IRRV N/SVQ Assessment Centre Forum Date: 10th April 2008 – Keele University Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm approx

1. IRRV N/SVQ Assessment Centre ForumDate: 10th April 2008 – Keele University Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm approx

2. Agenda 1. Mr Bob Trahern IRRV (IRRV President) Opening address 2. Mr Allan Traynor (IRRV Council member IRRV Qualifications Strategy & past President) 3. Mr David Magor OBE (IRRV CEO) IRRV future and developments 4. IRRV External Verifiers External Verification (IRRV EVs) 5. Guest speakers Lunch 1pm approx. 6. Observation pro forma for LT/HCTB (Workshop) 7. Changes to the NOS (EVs) 8. IRRV on-line centre admin (LF) 9. New IRRV approved N/SVQ assessment centres/EVs (LF) 10. New policies/support documentation (IRRV)

3. Mr Bob Trahern IRRV IRRV President Opening address

4. Mr Allan Traynor IRRV IRRV Council member & past President Qualifications Strategy

5. Mr David Magor OBE IRRV CEO IRRV future and developments

6. IRRV EVs External Verification

7. IRRV Developing Candidates’ Knowledge Judith Johnson External Verifier

8. Students v Candidates • Students • Course material • Dedicated Trainer • All theory little practical • Candidates • Dedicated Assessor • Proof they can do the job • Less ‘structured’ learning

9. The Standards • Requirement for Knowledge and Understanding • Many common areas • Sources of learning material

10. What do you offer candidates? • Do you ACTIVELY guide candidates to learning material • Best Practice • Structured learning scheme to cover areas of knowledge and understanding may include • In house training • College assistance • eLearning – eg Euclidian

11. Monitoring results • How do you evaluate the learning? • Tests at the end of the course • Does this relate the learning to the standards? • Does the assessor review the learning? • Question and answer session with assessor • Product evidence incorporating the learning • Observation

12. Areas with the Standards • Legal Framework • Data protection • Freedom of Information • Health and Safety • Equal Opportunities • Communication • Effective communication • Customer Service

13. Standardised Learning • IRRV suite of programmes • Covers many of the common areas • Focused • Learning can be monitored • Web-based and accessible

14. Professional Development

25. Equality and Diversity

26. Data Protection The Statutory Framework A working knowledge of: 4 Statute law affecting benefits a) Social Security Administration Act b) Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act c) Local Government Finance Act d) Child Support, Pensions, and Social Security Act e) Tax Credits Act f) Welfare Reform and Pensions Act g) Immigration and Asylum Act h) Housing Act i) Data Protection Act j) Freedom of Information Act

27. Health & Safety

28. Freedom of Information

33. Any questions?

34. Theresa McAuleyPaul Dalling Guest Speakers

35. Theresa McAuley BSc IRRV Dip RSAManaging Director and Head of CentreEagle NVQs

36. The Menu • Background • The “Bees in my Bonnet” • The Building Blocks for a successful NVQ Project • What I look for in a good candidate portfolio • Sampling • Electronic Portfolios • The Future Theresa McAuley. Eagle NVQs.

37. Background • Disclaimer – the views expressed in this presentation are entirely mine • Theresa McAuley • A varied career – missionary, dinner lady, Mum • 1988 – Shepway District Council as a Finance Trainee – IRRV course in London • Head of Revenues and Benefits from 1997 – 2003 • Training company 2003 to 2007 – became IV

38. A Stroll Down Memory Lane • “When I were a Lad” etc. – a naïve, teenage view of the world. • Educational Selection – the 11 + • - Grammar Schools • Passed exams – became “professionals” – did well in life • - Technical Schools • “Good with their hands” – trades – apprenticeships – could do well in life • - Secondary Moderns • Did not pass exams – did not learn trades – “the rest”

39. The Ensuing Educational Turmoil • What goes around comes around • Comprehensives etc. • The increasing cost of further and higher education • The demise of the traditional apprenticeship • The general skills shortage

40. And in the Meantime, back at the Workplace • Early 1980s - the “Birth” of the NVQ • Needed to address: - • Identify the skills that were needed • Increase training/re-training opportunities • Provide a qualifications framework to ensure formal recognition of the skills acquired

41. Early NVQs • 1986 – • National Council for Vocational Qualifications – (NCVQ) • Industry Lead Bodies (ILBs) • Awarding Bodies – City and Guilds, BTec. Etc.

42. Early NVQs • 1990s Reforms: - • NCVQ became Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) • ILBs became NTOs – National Training Organisations – later reformed as Sector Skills Councils

43. Building Blocks for a Successful NVQ Project • Candidate Selection • Employer Commitment • Existing In-house Resources • Realistic Timescales • Health Warnings

44. Building Blocks • Candidate Selection: - • Both candidate and employer should read the IRRV Standards carefully and ask the question – can the candidate reasonably be expected to achieve them in their current role? • Can the team offer opportunities to extend the range and variety of the candidate’s work to enable them to meet all the standards? • Does the candidate have the required high level of personal commitment?

45. Building Blocks • Employer Commitment: - • It is more than just paying the bill! • Will the candidate be allowed “work time” for their NVQ? • Can additional opportunities to develop be offered? • Is the Manager/Team Leader prepared to take an interest? • Is this qualification a considered part of the candidate’s overall development?

46. Building Blocks • Consider In-House Resources • Existing resources • Developing Resources • Realistic Timescales • A Health Warning

47. What I look for in a good NVQ Portfolio • Set out clearly and so easy for me to “navigate” around • Correct Paperwork and Procedures • A Range of Methods of Assessment • A Range of types of evidence – well-referenced to the Standards • Sampling

48. A “good” NVQ portfolio is - • Set out clearly and easy for me to “navigate” my way around: - • Candidate details – name, local authority, IRRV candidate registration number, unit number – ie am I looking at the right portfolio to start with? • Can I find my way to follow the assessment process from start to finish in a logical order? • Is the Evidence clearly presented?

49. A “good” NVQ Portfolio has - • Procedures and “Paperwork” in Place • Has a full induction process been carried out? • Has an Assessment Plan been developed and agreed? • Have Reviews and feedback sessions taken place – adequately recorded? • Have all documents been signed and dated? • Achievement records, cross-reference sheets etc.

50. A “good” NVQ portfolio shows - • Use of a good range of Assessment Methods, including • Observation of the Candidate • Q&A for K&U • Narratives/Story Boards • Product Evidence • Simulation – rare! • Professional Discussion