Jargon Buster

Jargon buster is here!

It can be confusing when starting any course, understanding all the terms referred to, so here is a simple overview which we hope will help you. If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to ask your assessor.

Good luck as you start your programme and we hope it is an enjoyable and worthwhile experience for you.

Let’s start with the basics.

National Vocational Qualification

A national award in a specific vocational area reflecting standards of recognised competence and required knowledge. Basically it is a qualification that recognises the work that you do.

Unit

Each NVQ award is made up of several parts, each part relating to a particular area of Health or Health and Social Care e.g. level 3 in Health & Social Care has 8 units and level 2 has 6 units. One unit referenced as HSC21 is about communication

Element

Each unit is made up of 2-4 elements these are sub headings for the unit e.g. HSC21 (communication) has an element titled “listen to and respond to individuals questions and concerns.”

Confused yet?? Let us explain with a couple of diagrams

To be able to gather the evidence you need to know what evidence to collect.

Knowledge Specification (KS)

This is part of the qualification that asks you to prove you know why you do specific tasks within your work place. To make it easier for you we have turned the KS into a work book for each unit,we may also be able to infer some of the knowledge to your work practice,knocking out some of the questions.

Performance Criteria (PC’S)

This is the part of the qualification that asks you to prove that you can put the knowledge that you have into practice. There are some PC’s for each unit, you need to prove you work to this standard.

Time for another diagram? 

Portfolio

At the beginning of your course we open a portfolio for you and discuss the various types of evidence that will be built up and stored in your portfolio during your learning programme. Evidence may be gathered via a variety of methods such as written or electronic recording, the latter includes photographs, videos and voice recordings. Your portfolio is stored electronically and at the end of your course you are given a copy of your individual portfolio.

So how do you provide the evidence needed?

Direct Observation

On a minimum of two occasions during the programme you will be observed in your workplace. You and your assessor will arrange a time for them to come and watch you doing what you do all the time, try not to worry we try to stay in the background. Look at it as us providing some evidence for your portfolio and less work for you!

Witness Statement

Sometimes we are unable to see everything that is required, so we may ask you for a statement from someone you work with, to cover this evidence.

Reflective Account

This is a statement prepared by you, for example you may have done a good piece of work and nobody was there to witness it!!

Questioning/Professional Discussion

Sometimes there are situations that do not occur naturally or that cannot be planned for. In such instances the assessor may ask you some questions or ask you to relate what you did in a particular incident and they will then record this.

Work Product

In your portfolio you have a work product checklist, this is to record any work products that you use, e.g. care plans policies and procedures etc

So who is going to help you?

Assessor

A person who is qualified to assess NVQs they must have a D32/33, A1 qualification or be working towards A1 .they will check that you have all the evidence for your portfolio.

How will they help?

Assessment Planning

Your assessor will be available to support you throughout your NVQ they will provide monthly support workshops which you will be expected to attend; they will also watch you work. All these actions will be recorded on a review/assessment planning form and via our electronic system .You will have a copy of this so that you can see how you are progressing and what has been planned for the coming month.

Who else apart from the assessor may look at your portfolio of evidence?

Internal Verifier (IV)

The internal verifier is a person employed by the assessment centre, they will sample your work throughout your programme, will interview you at least once and will deal with any problems you may have. They will also check the assessor is doing their job properly

External Verifier (EV)

The external verifier is a person employed by the awarding body, in your case Edexcel, the external verifier visits the assessment centre periodically and check a random selection of portfolios.in effect they are checking the internal verifiers work

We hope that this has covered most of the jargon that you will come across during your programme, just a couple of final hints to help you:

Make some time for yourself to complete your NVQ
Start thinking about the types of evidence that can be stored in your  portfolio now!!!

And last but not least on the subject of recording evidence accurately, here are some actual entries from care plans and medical nursing notes.- please don’t make the same mistakes yourselves!

By the time he was admitted his rapid heart had stopped beating and he was feeling much better

On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it had completely disappeared

The patient has been depressed ever since she began seeing me in 1983

The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.

Discharge status: alive but without permission

Healthy appearing, decrepit 69 years old, mentally alert but forgetful

The patient left the hospital feeling much better except for her original complaints

She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December.