2. Understanding Standards: Nominee Training Event
Care
National 4, National 5 and Higher

3. Aims of the Day
To support Nominees in their understanding of national standards by:
reviewing documentation and verification process
reviewing candidate evidence
discussing this evidence and associated assessment standards with colleagues
Reviewing evidence with new guidelines for 2016/17
asking questions and seeking clarification about national standards
gaining an understanding of information provided to centres

4. Key points: Care units
have a hierarchical unit structure that provide progression from National 4 to Higher 
has added value assessment that increase personalisation and choice in the Care Assignment at National 4
Mapped to SCQF

5. Overview of documentation
Unit Specifications
mandatory requirements for each unit
Course Specifications
Overall information about courses: rationale, structure, high-level skills knowledge and understanding
Unit Assessment Support Packages
builds on assessment guidance in the unit specification and exemplifies standard required

6. Unit Assessment
Assessments can be designed to provide evidence across more than one unit or outcome – combined assessments
Flexible and open Evidence Requirements in units
Greater range of techniques and methodologies for assessment – encouraged through unit assessment support packages
More opportunities to gather naturally occurring evidence – assessment as part of learning and teaching

7. Unit Assessment Support Packages - purpose
Unit Assessment Support packages (UASPs) can be used to:
Assess your candidates
Adapt for your own assessment programmes
Help you develop your own assessments

8. UASPs – key features Valid from August 2013
Designed to encourage professional judgement
Provide broad-based tasks – allow assessors to choose appropriate context and forms of evidence
Show range of approaches to generating assessment evidence
Give information on the type of evidence which could be gathered and how this is to be judged against assessment standards

9. Care UASPs
Package 1
Unit-by-Unit approach National 4 and National 5 – discrete assessment tasks for each unit
Package 2
Combined across all three units at National 4 and 5
Package 3
Combined approach covering two units, and other unit assessed using unit approach.

10. Updates for 2016/17 Values and Principles (National 4):
Assessment Standard ONE INDIVIDUAL instead of two
Assessment Standard no re-assessment required
Assessment Standard ONE CARE SERVICE instead of three
National 4 Social Influence and Human Development and Behaviour - NO CHANGE

11. Updates for 2016/17 Values and Principles (National 5):
Assessment Standard ONE INDIVIDUAL instead of two
Assessment Standard 1.4 – ONE CARE SERVICE instead of three
Human Development and Behaviour (National 5):
ONE INDIVIDUAL instead of two for all Assessment Standards
Social Influence (National 4) no change

12. Updates for 2016/17 Values and Principles (Higher):
Assessment Standards 1.3 & no need for reassessment if they do not meet the requirements of ONE of these.
Higher Social Influence and Human Development and Behaviour - no change

13. Workshops

14. Verification Round 1 taking place in February 2017
Consider if a centre’s assessment approach is valid in relation to the qualification criteria.
Take a holistic view
Recognise different approaches
Review will be carried out with an open mind using a values based approach:
Trusted
Progressive
Enabling

15. Six Outputs of External Verification
Validity
Reliability
Effectiveness
Identification of good practice
Provision of developmental advice
Exemplification of materials

16. Verification Evidence
Sample forms
Internal verification details
Outline/explanation of ‘Judging the Evidence’
Unit assessment task (but not if using prior verified/SQA)
Report of Prior Verifier (if appropriate)
Certificate of Candidate Assessment Record

17. the approaches to assessment and/or the assessment judgements
Evidence-Based Assessment Decisions
ACCEPTED
The approaches to assessment for all candidates at that level are valid
The assessment judgements for all candidates at that level are reliable, consistent, and in line with Assessment Standards
ACCEPTED*
Overall the approaches to assessment and assessment judgements at that level are in line with national standards (i.e. certification can proceed) but there are some recommended actions that relate to:
the approaches to assessment and/or
the assessment judgements
NOT ACCEPTED
Indicates that there was a significant issue at that level with
The centre’s assessment judgements and that this warrants a hold being placed on certification until corrective action is taken and verified by SQA.

18. National 4 Added Value Unit
Makes the Course more than the sum of its parts
Builds on current Course assessment and Group Award approaches
Defined as breadth, challenge and/or application as outlined in Building the Curriculum 5
May involve accumulation, assimilation, integration and/or application of skills, knowledge and understanding
Controlled assessment – setting conducting and marking

19. National 4 Added Value Unit: Care Assignment
Unit Specification and Unit Assessment Support package
‘Investigate care services that meet the needs of an individual’
Identify an individual, investigate needs, apply sociological & psychological concepts, investigate services, present findings, review.
Internally marked pass or fail

20. Workshop 3

21. Added Value unit :Key Messages
Provide appropriate scenarios which allow candidates to develop the individual according to their own interest
Ensure candidate describes services that match the needs of the individual chosen
Ensure there is evidence of any investigation and/or identification of the sources of information used
Clarify assessment conditions to meet assessment standard 1.6: Reviewing skills, knowledge and understanding . . .’ This should normally be completed in no more than one hour.

22. Added Value unit :Key Messages (continued)
Clarify where assessment standards are met in the evidence. This helps the candidates to monitor their own progress and enable assessors to judge when candidates have met the Assessment Standards.
When using oral evidence, ensure that it is recorded.
Use some form of feedback sheet with assessor comments. Also useful for candidates to monitor progress.

23. Key messages from Verification 15/16
Clearly identify where assessment standards are reached, helps candidates to monitor their progress and enable assessors to make accurate judgements
Implement any recommendations from prior verification
Provide candidates with clear and concise requirements but do not remove candidate choice.
Encourage candidates to submit evidence in a range of options which reflects the interests of the candidate.
When submitting materials for External Verification include case studies, instructions for candidates, assessment conditions

24. Key messages from Verification 15/16 (continued)
If the candidate provides a verbal response in addition to written evidence provide a record of dialogue or checklist/summary
Assessors should ensure their assessment decisions are accurate and cover all the assessment standards. Feedback sheets which include assessor and Internal Verifier comments enable the candidate to gain feedback and monitor their progress.
Provide sources of information.