STAFF DEVELOPMENT

• Introduction
• SVQ
• HNC
• What our learners say

• SVQ Health and Social Care, Children and Young People (Level 3)
• Health and Social Care (Adults) Level 3
• HNC in Social Care
• Health and Social Care (Children and Young People) Level 4
• Leadership and Management for Care Services (Level 4)

• All qualifications are supported and certified by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
• All facilitators and assessors have worked in a care setting for many years.

• Improved staff morale, motivation, confidence and team work
• Improved understanding of relevant codes of practice, policies and procedures, current legislation and up to date theories.
• Improved standard of reports and paperwork
• Accelerated registration with Scottish Social Services Council
• Phone and email support for all candidates

 

SVQ

 

SVQ Health and Social Care Children and Young People (Level 3)

 

ACAD offer staff SVQ Health and Social Care Children and Young People (Level 3) which is:

 

• Underpinned by a practice based, working model
• A work based qualification
• A rolling programme - flexibility in joining.

 

The course is supported by:

 

• Regular feedback, phone and email support for candidates
• Assessors who are fully trained and qualified to National Standards
• High standards of quality and commitment from induction through to assessment and verification
• Assessors who have a wealth of real life, hands on experience
• Traffic Light system and progress reports to ensure you are aware of candidate progress.

 

The Process:

 

Candidates will receive an initial induction where the process of SVQ3 will be fully explained. They will also receive a portfolio containing the mandatory units and necessary paperwork to make a start immediately.

 

A plan will be drawn up and agreed between the candidate and the assessor, this plan outlines the commitment to a timescale for production of work and assessment.

 

The assessor will regularly meet with the candidate at their place of work allowing the assessor to complete the necessary and obligatory observations. The assessor will support the candidate to learn how to cross reference knowledge points; this reduces the amount of work for the candidate and teaches them how to link work.

 

The actual timescale will be dependant on the candidate's commitment to achieving the award; however we could realistically expect a candidate to complete the portfolio in six to eight months.

 

HNC

 

HNC Social Care

 

ACAD offers staff an HNC in Social Care which is:

 

• Underpinned by a practice based, working model
• 9 months in duration (this assumes that the candidate already has SVQ3, if not they will be required to complete 3 mandatory SVQ3 units in addition to the HNC assignments, these are a mandatory part of the HNC award).

 

The course offers:

 

• Monthly tutorials, telephone and online support
• Tutors who have practical and theoretical experience and knowledge
• Regular feedback to both candidate and employer
• A rolling programme - flexibility in joining
• Optional Additional Units which include:
• Grief and Loss
• Mental Health Issues in a Care Setting
• Working with Autism.

 

The Process:

 

Initially candidates will be asked to submit a short essay, which helps tutors highlight areas where candidates may require additional assistance.

 

Candidates receive 9 tutorials.

 

The first tutorial is an induction which gives guidance on areas such as how to research material and how to reference this appropriately. Many candidates have been away from formal learning for a long time and naturally find the prospect of doing HNC quite daunting so this is also an opportunity to dispel their fears.

 

This is followed by 7 monthly tutorials with the assignments being handed in before or on the next tutorial date. Assignments are then be marked, and to ensure quality assurance, cross marked. Feedback forms are then returned to the candidate before the next tutorial.

 

The tutorials cover; Psychology, Sociology, Social Policy, Protection from Harm and Abuse, Social Care Theory for Practice, Understanding and Supporting Behaviour and Supporting Families.

The final tutorial is the Graded Unit which brings together all aspects of what the candidate has learned.

 

Tutorials normally start at 9.30am and finish at 4.30pm.

 

If it is more appropriate staff can cover such topics as Grief and Loss, Mental Health Issues in a Care Setting or Working with Autism we tailor the course to suit.

 

In this instance candidates will receive their course material each month complete with suggested reading materials. They can then post or email their assignment to ACAD for marking.

 

Whether distance or tutorial based, there will be constant support to candidates by phone and email.

 

WHAT OUR LEARNERS SAY

 

SVQ Testimonials

 

Phill

I was not keen to do my SVQ3, I felt I wasn’t sufficiently qualified to write it, and I found it difficult writing about myself. But once I realised I just had to write about what I did while working with the young people I started to enjoy it, I then started helping colleagues to get their heads around how to write it.

 

John

I found it related to what I was doing, and it was nice to be able to write it at my own pace. I found it really beneficial not having to work to a deadline, I could write about things as they happened then see where it fitted the award. I found this way easier because it was more relevant to me.

 

Karoline

I felt quite daunted when I first started my SVQ3 but once I got started I quite enjoyed it. I thought I didn’t have enough experience but I got a lot of help and reassurance from my colleagues and my manager. Since finishing my SVQ3 I have completed my HNC and I think I would like to go on to do another qualification related to childcare.

 

 

HNC Testimonials

 

Lisbeth

Initially I was quite scared but I learned to focus on the current assignment, I haven’t done anything like this since school. I felt a bit intimidated writing things which another person was going to mark knowing their perspective would be different to mine. But I learned to just concentrate on each assignment as it came along. I found if I broke the question down into parts it was much easier than thinking of the whole question, that way I could answer the easier parts first.

Another great help is to get together with colleagues as this really helps to sort it out in your mind.

Having completed this I might like to look into the possibility of going on to do a counselling course.

 

Jean

At first I was really scared and didn’t want to do my HNC but after the first couple of assignments I really enjoyed it. I thought Social Policy was going to be very boring but it turned out to be interesting learning how laws are created because of pressure groups etc. Psychology was very good because you learn the theories that influence childcare. All the courses fit together really well, and they make you reflect personally on your work with the young people.

It was really helpful getting together with other candidates as this allowed me to bounce ideas around before writing my assignment.

I am jealous of the new candidates and would like to do it again, but maybe I will look into doing something else.

 

Lynn

Initially I found it very stressful as I had not done anything like this before but as I progressed I found it linked together and I really enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the graded unit as it all seemed to come together.

Social Policy was good and Psychology.

My advice to all candidates is "Don't miss tutorials"

I found I really struggled if I missed a tutorial as this gave me the background I needed to understand the assignment.

 

Austin

I really enjoyed doing the HNC course and I was quite sad when it had finished as it was a great experience.

I really enjoyed the tutorials especially the way the tutor made use of personal experiences to bring the course to life.

Psychology was the best course and I think Social Policy was my least favourite but I still enjoyed it.

I didn't really find it stressful and I enjoyed the fast pace and relished the challenge.

I think I would like to go on and do a Degree in Psychology.

 

Leo

Initially I was very apprehensive, wondering if my style and learning process would get me through, but I was looking forward to the challenge.

Once I started I really enjoyed it and I realised I could use my life experiences and lessons I had learned to make sense of it and to help me write it.

I enjoyed Equality and Poverty, Challenging Behaviour and I think Social Policy was my least favourite.

One of the main things for me personally was meeting in small groups to discuss the assignments, and being able to phone colleagues when I was stuck at some point, the extra support from friends and colleagues really helped me.

 

Mike

I enjoyed it a lot; it was something I had wanted to do, and I enjoyed writing the essays.

Psychology was the most enjoyable and the ones where I used case studies and families.

I wasn’t too keen on Social Policy.

The pace was good, having one a month; it gave the right amount of pressure to finish it.

After this I want to finish my Assessors qualification then I would like to go on to do another course possibly in psychology.

 

Morag

I really enjoyed tying the theories to the behaviour we see every day in the young people we work with, especially relevant was psychology.

The assignments at first appeared to be quite daunting (4000 words) but as I progressed I found I was cutting words out to bring it down to the limit.

I wasn’t too keen on Social Policy.

I did like the researching and organising of my work, finding references and marking text books with post-its.

I missed out on attending tutorials and would have liked to have been able to attend; because of this I missed a lot of support and assistance.

I would like to go on now and finish my Social Work Degree.

 

Hugh

I enjoyed the process and I enjoyed Social Policy because of all the regulations and legislation we had to research.

Challenging Behaviour I thought was very good because it makes you look at your working practices and brings a lot of the theories you have learned together in this one assignment.

Being so far away was a bit of a problem, I knew I could phone people for help, but I missed out on meeting in small groups to discuss the assignments.

Now I have finished my HNC I am going to do my SVQ4 Registered Manager qualification then possibly do something which will allow me to specialise in Child Protection.

 

Andy

I enjoyed it a lot as it was applicable to my working practice especially Psychology, Social Policy was also good. If you put all the courses together they are all relevant and fit the big picture. There weren't really any courses I didn't like as I say they are all relevant.

It was interesting learning things like how the Skinner Report led to the making of the Care Standards.

I enjoyed the pace, and the size of the essays was good.

Since finishing my HNC I have concentrated on my Assessors qualification, after this I think I would like to read more Psychology and possibly go on to do something in Counselling.