Health and Social Care NVQ Resource
GLOSSARY OF NVQ TERMS
Accredited Assessment Centre
Centres that are approved by an awarding body to offer qualifications. W&P Assessment and Training Centre LLP is an accredited centre with Edexecl, EDI, NCFE & the LSC.
Assessment
Collection of evidence of performance by a variety of ways which show your competence.
Assessment Planning & Feedback
This is a document that is completed each time you meet with your assessor. It is to demonstrate that you are having regular meetings, and that you are agreeing to work on specific areas. It enables you to focus on the actual work you will need to produce, you will also agree with your assessor the time place and date of your direct observation.
Feedback must also be recorded on this sheet. It gives an opportunity for you to comment on your progress.
Assessor
Individual who has been appointed by W&P Care Training and who is competent to make assessments for certification. All assessors hold D32/33 or A1 qualifications or be working towards A1 award.
Awarding Body
The body / organisation that examines or validates the quality of assessment (e.g. Edexcel and ASET).
Competence
Ability to perform tasks to a particular standard, demonstrating knowledge, understanding and awareness of the task and consequences.
Direct Observation
This happens only when you agree that you are ready to be observed by your assessor. The assessor will observe your practice this will be with the consent of the service user to ensure that their dignity is not infringed.
Element
Elements make up units, you will have a number of elements within each unit e.g Unit HSC21 has elements HSC21A, HSC21B, HSC21C, HSC21D. Each element describes a task that will provide evidence.
Evidence from the past - Accredited Prior Learning (APL)
Any evidence gained prior to the award must still be current and it must be seen that candidates can still work to this standard.
External Verifer (EV)
As the main link between the awarding body and the approved centre, the External Verifier normally visits twice a year. He or she requires access to all information on the Centre's activities. The External Verifier provides feedback and support to the Centre. He helps to develop internal quality systems and encourages continuous improvement.
Internal Verifier (IV)
D34 or V1 qualified. An Internal Verifier supports and works with a team of assessors to develop assessment procedures and facilitate good practices to maintain the national standard.
Knowledge Evidence
The underpinning knowledge of a task - the what, when, where, why, who, how, what if - can be shown in performance, questioning, distance packs or other evidence.
National Standards
Standards describe the values, knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and actions which are necessary to do a specific job. Developed by Lead Bodies into Occupational Standards, grouped together into units and used to design NVQs.
Oral Questions
Your assessor will need and want to ask you questions whilst assessing. The assessor will record these as it is a requirement from the awarding body. The questions are recorded on the question and answer record sheet. This will act as evidence of your knowledge.
Performance Criteria (PC)
Doing the task consistently and demonstrating your competence against the national standards.
Portfolio
This is the folder in which you put your documents. It will have an index and a cross reference system. You will receive guidance on building a portfolio.
Project / assignment
Projects can be set by the tutor or the assessor. The assignments will have pre-set objectives and requirements. In a project we are looking for quality not quantity and that you have met the objectives.
Reflective accounts
This is where you will explain the process of work carried out by yourself in a written form, or it can be given orally to your assessor, in which case this will be recorded by the assessor.
Simulation
This is a realistic exercise set up specifically to assess knowledge, skills or understanding. It should replicate a real situation and should only be used in circumstances where it would be difficult or perhaps dangerous to assess within the work place. Simulation can only be used in agreement with external verifier
Unit
NVQs are made up of units. You have to complete 6 units for Health and Social Care NVQ level 2 (4 core, 2 optional) and 8 units for Health and Social Care NVQ level 3 (4 core, 4 optional).
Written Questions
You may be given written questions by your course tutor or assessor. The answers
to these questions may be given orally, written or typed. This will act as evidence of your
knowledge.
Witness Testimony
These take the form of statements from other people other than the assessor. They can be used as evidence that you are able to meet the standards. Witnesses can be colleagues, service users, other professionals, and visitors
Work Product
A product can be something which is a result of your work, such as records you have completed or equipment you have prepared. The product should be shown and discussed with your assessor before being documented. It does not then need to be included in your portfolio.
