Explain the role of the SVQ (Lead) External Verifier and External Verifiers?
The main role of the Senior (Lead) External Verifier is to make sure all approval and verification activities are carried out by their team and are carried out in line with SQA policies, procedures and guidelines.
The External Verifier is responsible for external verification and qualification approval activities under the conditions, timescales and arrangements set by SQA.
The main role is to participate in the verification of qualifications in the subject area to make sure standards are maintained.
These activities will be under the direction of the Senior External Verifier and staff from SQA's Internal Assessment Delivery and Quality Assurance and Qualification Development directorates as appropriate.
What advice would you give someone starting an SVQ qualification in Health and Social Care or Social Services (Children and Young People)?
The first advice I would give to someone starting their award would be to plan their way through the process. With their assessor, they should look at what the optional units are and choose ones that best suits them. Look at what do you do every day and then find a unit that relates to that work.
Once they have the correct number of units chosen, they should check if there are any units that interact with one another.
For example, the level six optional unit of personal care. If the candidate supports someone with their personal care needs, including using a hoist or other pieces of equipment, then this will give the candidate another unit to consider doing.
The purpose of this is to let the candidates know that the award is not difficult to understand and how to navigate a way through it.
Planning is the key advice.
What support is available for people completing an SVQ qualification in Health and Social Care or Social Services (Children and Young People)?
SVQ assessment allows someone to demonstrate and reflect on the skills required to do a job well, as well as understand and reflect on how it is done.
The awards are built on the idea that people who do not already hold a relevant work qualification, but have the necessary experience, values, knowledge and skills to work competently. They can be assessed during working hours while still carrying out their day-to-day work activities. Candidates can be supported in various ways to suit their own requirements.
What are the benefits of achieving an SVQ qualification in Health and Social Care or Social Services (Children and Young People)?
For me, the main benefit of achieving an SVQ qualification is reflection. Candidates can look back at their practice and the process of being assessed can help them be a reflective practitioner.
There is also the benefit of having the relevant qualification for your role, which is an important part of SSSC registration and be recognised as a professional.
Achieving an SVQ can give you confidence in your own ability and you might decide you want to go on and do further education through college or university.
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.