Assessment Strategy Policy

Table of Contents

 

Purpose of the Strategy

This Assessment Strategy sets out how the Centre will plan, deliver, quality-assure, and evaluate assessment for City & Guilds RQF Diplomas in Health & Social Care. It ensures that assessment is:

  • Consistent across assessors and settings
  • Fair and accessible for all learners
  • Compliant with City & Guilds assessment principles
  • Robust enough to withstand both internal and external quality assurance
 

Key Principles Underpinning Assessment

Assessment practice across the Centre must:

  • Be based on valid, sufficient, authentic, current, and reliable evidence
  • Use assessment methods appropriate to the learning outcomes
  • Reflect real working conditions for competence-based criteria
  • Prioritise direct observation of workplace practice
  • Maintain the integrity of the qualification and the safety of service users
 

Assessment Planning

Individualised Assessment Planning

Every learner will receive an assessment plan that:

  • Maps out unit selection (including any optional units)
  • Identifies opportunities for naturally occurring evidence
  • Reflects the learner’s job role, work environment, shifts, and responsibilities
  • Considers reasonable adjustments where appropriate
  • Is reviewed and updated at agreed intervals or following any change in circumstance
 

Initial Assessment

Initial assessment will:

  • Establish the learner’s prior knowledge, skills, and experience
  • Identify opportunities for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
  • Highlight any support needs, additional learning requirements, or risks

Initial findings will inform the learner’s individual assessment plan.

 

Assessment Methods

The Centre will use a range of methods permitted under City & Guilds requirements, including:

  • Direct observation (primary method) (DO)
  • Professional discussion (PD)
  • Work products (PWE)
  • Questions & answers (oral/written) (Q&A)
  • Assignments or knowledge tasks (Assignment)
  • Witness testimony (WT)
  • Reflective accounts (RA)
  • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), where valid

All methods must be planned, mapped, and recorded clearly.

 

Use of Expert Witnesses

Expert witnesses may contribute to evidence where:

  • They are occupationally competent in the area being assessed
  • Their testimony relates to specific, observed practice
  • They follow Centre guidance on providing valid testimony – submissions must be on the Centre’s designated recording form

Assessors retain responsibility for:

  • Judging authenticity and sufficiency
  • Making the final assessment decision

There is a witness testimony (WT) form to be completed for any associates of a learner who will provide a witness testimony. This must be completed and signed and uploaded to the electronic portfolio. It is the assessor’s responsibility to ensure any identified witness is appropriately qualified and experienced to provide a statement.

 

Observation Strategy

Frequency and Scope

Observations will cover real work tasks aligned to unit criteria.

Observations should take place across differing days/times/environments where appropriate (e.g., personal care, lone working, community visits, residential routines).

 

Natural Work Activity

Where possible:

  • Observation opportunities will be taken during natural workplace tasks
  • Learners will not be asked to “perform” staged activities
  • Assessors will seek to minimise disruption to service users
 

Triangulation

Observation evidence will normally be supported by:

  • Questions & answers (Q&A)
  • Work products
  • Witness testimony
  • Reflective statements
  • Professional discussion
 

Knowledge Assessment

Knowledge outcomes will be assessed using:

  • Written assignments
  • Structured tasks or workbooks
  • Oral questioning
  • Professional discussion

Assessors must ensure:

  • Knowledge evidence is the learner’s own work
  • Tasks are mapped to the City & Guilds units and criteria
  • Responses are recorded and stored securely
 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Centre will allow Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) where:

  • Evidence is current, relevant, and meets the required depth
  • The learner can demonstrate ongoing competence (supported by observation where needed)

The Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) must confirm all RPL decisions before claims are made.

 

Assessor Requirements

Assessors must:

  • Hold or be working towards a recognised assessor qualification (e.g., TAQA, CAVA)
  • Demonstrate occupational competence in adult or children’s Health & Social Care
  • Maintain CPD in assessment practice and sector legislation
  • Engage in standardisation and sampling activities

Assessors will not assess units for which they lack competence or current experience.

Trainee assessors must submit a signed declaration from a qualified assessor that confirms all decisions are countersigned.

 

Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Strategy

Sampling Approach

Sampling will include:

  • A representative sample of learners, units, assessors, and methods using the CAMERA principles
  • Early, interim, and end-point sampling
  • High-risk areas (new assessors, struggling learners, RPL claims, new units)
 

Standardisation

Regular standardisation meetings will:

  • Align assessor judgement
  • Review assessment decisions
  • Discuss qualification updates
  • Share best practice

Mandatory attendance is required.

 

Support for Assessors

IQA staff will:

  • Provide clear feedback
  • Identify training needs
  • Support assessors via mentoring, paired observations, and case reviews
 

Fairness, Inclusivity, and Reasonable Adjustments

The Centre will:

  • Offer reasonable adjustments in line with City & Guilds policy
  • Ensure assessments do not disadvantage any learner
  • Provide accessible resources and alternative formats where needed
  • Document all adjustments and approvals
 

Authenticity Controls and Malpractice Prevention

The Centre will ensure:

  • All written knowledge work is authenticated
  • Witness testimonies are verified
  • Observations are conducted by authorised staff only
  • All assessment records are secure and traceable

Suspected malpractice will be managed under the Centre’s Malpractice Policy.

 

Assessment Decision Making

Assessment decisions must:

  • Be evidence-based and mapped clearly
  • Follow City & Guilds assessment principles
  • Be explained to learners with constructive feedback
  • Be subject to IQA confirmation before certification
 

Appeals

Learners may appeal assessment decisions in line with the Centre’s Appeals Policy.

The Centre will:

  • Investigate impartially
  • Provide written outcomes
  • Escalate to City & Guilds where required
 

Monitoring, Review, and Continuous Improvement

This strategy will be reviewed annually or earlier where:

  • City & Guilds makes qualification changes
  • External quality assurance reports identify required actions
  • Assessment issues or patterns of inconsistency arise
  • Legislation or sector guidance changes

Improvements will be implemented promptly and communicated to staff.