How To Plan A Unit

The candidate and assessor need to meet up to plan how they will gain sufficient evidence to meet all the performance criteria and knowledge evidence for one specific unit.  (At this stage, we are assuming the candidate and assessor have met before to introduce themselves, for the assessor to listen to the candidate, perhaps carry out a skills-scan or be aware of any specific learning needs the candidate has, and to agree the units to be achieved). The assessor’s role is to support the candidate throughout and it is really important to re-assure the candidate that they can do it – they are just documenting what is a part of the daily work routine. 

Together, the assessor and candidate will go through the Unit, Element titles, performance criteria and knowledge specification and discuss what is required as well as recording how this can be “performed” efficiently.  The role of scope will need to be recorded, but candidate’s only work with service users relevant to the normal work role.

Firstly, if it is a candidate’s first unit, then any APL evidence must be considered, e.g. prior NVQ achievement (It is possible to bring forward some performance criteria from previous awards) as well as certificates for first aid, manual handling etc.  It is vital that the certificates state what was covered i.e. there should be more than just a name, title, signature and date!

However, if a candidate has already commenced the NVQ, the assessor should already have reviewed previous observation records and other evidence that has already been demonstrated.  This should be logged on to the new element evidence location sheets), so then the assessor and candidate would discuss how the rest of the evidence can be obtained. 

Discussion should take place about all forms of evidence that can be used.  Once the way forward has been identified, the “planning paperwork” must be completed, dated and signed by both.