’ll actually learn this

One-to-one, on your own real work

A qualification is usually something done to you: sit the class, sit the exam, hope it sticks. Here it’s the opposite. You learn it one-to-one with a companion, on your own real work, and you keep going until you can use it, not just recall it.

One-to-one, on your real workNo lectures, no past-papers. Every unit is practised on the actual tasks your job throws at you, a tutor beside you, not a video in front of you.
Taught to the top, not the testMost courses stop at remembering. Your companion keeps climbing: analysing, judging, creating. That’s the part a machine can’t do for you.
Credits you keep, a map that continuesEvery unit is regulated and yours for good. The day you finish, Zavmo already knows the next role your new credits open.
Benefits Advice Work - PracticeLevel 2

Applied to your work in any of these jobs

This unit covers the main categories and key features of the UK welfare benefits system. Learners will gain knowledge of eligibility criteria and the processes involved in claiming appropriate benefits or funds, including Universal Credit and other key schemes.

How the thinking builds
  1. Remember
  2. Understand
  3. Apply
  4. Analyse
  5. Evaluate
  6. Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.
Your PlanIllustration

Built for OCNLR Level 2 Award in Information, Advice or Guidance

16 units in this credential, in the order it lists them, awarded by OCN London.

  1. Benefits Advice Work - Practice
  2. Developing Interaction Skills for Information, Advice or Guidance
  3. Information, Advice or Guidance Work with Groups
  4. Information, Advice or Guidance in Practice
  5. Information, Advice or Guidance – Context
  6. Introduction to Information, Advice or Guidance in Schools and Colleges - Policy

and 10 more in the full unit list below.

These are the real units of this credential, in its own order. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

One to one, not one to many

No two people run this the same way

A course is written once and handed to everyone. This is assembled around you, and keeps changing as it learns you. Five things it reads, and what each one changes.

  1. Your actual work Every unit is taught against a live piece of your own work, not a worked example from a textbook.
  2. What you already know The first conversation finds your starting point, so you skip what you can already do and spend the time on what you cannot.
  3. The conditions you learn under Not a learning-styles quiz. The evidence does not support those. The dimensions the research does back, read once and used to shape the plan.
  4. How far you got last time It picks up mid-thought. The tutor knows what you said, what you struggled with, and what it asked you to try.
  5. Which tutor suits the moment Twelve of them, each for a different kind of thinking. The one who walks you through a first idea is not the one who stress-tests it.

See how you learn, free. Eight questions, no sign-up. A directional taster; the diagnostic inside Zavmo goes deeper and keeps adapting.

Why it sticks

Most courses stop at remembering

There’s a well-known ladder of how deeply you learn something, called Bloom’s Taxonomy. Most courses get you up the first two rungs: you remember some facts, you pass a test, you forget it. Real skill lives at the top. Judging, deciding, creating. And this isn’t a generic ladder: every rung has a named Zavmo tutor who walks you up it.

  1. 6CreateThe Creative Catalyst
  2. 5EvaluateThe Evidence Evaluator
  3. 4AnalyseThe Analyst
  4. 3ApplyThe Coach
  5. 2UnderstandThe Connector
  6. 1RememberThe Builder

Where most courses leave you Where Zavmo takes you

Why this matters: AI can already remember and understand for you. What it can’t do is take your real problem and judge the right call. So the only learning worth paying for is the learning that takes you to the top. That’s exactly what a tutor doing it with you, on your real work, is for.

The value

Why the companion is worth £70 a month

You’re not paying for the units. They’re regulated, and the same wherever you earn them. You’re paying for the one thing that decides whether you actually get there: a companion that makes them stick, on your real work.

That is one-to-one on this qualification, every day, on the work you already do, for £70 a month. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it. Billed monthly, cancel any time and billing stops.

Earned on your own work, taught to the top.

Everything you just read, learned one-to-one on the job you already do. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it.

Build my plan, free

No card. See how this qualification maps onto your role and meet the tutors who’d teach it, free. The learning begins when you subscribe. It’s £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.