1. Welcome

2. Senior Verifier Event
Juliette McGinley
QA Logistics Manager

3. Past, Present and Future
Housekeeping - Optima
New Approach to QA
Improvements & Benefits
This session– staying same but improving practice
Moving forward 2015/16

4. SQA’s Approach to QA Events
880 Visit Plans received in session 2013/14
Session
Completed Visits
Ongoing
Suspension of Certification
Not Running
2013/14
1677 75
127
327
2012/13
749 - 51
293

5. SQA’s Approach to QA Outcomes 2013/14
1513 compliant SQA’s Approach to QA visits
164 non-compliant SQA’s Approach to QA visits, of which 121 now compliant
Significant Strengths
Strengths outweigh Weaknesses
Some Strengths Some Weaknesses
Weaknesses outweigh Strengths
Significant Weaknesses
1513 21
135 5 3

6. Criteria Compliance Levels 2013/14
Criterion
Impact
Green
Amber
Red
2.3
Low
1242 30 1
2.4
High
1308 33 2
2.8
1645 20 3
3.2
Medium
1653 10
4.1
1609 60 4
4.2
1608 63
4.3
1587 81
4.5
1660 14
4.6
1663 8
4.7
1670 5
4.8
1656 9
6.6
1664

7. Quality Framework and NQ Visits
Status
Type
Completed Visits
Not Running
Holds
12/13
13/14
Visiting NQ
183
379
176 72 9 14
Visiting HN/SVQ
1461
245
1041 22 48 10

8. David Pirnie Lead Verifier – HN & VQ
Senior Verifier Event
David Pirnie Lead Verifier – HN & VQ

9. Qualification Verification
Approval and Qualification Verification – a general
update on:
The current approval guidance for Qualification Verification.
Qualification Verification guidance and queries from Session 2013/2014.

10. Approval Guidance Qualification Verification
Approval Guidance follows this format:
Quality Assurance Criteria by section, for example, Resources, Candidate Support.
Evidence required from the applying centre in relation to the Quality Assurance Criterion in each section.
Support guidance in relation to each Quality Assurance Criterion.

11. Quality Assurance Criterion
Resources
2.4 Records must be maintained to provide evidence that the centre has sufficient competent staff who have the necessary qualifications, occupational experience and understanding to support the assessment and internal verification of qualifications being offered in the centre.
Application Evidence
B4.1: Staff Details: for each staff member listed, you need to complete the supporting document: ‘Staff Qualifications and Experience’ listing your staffs’ qualifications (full titles rather than abbreviations), telling us where and when they were gained and a brief outline of the experience they have in relation to the qualification/units they will be assessing and/or verifying.
Original qualification certificates or copies should be provided at the approval stage for assessors and verifiers of SVQs/QCF Units.

12. Support guidance
HN Unit, Assessors and internal verifiers need to be competent in the subject/occupational area to a level appropriate to the qualification.
This means providing evidence of experience and current practice in line with the qualification approval being sought. In addition, a relevant qualification in the subject area would be best practice but not essential unless a specific requirement of the unit specification or assessment strategy.
HN assessors and internal verifiers also need to be competent in assessment (or internal verification) of the type involved in the qualification. This means providing experience of current assessment/ verification practice in line with the qualification requirements.
A relevant qualification in assessment/verification would be best practice but not essential unless . . .

13. Approval Guidance - features
Where necessary, information is grouped separately for HNs, SVQs and QCF Units.
Guidance more detailed in terms of the information/evidence being sought at the approval stage.
Please look through this guidance before undertaking an approval visit.

14. Quality Assurance Guidance
A minor update of this guidance and the Qualification Verification Guidance will be made for Session 2015/2016.
Feedback on these guidance documents can be communicated through the QA Appointee Website at ANY TIME.

15. Example of queries processed and turned into FAQs this session
Is there still a requirement for the external verifier to sample the work of the internal-verifier-candidate for L&D11 as there was with V1?
Can you give some more examples of what is meant by ‘Good Practice’ in the QV Report?
If I achieve QCF Assessor/Verifier qualifications, would they be recognised if I then went on to assess SVQs?

16. FAQs location http://www.sqa.org.uk/qaappointee
FAQs currently found on the QA Appointee Website under QV Queries.
The same Website should be used for posting any queries you would like a response to concerning Approval/Qualification Verification requirements/guidance.

17. Queries highlighted in QV Reports last session
Red applies when absolutely no relevant evidence is available.
At times different judgements are made relating to Criterion 6.6.
Clarification needed on when to complete ASV & QV boxes.
Criteria 4.1, 4.2 & 4.3 – ensuring comments match each criterion.
Assessor/IV table at times incomplete.

18. Understanding SQA’s Quality Assurance system
Centres SQA open Quality Assurance Website Centre training run in-house or by SQA Self–evaluation against QA Criteria Attending Professional Development Workshops run by SQA Dialogue with SQA staff/appointees Qualification Verifiers Annual updates QA Appointee Website (guidance held here) Dialogue with colleagues

19. Senior Verifier Event
Juliette McGinley QA Logistics Manager Moving forward – session 2014/15

20. Moving Forward QA Management System Induction for appointees
Senior Without Portfolio – Pilot update
Standardisation Meetings
Appointee Website
Workshop 2 - Senior Verifier role review

21. QA Management System
IT review of feedback
Improvements
Timescales

22. QAMS Feedback Most positive features Pre-populated centre information
Ability for Senior EV to view all team’s reports at all times
Auto calculates Outcome Rating
Can see at a glance what the non-compliant criterion are
Most common improvements suggested
Auto-save/more Save buttons
Spell Check (use Firefox or most up to date IE)
One system for all QV activity/removal of EV+
Streamline scribble pad with online report (in progress)

23. Induction

24. Induction – 3 Stage Process
Stage 1 - Pre Induction Day Course Work
Stage 2 - Induction Day
Stage 3 - Post Induction Day Case Study Work

25. Stage 1 - Induction 5 Modules of e-learning:
Module A - Qualification Verification Practice
Module B - Roles and Responsibilities
Module C - Assessment: The purpose, principles and practice
Module D - Internal Verification: Purpose Roles and Practices
Module E - Quality Assurance Criteria
Final Multiple Choice Assessment – passmark 75%

26. Stage 2 - Induction Prepare for Qualification Verification
Planning for Qualification Verification
Carry out Qualification Verification
Communicate Qualification Verification Decisions
Completing Qualification Verification Report

27. Stage 3 - Induction Sign off from Stage 2
Case Study to complete a QV Visiting report and visit plan
Year 1
Senior Verifiers will be notified of new appointees after successful sign off at stage 2
Case Study will be reviewed internally however each Senior Verifier will be notified of the outcome of induction and case study

28. Senior Without Portfolio (SWP)

29. Senior Without Portfolio (SWP)
Senior Without Portfolio Piloted 2013/14
9 SWP in total
Mentored 104 Singleton appointees
21 Double bank visits
55 required full support

30. Senior Without Portfolio - The role explained
Overall
Identify and agree individual support needs
Organise support needs where required
Provide advice, support and guidance in relation to qualification verification
Monitor progress
Accompany on double bank visit/mentor role

31. Senior Without Portfolio - The role explained
Planning
Familiarisation with templates and documents
Review of centre allocations and visit dates arranged
Reminders for candidate lists
Advice and guidance given on how to complete the visit plan
Visit plans being reviewed prior to issue to centre

32. Senior Without Portfolio - The role explained
Feedback from EVs with SWP
Reports being reviewed prior to submission to SQA
Suggestions to enhance report
Clarification sought on points being made to remove ambiguity

33. Senior Without Portfolio - The role explained
Continued Support
Assistance with EV+
QA Appointee Website
Assist with arranging alternative mentor
Use of scribble pad and manual calculations

34. Mentors
To assist appointees with the move to SQA’s approach to quality assurance, SQA has 7 appointees who undertook mentor activity for session 2013/14
Mentors carried out 44 Double Bank Visits

35. Standardisation Online request for Standardisation Meetings
Annual Standardisation Meetings will be scheduled in line with QAMS to allow for training
Standardisation Meeting Minutes and/or Decision Logs must be submitted to within 10 days of meeting
Fees and expenses will be paid upon receipt of Standardisation paperwork

36. Final Updates
New communications area under construction – users should subscribe to be alerted to new content
QV Calculator “App” now available on website. Encourage EVs in groups to use this
Online Standardisation Meeting Request
Online TARE form also under construction. Users should select either Approval or Verification visit type which will direct the content to correct department automatically

37. China Verification Activity
Activity schedule
Visiting Verification
January 2015
March 2015
September 2015
Graded Unit Central Events
May 2015
July 2015