We want everyone to understand the different ways you can evidence your learning based on the job you already do, in the way that suits your own learning style.
Observation
Observation is when your assessor watches you do your normal work duties and is a common way of gathering evidence.
Observations often involve interactions with individuals who use the service or with colleagues and you must get their permission and make sure they understand what the observation is for and how it will be carried out.
Things like sensitive or personal care tasks should not be observed. If evidence is required from these areas, your assessor will use alternative methods that protect the dignity, privacy and rights of the individual. During an observation, your assessor may ask you questions to confirm your understanding.
You will only ever to do an observation for tasks you are trained to do and it’s not like an exam; there is no pass or fail.
Portfolio
As part of your qualification, you will build a portfolio of evidence. This portfolio is based on the units you select with your assessor and will develop over time by adding evidence that demonstrates your knowledge and practice.
Evidence can include work products you create in your role, such as care plans, reports, emails or supervision notes. These provide a record of the work you carry out.
A key part of your portfolio is your reflective accounts that capture your personal viewpoint and should be written in the first person, for example:
‘I supported Mr B to brush his hair by…
‘I ensured the bathroom floor was clear by…
Avoid phrases such as ‘I could’ or ‘I would’ as these suggest you did not carry out support you are describing. Reflective accounts should clearly show what you did, why you did it and what you learned from the experience.
Professional discussion
Professional discussion is a useful and popular way to show your learning when you're working towards an SVQ. Some people prefer it because it feels natural as it’s simply talking about the work you already do, the decisions you make and how these affect the people you support and your team.
It is more structured than a conversation or a chat between you and your assessor. It is a planned activity and you will have agreed in advance what you will discuss. You’ll talk about what you know, how you understand things and how you put that knowledge into practice including how this links to the qualification you’re working on.
It’s not a test and you don’t need to memorise anything. The process is designed to be relaxed and meaningful. Your assessor will ask you to think about your role and share what you’ve learned through your everyday work.
Many people find that using professional discussion gives them a chance to build confidence and recognise their skills and the expertise they already bring to their job.
Witness testimony
Statements or feedback from colleagues, supervisors or from the people you support and their families can provide valuable evidence of your skills and behaviours in practice. These comments can highlight how you carry out specific support, interact with others, apply your knowledge and demonstrate professionalism in real situations.
This type of feedback is known as witness testimony. A witness testimony is a written account from someone who has directly observed you in your work. As it comes from an impartial observer who has watched you perform a task or demonstrate a competency, it offers reliable, first-hand confirmation of your abilities.
Witness testimonies provide evidence of your ability in areas that may be difficult to evidence through written work and give you confidence in your work by providing insight into how others view your communication, teamwork and professionalism.
Questioning
Your assessor may use oral or written questioning to help you evidence your learning. The questions can check your knowledge and understanding of the support you carry out in your role. This approach helps to confirm not only what you do but also why you do it in a particular way, ensuring your practice meets the standards of your qualification.
While lots of your evidence will come from observation, reflective accounts and witness testimonies, some parts of the SVQ standards require you to show your understanding of legislation, values, principles, theories and procedures. Questioning gives your assessor a chance to explore these areas with you in more depth, helping you make the links through what you know and how it connects to your everyday practice.
SSSC registered
This article is part of our #SSSCregistered campaign where we’re sharing real life experiences of registrants who have recently gained their qualifications, alongside training providers and SVQ assessors to help the social care and children and young people workforce across Scotland learn more about the benefits of qualification and the support available.