Assessment Principles and Practices in Health and Social Care Report

This report delves into the core principles and practices of assessment, specifically within the context of health and social care. It begins by elucidating the function of assessment in learning and development, emphasizing the importance of measuring student progress and understanding. The report then defines key assessment concepts such as fairness, reliability, and validity, and outlines the responsibilities of an assessor, including providing feedback and developing assessment action plans. Furthermore, it identifies relevant regulations and requirements, such as the Equality Act 2010, Health and Safety Work Act 1974, and the Designs and Patents Act 1988, which are crucial for maintaining ethical and legal standards. The report also compares the strengths and limitations of various assessment methods, like observation, with reference to the needs of individual learners, and highlights the significance of involving learners in the assessment process. The report emphasizes the importance of assessor roles and responsibilities, the use of different assessment methods and regulations, and understanding of the responsibilities of the assessor.

UNDERSTANDING THE PRINCIPLES
AND PRACTICES OF ASSESSMENT

INTRODUCTION
Training increases learners understanding by providing them with appropriate
knowledge and information that helps them in learning and developing. Assessor plays
a crucial role in keeping close monitoring over their student’s and maintaining their
learning as well as growth. In this regards, the present study is taken into consideration
which covers all the principles and practices of assessment. Further, this study gives
brief analysis about the methods appropriate to the assessment of knowledge and
understanding. In addition to this, this report gives appropriate justification about the
strengths and limitations of a range of assessment methods with reference to the needs
of individual learners. It gives effective information about the importance of involving the
learner and others in the assessment process.
LEARNING OUTCOME 1 – UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLES AND REQUIREMENTS
OF ASSESSMENT
1.1 Explain the function of assessment in learning and development
There are different functions of assessment within learning and development which
clearly provides a measurement for the student progress.
 One of the most important purposes is to measure the learners understanding of
the subject against the expected outcomes set by the criteria. In order to assess
the learning and development one of the best ways is by creating different
quizzes on socrative.com. It is the best function through which formative
evidence of learners understanding can be attained
 Another most appropriate function for the assessment of learner’s development
is using formative or summative assessment. As per the viewpoint of assessor it
is being determined that it is highly essential to ensure that assessment
decisions are consistently reviewed and verified internally and externally both. It
is required by assessor to introduce themselves to the learner and make them
sure that they understand what course is. They usually support them by
explaining all the units to the learners and support them in selecting right and
suitable units. Measurement and recording of achievement helps in identify the
learner’s development as well as his/her area of interest.
 With the help of setting targets for individuals as well as implementing
benchmarking technique appropriate learners performance can be assessed. It
helps in identifying all the areas of improvements and making quality assurance
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as well. Setting target covers the setting dates and times to meet with the
learners. After completing any assessment, assessor requires providing
appropriate feedback. However, he needs to encourage individual by giving
them constructive feedbacks. For example when a learner submit their
coursework, it’s essential to give a feedback, whether is 1-1 or by clearly
marking the papers and let them know exactly what they need to do. With the
help of implementing all these functions learners area of growth and
development can be easily measured.
1.2 Define the key concepts and principles of assessment
The major concept behind this assessment is just to check and monitor the progress
and development growth of learners. Identify who is it for, is it for the learner, trainer or
organisation, also the experience of the learner should be put into consideration, for
example, when people who does not have a care experience, want to take education in
HND Health and Social Care, I believe they should have at least 3years work
experience or level 3 in Health and Social Care environment.
There are some of the key concepts and principles of assessment which includes:
Fairness: Assessment should be related to particular criteria and requires being follow
integrity in the whole process. At the time of samples of marking internal and external
checks in samples of marking are high required. With the help of this marking only
assessor can take any decision regarding the validity of assessment.
Reliability: The assessment decisions are requires to be made by tutor with the correct
competence. It is the best effective way which provides appropriate judgment that is
informative and forms a professional viewpoint.
Validity: There is a requirement of clear referencing within any assessment criteria.
Here, decisions require to be justified with clear statement of examining body e.g
Pearson, Edexcel, OCR. At the time of assessing it with another tutor he also requires
to award the same grade for the stated piece of work.
Achievement: It is quite essential to have assessment related to the particular
achievement. All decisions require to be made on the basis of success. It is regarded as
a key principle of assessment that individual get success. It is the most effective way on
the basis of which learner can easily monitor their success and growth.
Benchmarking: This is the most popular way to identify the progress and growth of
learners. It is the best way of assessment on the basis of which learner can compare its
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performance with others. It provides most suitable options to grow and develop from
learning’s. This process may takes place by the tutor as he is responsible for giving
appropriate guidelines and feedbacks to individuals after comparing their performance
with others.
Figure 1Benchmarking wheel
Assessment Strategies: Basically, this strategy is developed for tutor to make them
more frequent in their teaching, planning and curriculum design. In this regards, tutors
are able to guide their learners in a best suitable way and they can easily enhance
progress and development growth of learners. The ultimate goal of teaching
understands and with the help of assessment strategies tutors can propose best
solution.
1.3 Explain the responsibilities of the assessor
At the time of assessing individual’s learning and growth it is highly essential to maintain
the appropriate roles and responsibilities of assessor. Assessor is responsible for
proper monitoring for the growth of individual. It is highly essential for an assessor to
make an informed decision about the evidence a student may submit to demonstrate
their knowledge. However, assessor might leads to face several problems regarding the
learning of individual. They should be able motivate, encourage and support their
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learners. Although there should be boundaries between a trainer and a leaner, but
assessor should be friendly to their learners. I will not like a trainer who is too serious. It
is requires to understand that individual is meeting all the assessment criteria. One of
the major job responsibilities of assessor is just to provide feedback to learner on the
basis of their performance. This feedback clearly illustrates the requirements and needs
of individuals. It is the best and most effective way to learn and grow effectively.
Through this, their progress can be monitored with their phase of development
throughout the qualification.
Developing learners and making them grow effectively with time is becoming serious
concern for assessor. For the same, evaluator requires to devise an appropriate
assessment action plan which helps the learner to develop them. Through this action
plan, they are able to identify all the areas of improvements and easily identify some
specific needs where development requires. In order to complete any assessment all
the learners must have complete knowledge within that area. It ensures the fairness and
presents that everyone has affair chance to reach their potential.
In order to fill this responsibility assessor wants to work in partnership with IQA
assessor which is known as internal quality assessor. I want to attain the IQA CPD
training with them as it is considered as excellent workshop. It is known as a continuing
professional development workshop which equips all the trainers with the necessary
skills to assess their own students.
Further, in this regards, I have to do a CPD course and training in order to enhance my
skills. I have already attended the Level 3 PTLLS Award (QCF), but do not have the
assessing qualification. With the help of this workshop I am able to become more
professional and continue to learn and develop throughout my career.
1.4 Identify Regulations and requirements relevant to assessment in own area of
practice
There are mandatory regulations and requirements in health and social care, which are
essential for the assessment of own area of practice. There are also regulatory bodies
of standards such as Sector Skills Council and institute for learning, one of the most
common acts is: The Equality Act 2010 which helps people in protecting from
discrimination in the workplace as well as in wider society. This is important for
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assessor to follow in order to avoid any type of discrimination. All their learners should
be provided equal opportunities and delivering them effective information as per their
qualification. For the same, assessor needs to avoid any type of assumption about
learner stereotypes and plan and deliver required qualification to meet out the needs of
wide variety of learners.
In addition to this, another most important regulation is Health and Safety Work Act
1974. It presents the different duties of learners such as an employer requires
protecting the health and safety and welfare at work of all their employees as well.
Assessor need to use Act’s mandatory guidelines which helps them in protecting the
personal data they hold about the learners as well. All the information needs to be
processed lawfully and used only for the lawful purposes. Total assessment information
should be processed according to the individual rights and kept secure with the admin.
Moreover, the training centre of assessor must comply with the eight data protection
act:
 Fairly and lawfully processed
 Processed for specific purpose
 Adequate and not excessive
 Accurate and up to date
 Secure
 Not transferred to other countries without any type of adequate protection
 Do not kept for longer time period than is necessary
 Keeping protected all the rights of individual
By following all the above legislations fair and lawful information can be provided to all
the learners. This in turn helps the organization in increasing their skills as well as
productivity of their respective workforce.
Designs and Patents act 1988: At the time of going through the assessment in own
area it is considered as another most important area which needs to be maintained.
This act is developed by the parliament of UK and formulates almost completely the
statutory basis of copyright law. This law states that copyright in most works lasts until
70 years. While going through the creation to be protected by copyright and must fall
within one of the following categories to literary work, dramatic work, musical work,
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artistic work, films, and typographical arrangement of published editions. With the help
of this act assessor can maintain their identity personal.
Disclosure and Barring Service: This is another most effective legislation known as
DBS and helps employers make safer recruitment decisions. With the help of this act
assessor can easily prevent unsuitable learners and vulnerable groups including
children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding
Authority (ISA).
LEARNING OUTCOME 2 - UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
ASSESSMENT METHOD
2.1 Compare the strengths and limitations of a range of assessment methods with
reference to the needs of individual learners
In order to identify and asses the needs of individuals there are some of the major
limitations as well as strengths. There are several ways through which leaner’s needs
can be identified and proper guidance can be provided to them. Some of the most
common techniques are questioning, monitoring, observation etc. However, some of the
most common strengths associated with the range of assessment methods are as
follows:
Observation: With the help of this technique assessor can view the student’s
communication and professional team-skills. With the help of this technique learners
problems can be specify any watching them perform the necessary skills. When I was
doing my level 5 in Health and Social Care, I was very active member of my class and
most of my colleagues want to be in my discussion group and presentations.
Here the major strengths of these techniques are:
 It enables skills to be seen live
 The method is reliable since evidence has been seen
 It helps in enabling mistakes and easily spot any type of mistake made by learner
Some of the most common associated with the same are as follows:
 Assessor might not be objectives with decisions
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 No permanent records will be kept
 In order to suit all the learners timings has to be changed
Another most effective technique is a question which can be defined as a quick ways to
check on learning and ensure that whether learner is engaged with the same or not.
Major strengths associated with this technique are as follows:
 It may include short essay style of questions which is easily understandable
 Some learners specifically tends to prefer this style of learning
 It easily promotes and challenge the learner
Some of the most common limitations associated with this technique are as follows:
 At the time of filling questions written work might encounter plagiarized
 Can be closed or open questions which doesn’t demonstrate any type of
knowledge
LEARNING OUTCOME 3 – UNDERSTAND HOW TO PLAN ASSESSMENT
3.1 Summarise key factors to consider when planning assessment
At the time of planning for an assessment, some of the most important factors which
needs to take into consideration such as:
Addressing student, employer and business needs: It is regarded as a most
important factor which needs to be considered while planning for any assessment.
Assessor must have appropriate information about the needs and demands of the
students so that they can provide them appropriate training. After addressing the issues
of individual and seen their basic level individual’s growth and development can be
assessed.
Is the candidate ready: It is another most important factor which needs to be
considering at the time of planning assessment. It determines that learner must have
had sufficient time for leading up the actual assessment. It is highly important to identify
that whether candidate is ready or not.
Identification of prior learning: It is also important to recognize the prior
learning of learner. It helps in determining the understanding of learners with the help of
various methods and activities such as observation in performance. By this assessor
can create assignment and training sessions on the basis of learner needs.
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Convenience for the workplace: It is highly essential to plan the assessment in
order to utilize all the available resources. It helps in ensure that it does not interfere
with any other course plan.
3.2 Evaluate the benefits of using a holistic approach to assessment
Holistic approach provides learner with a multifaceted assessment that helps them in
moving towards their approaches. However, there are various benefits of using holistic
approaches such as:
Learners are able to break all their unit assessment into the smaller tasks. It provides
them better and appropriate guidance as well. Through this, a fair representation can
cover which is being added to the presentable and fair way. Through this, it can be
determine that, a final mark of student can be assessed. This technique is much cost
and time effective by which individual can easily learn more and grow with the changing
needs. In addition to this, with the help of using this approach students can take easily
take guidance with assessor and divide their tasks into sub tasks. It is quite motivational
for students as their assessor clearly promotes the responsibility of learner. By the way
of using this approach, it is highly motivational for learners as it promotes their
responsibility and learner involvement as well. It also helps the learner to link their
practices with knowledge and performance base assessment opportunities. With the
help of this, they are able to demonstrate theory before applying it to the practical tasks.
3.3 Explain how to plan a holistic approach to assessment
In order to plan a holistic approach it is highly essential to go through the proper
examining the reference point. It helps in constructing an assignment that clearly meets
out the requirements. At this time, assessor finds out what they would like to do and
started shaping different ways to learners. It is the best way to achieve the outcomes
with the help of project based evidence. At the time of planning holistic assessment
learner can easily attain several opportunities and flourish in their work/project. An
individual can attain best holistic grade by including a range of assessment tasks from
observation as well as essay. Student’s needs and preferences are required to be taken
into consideration. It is the most suitable way which helps in developing and planning
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the best assessment process. Holistic approach is the most suitable and useful as it
helps in gathering lots of evidence at each stage.
3.4 Summarise the types of risks that may be involved in assessment in own area of
responsibility
By the way of going through the own area of responsibility it is being identified
that there are various risks which might face by learner such as: Appropriate
opportunities for assessment, practical risks, equality and diversity, data protection,
student based risks etc. It is highly essential to follow all the legislations in order to
maintain authenticity and fairness at the workplace. However, assessor might leads to
create any type of diversity among the entire student. In case of not providing equal
opportunity several problems might leads to face by learner such as organization culture
as well as other practical risks. Culture can be destroyed due to the biasness and other
type of fairness risks. In this context, it can be determine that, own area of responsibility
requires to be assessed by the way of maintaining equality at the workplace. Health and
safety is regarded as major a risk which requires protecting the health and safety and
welfare at work.
In addition to this, there are some of the most common risks which they might
face such as: confidentiality. Due to the increasing threats over the online sources as
well as other attacker it is becoming highly difficult to maintain the confidentiality about
the information related to employees as well as customers. Keeping customer’s
sensitive information loss might decrease their brand image as well as consumer trust.
Moreover, there is various health and safety risks which must kept secure at the
workplace. In this concern, several risks hazards are required to keep at workplace
such as health precautions, fire safety, fire alarm etc. It is considered as major risks
which might leads to develop negative effect over the health of workers. For the same,
several health and safety policies need to be followed by them just to ensure proper
safety at workplace. Lastly, the major risk which may occur at any healthcare sector is
stress risks. Workers do requires working late hours as well as extra working days
which might leads to develop stress among them. It may causes dissatisfaction and
implies several threats for the growth of company.
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3.5 Explain how to minimise risks through the planning process
In order to minimise the risks through the planning process it is required by assessor to
set clear criteria so that people can identify and address the specific requirements. It
leads to minimise the chances of misinterpretation and helps them in maintaining
standardization of planning. By negotiating with students their problems can be easily
resolved and motivation level towards the work can be enhanced. Health and safety risk
can also be minimised by the way of safeguarding the students. For the same, there are
various practices related to the health and safety of students can be measured. In this
regards, it can be determines that by the way of adopting appropriate range of
assessment methods appropriate risks can be effectively minimised
LEARNING OUTCOME 4 – UNDERSTAND HOW TO INVOLVE LEANERS AND
OTHERS IN ASSESSMENT
4.1 Explain the importance of involving learners and others in assessment process
Involving learners and others in assessment process is basically helping them in an
effective way. The involvement will help learners to take ownership and manage their
learning in the right direction. By involving learners in the process, their needs and
requirements will be evaluated in an effective. Through this current level of knowledge,
skills and abilities will be recognised. After evaluation, assessor will be able to provide
effective training to learners and others to enhance their capabilities, knowledge and
skills.
 By evaluating the learning styles of learners, assessor will be able to give e
effective training and also motivate them to enhance their performance.
 By actively involving the learners and others like employees & colleagues, they will
be able to understand meaning of goals, targets and objectives in relation to the
success criteria.
 By participating in self-assessment, learners will be able to observe their standard
records of learning and progress. The benefits from involving learners and other in
assessment process are such as:
Efficiency- In this, efficiency of learners also increases because they identify and
understand evidences which are provided by expert witnesses.
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Transparency- Through involvement, learners understand the criteria and standards
that how they are assessed and assessment related decisions are made (Sheldon,
Kryger and Gozal, 2014).
4.2 Summarise types of information that should be made available to learners and
others involved in the assessment process
The assessment process should not hold any type of surprises for learners. It is
evaluated that sharing information in an effective manner enable the learners and
participants to understand in clear manner what is expected from them ( Kline, 2015). It
also gives them opportunity to perform their best. There are few types of information
which should be made available to learners and others in the assessment process
which are as follows:
 Criteria and standards for assessment- Information related to assessment
plan should be clearly defined and given to learners. It will increase their
awareness about assessment process (Moriarty, Mitchell and Spence-Stone,
2014).
 Types of evidences and methods that are used- In this, information related to
few aspects such as specifications, occupational standards, specific
documentation, grading criteria should be made available to the learners
(Lambert and Lines, 2013). It will help them to understand that how methods and
evidences are used in the assessment process.
 Process which describes how feedback will be given- It includes the
information which is related to assessing place, plan, time, costs, award
ceremonies and complaint procedures etc. Further, the assessment schemes,
feedback and result of both (feedback and assessment) related information
should be provided to learners so that they can evaluate their performance and
learning standards.
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