Unit 302 Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment

Title: Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment

Level: 3
Credit value: 6
General Guidance
This unit assesses a candidate assessor’s competence in assessing the occupational competence of others. Primary evidence for the learning outcomes and
assessment criteria must come from the candidate assessor assessing two real learners on two occasions in a real work environment against
standards/criteria that are approved by the organisation. These standards/criteria may include national occupational standards, components of
qualifications or in-house standards.
Each assessment must be a substantial but realistic and manageable piece of a learner’s work.
The unit covers seven assessment methods in total. The candidate assessor must show that they have covered a minimum of three of these assessment
methods in their real practice. The candidate assessor is allowed, if necessary, to provide other forms of evidence – for example through a statement or by
discussion – to show how they would use the other assessment methods.
Evidence from this unit – in the form of statements and discussions – can be used as evidence for the following unit:
301: Understanding the principles and practices of assessment

40 Level 3 & 4 Awards & Certificates in Assessment and Quality Assurance

Unit 302 Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment

Terminology

Authentic Being the learner’s own work.

Equality A state of fair treatment that is the right of all the people regardless of differences in, for example, culture,
ability, gender race, religion, wealth, sexual orientation, or any other group characteristic

Acknowledging that each individual is unique and recognising our individual differences in, for example,
Diversity culture, ability, gender, race, religion, wealth, sexual orientation, or any other individual characteristic.

Evidence of a learner’s knowledge, understanding, skill or competence that can be used to make a judgment
of their achievement against agreed standards/criteria
Evidence
The person being assessed by the candidate assessor

Learner Consistently achieves the same results with different assessors and the same (or similar) group of learners.

Reliable These could be the requirements of the practitioner’s own organisation or those of an external organisation,
such as awarding organisation.

Requirements Enough evidence as specified in Evidence Requirements or Assessment Strategy.

Relevant to the standards/criteria against which the candidate is being assessed.

Sufficient
Ensuring that everyone has an equal chance of getting an objective and accurate assessment.
Valid

Fair

Level 3 & 4 Awards & Certificates in Assessment and Quality Assurance 41

 Unit 302 Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria Evidence Best Practice Guide

The candidate assessor The candidate assessor The candidate assessor must To meet best practice standard the following
will: can: provide the following: should apply:

1. Be able to plan the 1.1 plan assessment of Products of work showing The candidate assessor’s planning should include:
assessment of occupational competence planning for two assessments of • identification of the standards/criteria to be
occupational competence based on the following two learners (four assessments in used for assessment
methods: total), covering as a minimum
• reference to the assessment strategy if they
• observation of across the four assessments:
are assessing a qualification
performance in the • observation of
• the types and sufficiency of evidence
work environment performance in the work
required – evidence of performance in the
• examining products of environment
work environment, evidence of knowledge
work • examining products of and/or understanding
• questioning the work
• how they will communicate with the learner
learner • questioning the learner and others involved in the assessment
• discussing with the If the candidate assessor’s process
learner planning does not include the • location and resources required for the
• use of others (witness following assessment methods: assessment
testimony) • discussing with the learner • time and duration of the assessment
• looking at learner • use of others (witness • specific learner needs and any support
statements testimony) required
• recognising prior • looking at candidate • how they will manage the assessment
learning statements process
• recognising prior learning • how they will record assessment processes
they must show through a and decisions
statement or by discussion how
• how they will provide feedback to learner
they would plan to use these
assessment methods. In addition this could be confirmed by witness
testimony

42 Level 3 & 4 Awards & Certificates in Assessment and Quality Assurance

Unit 302 Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria Evidence Best Practice Guide

The candidate assessor The candidate assessor The candidate assessor To meet best practice standard the following
will: can: must provide the following: should apply:

1.2 communicate the Observation, products of work Observation to include the candidate assessor briefing
purpose, requirements or witness testimony the learner ahead of the assessment.
and processes of Products of work to include for example, notes, emails,
assessing occupational recorded conversations.
competence to the Witness testimony to include, for example, statements
learner from the learner or learners’ supervisor showing that the
candidate assessor has communicated the purpose,
requirements and processes of the assessment to the
learner.

1.3 plan the assessment of As in 1.1 above The candidate assessor should show – either through a
occupational competence statement or by discussion – that they have taken
to address learner needs account of the learner’s needs – for example, shift
and current achievements patterns, occasions when they are carrying out relevant
work, any special support they may need.
They should also show that they have taken account of
learners’ current achievements, for example by not
planning to reassess something for which there is
already sufficient evidence.
In addition this could be confirmed by witness testimony
1.4 Identify opportunities for As in 1.1 above The plans should show that the candidate assessor is
holistic assessment planning to use techniques, such as holistic assessment
and cross referencing, to make the best use of the
evidence that is generated by the assessment occasion,
rather than seeking separate pieces of evidence for each
standard/criterion.

Level 3 & 4 Awards & Certificates in Assessment and Quality Assurance 43

 Unit 302 Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria Evidence Best Practice Guide

The candidate assessor The candidate assessor The candidate assessor must To meet best practice standard the following
will: can: provide the following: should apply:

2. Be able to make 2.1 use valid, fair and reliable Observations showing two The candidate assessor should show, through a
assessment decisions assessment methods assessments of two learners (four discussion or statement, how the assessment
about occupational including: assessments in total). methods they have used are valid, fair and reliable in
competence • observation of The candidate assessor must use, terms of the outcomes and criteria being used to
performance as a minimum, the following assess the learner.
• examining products of assessment methods during these
work assessments:
• questioning the • observation of
learner performance in the work
environment
• discussing with the
learner • examining products of
work
• use of others (witness
testimony) • questioning the learner
If the candidate assessor does not
• looking at learner
include the following assessment
statements
methods:
• recognising prior
• discussing with the learner
learning
• use of others (witness
testimony)
• looking at candidate
statements
• recognising prior learning
they must show through a
statement or by discussion how
they would plan to use these
assessment methods.

44 Level 3 & 4 Awards & Certificates in Assessment and Quality Assurance

Unit 302 Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria Evidence Best Practice Guide

The candidate assessor The candidate assessor can: The candidate assessor To meet best practice standard the following
will: must provide the should apply:
following:
2.2 make assessment decisions As above The candidate assessor should show, through a
of occupational competence discussion or statement, how they have matched and
against specified criteria measured evidence against the required
outcomes/criteria. If they are assessing a qualification
they should describe how they have complied with the
assessment strategy for that qualification.
2.3 follow standardisation As above The candidate assessor should show, through a
procedures discussion or statement, how their assessment
decisions conform to standardisation procedures
within their organisation.
2.4 provide feedback to learners Observation of feedback to Feedback to learners should be clear, accurate and
that affirms achievement and learners on at least one constructive, should identify progress and any further
identifies any further occasion. learning and assessment requirements.
implications for learning,
assessment and progression
3. Be able to provide required 3.1 maintain records of the Products of work in the form Records should be accurate, meet the requirements of
information following the assessment of occupational of assessment records the organisation and, where appropriate, awarding
assessment of competence, its outcomes completed by the candidate organisation.
occupational competence and learner progress assessor. This could also be confirmed by witness testimony
3.2 make assessment information Products of work as above. Products of work, for example, completed assessment
available to authorised records showing that the candidate assessor has
colleagues followed all the required organisational and awarding
organisation requirements for communicating and
storing information about the four assessments to
colleagues in the organisation. In addition this could
be confirmed by witness testimony

Level 3 & 4 Awards & Certificates in Assessment and Quality Assurance 45

 Unit 302 Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria Evidence Best Practice Guide

The candidate assessor The candidate assessor The candidate assessor must provide To meet best practice standard the
will: can: the following: following should apply:

3.3 follow procedures to Discussion or statement The candidate assessor should explain – either
maintain the through discussion or a statement – how they
confidentiality of have complied with the requirements of the
assessment information Data Protection Act and any additional
organisational and awarding organisation
requirements for confidentiality.
In addition this could be confirmed by witness
testimony
4. Be able to maintain legal 4.1 follow relevant policies, There must be evidence through the This should be supported by the candidate
and good practice procedures and observations and associated products of assessor providing an explanation – either
requirements when legislation for the work above that the candidate assessor through discussion or a statement showing how
assessing occupational assessment of has applied all relevant legal they took account of relevant legal and
competence occupational requirements – in particular for health, organisational requirements.
competence including safety and welfare – and all relevant If they are assessing a qualification they should
those for health, safety organisational policies and procedures. describe how they have complied with the
and welfare assessment strategy for that qualification.
In addition this could be confirmed by witness
testimony
4.2 apply requirements for There must be evidence through the This should be supported by the candidate
equality and diversity observations and associated products of assessor providing an explanation – either
and, where appropriate, work above that the candidate assessor through discussion or a statement showing how
bilingualism when has applied all relevant legal they took account of equality and diversity
assessing occupational requirements for equality, diversity and, requirements.
competence if appropriate (for example in Wales) for
bilingualism, and all relevant
organisational policies and procedures.

46 Level 3 & 4 Awards & Certificates in Assessment and Quality Assurance

Unit 302 Assess Occupational Competence in the Work Environment

Learning outcomes Assessment criteria Evidence Best Practice Guide

The candidate assessor The candidate assessor The candidate assessor must To meet best practice standard the following
will: can: provide the following: should apply:

4.3 evaluate own work in Discussion or statement There should be an explanation by the candidate
carrying out assessments assessor – either through a discussion or statement
of occupational – as to how they have evaluated the four
competence assessments they have carried out and what
learning points they have identified.
4.4 maintain the currency of Discussion or statement There should be an explanation by the candidate
own expertise and assessor – either through a discussion or statement
competence as relevant – as to how they will continue to reflect on their
to own role in assessing practice and plan and take part in continuing
occupational competence professional development in respect of both their
occupational expertise in the sector and their
competence as an assessor.

Level 3 & 4 Awards & Certificates in Assessment and Quality Assurance 47