ASSESSMENT PRINCIPLES MAY 2012

Transcription

1 The Sectr Skills Cuncil fr Prperty Services, Husing, Cleaning Services and Facilities Management the sectr skills cuncil fr the places where we live and wrk ASSESSMENT PRINCIPLES MAY 2012 POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES FOR AWARDING ASSET SKILLS COMPETENCE UNITS ACROSS ALL FOUR NATIONS Asset Skills 2 nd Flr Sl Huse 19 St Katherine s Street Nrthamptn NN1 2QZ Tel: Fax: enquiries@assetskills.rg Website: 1 Assessment Principles May 2012 Versin

2 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 3 2 ASSESSMENT PRINCIPLES 4 3 SIMULATION AND WITNESS TESTIMONY 5 4. RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE 6 5. EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE OF ASSESSMENT 7 6 FRAMEWORK CRITERIA FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF EXTERNAL 88 7 FRAMEWORK CRITERIA FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF INTERNAL VERIFIERS 10 8 FRAMEWORK CRITERIA FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF ASSESSORS Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

3 1 INTRODUCTION ASSET SKILLS has wrked with the Awarding Organisatins ffering qualificatins within their ftprint t develp these assessment principles fr cmpetence based units f assessment which have been submitted by Asset Skills t the apprpriate natinal qualificatin and credit framewrk. ASSET SKILLS, with the supprt f industry, is dedicated t embedding the Natinal Occupatinal Standards and units f assessment int the wrkplace and t uphlding the quality and integrity f the Standards and Units and qualificatins based upn them. 3 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

4 2 ASSESSMENT PRINCIPLES FOR COMPETENCY BASED UNITS 2.1 The fllwing principles will apply t Awarding Organisatins: Assessment shuld nrmally be at the candidate s wrkplace, but where the pprtunity t assess acrss the range f standards is unavailable ther cmparable wrking envirnments may be used, fllwing agreement frm the External Verifier A hlistic apprach twards the cllectin f evidence shuld be encuraged, assessing activities generated by the whle wrk experience rather than fcusing n specific tasks Asset Skills des nt prescribe a minimum number f bservatins. Hwever, evidence prvided must demnstrate that the candidate s cmpetency is cnsistent and reliable Assessrs can nly assess in their acknwledged area f ccupatinal cmpetence Assessrs and Internal Quality Assurers/Internal Verifiers will be registered with their Apprved Centre and be accuntable t the rganisatin fr their assessment practice Health and safety f custmers/clients and emplyees must be maintained thrughut the assessment prcess and if any persn carrying ut assessment r verificatin activities des nt feel that there is due regard t health and safety then that persn shuld refuse t cntinue with the activity(ies) until satisfied that due regard t health and safety is being taken. 4 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

5 3 SIMULATION AND WITNESS TESTIMONY FOR COMPETENCY BASED UNITS There are a few ccasins when simulatin r witness testimny is warranted where the centre can demnstrate that perfrmance evidence has been impssible t btain. The underlying reasns fr either simulatin r witness testimny are: health and safety cnsideratins activities that wuld cause serius incnvenience r lss t an emplyer if there was an undue delay in their being carried ut Infrequently ccurring activities equality f access 3.1 Simulatin Simulatin may be necessary fr specific elements f the units. It is advisable that centres refer t the Awarding Organisatins in these cases fr clear guidelines. Awarding Organisatin guidance t centres must ensure that demands n the candidate during simulatin are neither mre nr less than they wuld encunter in a real wrk situatin. In particular: All simulatins must be planned, develped and dcumented by the centre in a way that ensures the simulatin accurately reflects what the unit seeks t assess All simulatins shuld fllw these dcumented plans A centre s verall strategy fr simulatin must be examined and apprved by the external verifier There shuld be a range f simulatins t cver the same aspect f the standard s that the risk f candidates successfully clluding is reduced The physical envirnment fr the simulatin must be as realistic as pssible and draw n real resurces that wuld be used in the industry The nature f the cntingency must be realistic. 3.2 Witness Testimny Witness testimny shuld nt frm the primary surce f evidence. Centres must cmply with Awarding Organisatin guidance ver the ccupatinal cmpetence and briefing f witnesses in the use f witness testimny. 5 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

6 4 RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE 4.1 Evidence frm past achievement may be included as permissible evidence within assessment methds. 4.2 Evidence f prir knwledge and understanding can be ffered as supplementary evidence as lng as it is a measurable assessed utcme f learning which links t the unit f assessment 4.3 Assessrs shuld make best use f all the assessment methds available t them in ensuring the mst reliable and effective use is made f claims f prir learning and experience which relate t the individual circumstances. 4.4 All candidates must demnstrate current cmpetence with respect t recgnitin f prir learning (RPL). 6 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

7 5 EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE OF ASSESSMENT 5.1 Awarding Organisatins will perate a Risk Rating system f Apprved Centres. This will be applied UK wide The Awarding Organisatins will review centre risk ratings n an annual basis t ensure risk rating is still apprpriate and take apprpriate actin t ensure quality assurance is maintained.. 7 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

8 6 FRAMEWORK CRITERIA FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF EXTERNAL VERIFIERS 6.1 ASSET SKILLS aims t ensure that the technical and quality aspiratins f industry are met, in rder t inspire cnfidence in the natinal ccupatinal standards and qualificatins. 6.2 The criteria will apply t existing and new External Verifiers (EVs). 6.3 Verificatin Cmpetence The appintment and cmpetence f External Verifiers must cmply with current Ofqual regulatins fr QCF Awarding Organisatins. Awarding Organisatins will ensure that External Verifiers: Hld r be wrking twards an apprpriate external verifier qualificatin and demnstrate evidence f knwledge, understanding and experience f the assessment prcess (tgether with the ccupatinal cmpetence requirements belw). In England, Wales, Nrthern Ireland new External Verifiers must achieve an apprpriate external verifier qualificatin within 12 mnths f beginning external verificatin. In Sctland, all new EVs shuld have an assessment plan fr achieving L&D Unit 12 and be wrking twards achieving the awards. There is n timescale attached t the achievement f L&D Unit Occupatinal Cmpetence All External Verifiers must prvide evidence f knwledge, understanding and applicatin f the Natinal Occupatinal Standards (NOS), Units f Assessment and Assessment Principles, tgether with technical definitins where apprpriate. Awarding Organisatins shuld cver this requirement as part f their nrmal appintment prcess have verifiable relevant experience and current knwledge f the ccupatinal wrking area at r abve the level being verified. This experience and knwledge must be f sufficient depth t be effective and reliable when verifying judgements abut assessrs assessment prcesses and decisins. External verifiers experience and knwledge culd be verified by: curriculum vitae and references pssessin f a relevant qualificatin crprate membership f a relevant prfessinal institutin have up t date knwledge and experience f the particular aspects f wrk they are verifying. This culd be verified by recrds f cntinuing prfessinal develpment achievements have a sund in-depth knwledge f, and uphld the integrity f the NOS, Units f Assessment and these Assessment Principles 8 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

9 6.4.5 undertake cntinuus prfessinal develpment t ensure that they are wrking t the current Natinal Occupatinal Standards in assessment and verificatin be aware f natinal issues affecting vcatinal educatin, training and qualificatins in the sectr have apprpriate knwledge f the ASSET SKILLS framewrk f qualificatins in relevant areas t the qualificatins being externally verified demnstrate their ability t maintain credibility and retain the cnfidence f the industry thrugh cmmitment t cntinuus persnal and prfessinal develpment prvide evidence f knwledge, understanding and applicatin f the Regulatry Authrities cdes f practice 6.5 Awarding Organisatins may have generic criteria and persnnel specificatins in additin t the abve. 9 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

10 7 FRAMEWORK CRITERIA FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURERS/ INTERNAL VERIFIERS 7.1 Internal Quality Assurers/Internal Verifiers (IQAs/IVs) are appinted by an Apprved Centre and apprved by the Awarding Organisatin thrugh their External Verifier. 7.2 This criteria will apply t existing and new IQAs/IVs. 7.3 IQAs/IVs shuld nly verify the decisins f assessrs which fall within their area f technical and ccupatinal cmpetence. 7.4 IQAs/IVs shuld be seen as the persns respnsible fr an apprved centre s assessment quality in rder t facilitate the assessment prcess and shuld be ne f the fllwing: Or IQAs/IVs will be emplyed directly r cntractually by the same rganisatin (apprved centre) as the assessrs Acting as a cunter-signatry n a shrt term basis, a maximum perid f 18 mnths, where IQAs/IVs have nt yet achieved an apprpriate qualificatin in internal verificatin 7.5 The appintment and cmpetence f IQAs/IVs must cmply with current Regulatry Authrity regulatins. IQAs/IVs will either: a Hld r be wrking twards an apprpriate internal verifier qualificatin In England, Wales and Nrthern Ireland all new IQAs/IVs shuld achieve an apprpriate internal verifier qualificatin within 18 mnths f beginning internal quality assurance/verificatin duties. Internal quality assurance/verificatin decisins by verifiers wh are still wrking twards certificatin must be cuntersigned by an IQA/IV wh has gained certificatin. In Sctland, all new Verifiers shuld have an assessment plan fr achieving the Learning and Develpment (L&D) Unit 11 and be wrking twards achieving the award. External Verifiers will mnitr prgress and achievement twards the achievement f Learning and Develpment (L&D) Unit 11 during centre visits All new IQAs/IVs must hld an apprpriate qualificatin in assessment f cmpetence Or: b Where emplyers pt fr an emplyer direct mdel, the qualificatin requirements specified by the regulatry authrities may be waived as described belw. The emplyer direct mdel is where clleagues, supervisrs and/r managers in the wrkplace are invlved in the assessment prcess. Under this mdel, the emplyer, with the agreement f their Awarding Organisatin and Asset Skills may chse between: Achieving the apprpriate regulatry bdy apprved unit qualificatins fr internal 10 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

11 quality assurance/verificatin OR Demnstrating that the emplyer s training and develpment activity undertaken t prepare, validate and review these quality assurance/verificatin rles, maps 100% t the Natinal Occupatinal Standards which these qualificatins are based n. The mapping prcess must be agreed by the Awarding Organisatin as prviding the equivalent level f rigur and rbustness as achievement f the unit qualificatin. The alternative ptin described abve, which waivers the need fr the regulatry apprved units, must be cnfined in applicatin t an rganisatin by rganisatin and qualificatin by qualificatin basis. Prspective rganisatins must be able t cnfirm that their in-huse practices cnfrm t the requirements f the Standards in assciatin with the relevant Awarding Organisatin It is desirable that all IQAs/IVs hld a relevant qualificatin IQAs/IVs will: have verifiable relevant experience and current knwledge f the ccupatinal wrking area at r abve the level being verified. This experience and knwledge must be f sufficient depth t be effective and reliable when verifying judgements abut assessrs assessment prcesses and decisins. IQAs /IVs experience and knwledge culd be verified by: curriculum vitae and references pssessin f a relevant qualificatin crprate membership f a relevant prfessinal institutin have expertise s they have up t date knwledge and experience f the particular aspects f wrk they are verifying. This culd be verified by recrds f cntinuing prfessinal develpment achievements have a sund in-depth knwledge f, and uphld the integrity f the NOS, Units f Assessment and these Assessment Principles be prepared t participate in training activities fr their cntinued prfessinal develpment demnstrate their ability t maintain ccupatinal cmpetence by cntinuus prfessinal develpment undertake cntinuus prfessinal develpment t ensure that they are wrking t the current Natinal Occupatinal Standards in assessment and verificatin have knwledge f the requirements and applicatin f the Asset Skills Assessment Principles prvide evidence f knwledge, understanding and applicatin f the Regulatry Authrities cdes f practice 11 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

12 7.6 Centres will be respnsible fr ensuring that internal quality assurers/internal verifiers plan and maintain cntinuus prfessinal develpment 7.7 Apprved Centres may have generic criteria and persnnel specificatins in additin t the abve. 12 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

13 8 FRAMEWORK CRITERIA FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF ASSESSORS 8.1 This sectin is intended t assist Apprved Centres in the recruitment f thse individuals wh will act as Assessrs within the Apprved Centre. 8.2 Assessrs are appinted by an Apprved Centre and apprved by the Awarding Organisatin thrugh their External Verifier They shuld nly assess in their area f technical and ccupatinal cmpetence as apprved by their Awarding Organisatins. 8.3 Assessrs shuld be ne f the fllwing: Emplyed directly r cntractually by the same rganisatin (centre) as the candidate Or Acting as a cunter signatry n a shrt term basis (18 mnths) where the Centre Assessr has nt yet achieved an apprpriate qualificatin in assessment f cmpetence 8.4 The Assessr shuld have the fllwing: Assessment Cmpetence Either: a Hld r be wrking twards an apprpriate qualificatin in assessment f cmpetence In England, Wales and Nrthern Ireland, new Assessrs must achieve an apprpriate qualificatin in assessment f cmpetence within 18 mnths f beginning assessment duties. Assessment decisins by Assessrs wh are still wrking twards certificatin must be cuntersigned by an Assessr wh has gained certificatin. In Sctland, all new Assessrs shuld have an assessment plan fr achieving 9D and/r 9DI units and be wrking twards achieving the units. External Verifiers will mnitr prgress and achievement twards the achievement f 9D and 9DI units during centre visits. Candidates in pssessin f a TQFE withut having an apprpriate 9D and 9DI units shuld undertake cntinuing prfessinal develpment t demnstrate that they are wrking t the apprpriate unit standard. Or: b Where emplyers pt fr an emplyer direct mdel, the qualificatin requirements specified by the regulatry authrities may be waived as described belw. The emplyer direct mdel is where clleagues, supervisrs and/r managers in the wrkplace are invlved in the assessment prcess. Under this mdel, the emplyer, with the agreement f their Awarding 13 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin

14 Organisatin and Asset Skills may chse between: Achieving the apprpriate regulatry bdy apprved unit qualificatins fr assessment. OR Demnstrating that the emplyer s training and develpment activity undertaken t prepare, validate and review these assessment rles, maps 100% t the Natinal Occupatinal Standards which these qualificatins are based n. The mapping prcess must be agreed by the Awarding Organisatin as prviding the equivalent level f rigur and rbustness as achievement f the unit qualificatin. The alternative ptin described abve, which waivers the need fr the regulatry apprved units, must be cnfined in applicatin t an rganisatin by rganisatin and qualificatin by qualificatin basis. Prspective rganisatins must be able t cnfirm that their in-huse practices cnfrm t the requirements f the Standards in assciatin with the relevant Awarding Organisatin. 8.5 Occupatinal Cmpetence All assessrs must have verifiable relevant current industry experience and knwledge f the ccupatinal area at r abve the level being assessed. This experience and knwledge must be f sufficient depth t be effective and reliable when judging candidates cmpetence. Assessrs experience and knwledge culd be verified by: curriculum vitae and references pssessin f a relevant qualificatin crprate membership f a relevant prfessinal institutin have sufficient ccupatinal expertise s they have up t date knwledge and experience f the particular aspects f wrk they are assessing. This culd be verified by recrds f cntinuing prfessinal develpment achievements have a sund in-depth knwledge f, and uphld the integrity f the sectr s NOS, units f Assessment and these Assessment Principles be prepared t participate in training activities fr their cntinued prfessinal develpment 8.6 Centres will be respnsible fr ensuring that assessrs plan and maintain cntinuus prfessinal develpment 8.7 Apprved Centres may have generic criteria and persnnel specificatins in additin t the abve. 14 Assessment Principles- May 2012 Versin