Assessing Student Assessing Student Performance in Performance in

PracticePractice

Colin Bright – Solent Colin Bright – Solent UniversityUniversity

June Tilling – Soton UniversityJune Tilling – Soton University

Let’s Be Honest…Let’s Be Honest…

TheoryTheory

PracticePractice

Lecture TheatreLecture Theatre

WorkplaceWorkplace

The Happy WorkplaceThe Happy Workplace

The ProcessThe Process► Students are required to Pass their Placements: Students are required to Pass their Placements:

meeting the threshold requirements of the meeting the threshold requirements of the National Occupational Standards for Social Work.National Occupational Standards for Social Work.

PASS/FAIL DecisionPASS/FAIL Decision

► Once students have demonstrated the NOS – then Once students have demonstrated the NOS – then we look to band their performance.we look to band their performance.

Raising the Profile of PracticeRaising the Profile of Practice

Assessment CriteriaAssessment CriteriaMark / Mark / GradeGrade

BandingBanding Competence LevelCompetence Level

Distinction (75)Distinction (75) First Class Hons.First Class Hons.

11stst Excellent/exceptional response to the Excellent/exceptional response to the practice-learning brief, satisfying all practice-learning brief, satisfying all learning outcomes and exceeding learning outcomes and exceeding expectations for achievement at this expectations for achievement at this level in all Key Roles.level in all Key Roles.

Merit (65)Merit (65) Upper Second Class Upper Second Class Hons. 2:1Hons. 2:1

Good/Very good response to the Good/Very good response to the practice-learning brief, satisfying all practice-learning brief, satisfying all learning outcomes and exceeding learning outcomes and exceeding threshold expectations in most aspects.threshold expectations in most aspects.

Good Pass (55)Good Pass (55) Lower Second Class Lower Second Class Hons. 2:2Hons. 2:2

Satisfactory/Good response to the Satisfactory/Good response to the practice-learning brief, meeting all practice-learning brief, meeting all learning outcomes and exceeding learning outcomes and exceeding threshold expectations in some threshold expectations in some aspect(s).aspect(s).

Pass (45)Pass (45) Third Class Hons.Third Class Hons.

33rdrd Adequate response to the practice Adequate response to the practice learning brief, meeting all learning learning brief, meeting all learning outcomes at threshold level.outcomes at threshold level.

Fail (0)Fail (0) FailFail Inadequate response to the practice-Inadequate response to the practice-learning brief, not meeting learning learning brief, not meeting learning outcomes at threshold level.outcomes at threshold level.

Placement PortfoliosPlacement Portfolios► The Placement Portfolio is the “Assessment Artefact”. The Placement Portfolio is the “Assessment Artefact”.

► This enables assessment to be moderated.This enables assessment to be moderated.

► Key Generic Criteria are the focus for the assessment Key Generic Criteria are the focus for the assessment of the Banding/Grade.of the Banding/Grade.

► These Criteria are informed by the Unit Guidance These Criteria are informed by the Unit Guidance within the National Occupational Standards for Social within the National Occupational Standards for Social Work.Work.

► This approach promotes consistency and fairness This approach promotes consistency and fairness across the range of different placements educators across the range of different placements educators and supervisors.and supervisors.

The Key Banding CriteriaThe Key Banding Criteria

Self-Reflection:Self-Reflection:

►Reflect on and Reflect on and evaluate their evaluate their own practice in own practice in relation to the relation to the NOS, Values, NOS, Values, Ethics and the Ethics and the Code of Practice.Code of Practice.

Banding CriteriaBanding Criteria

Knowledge Base:Knowledge Base:► Identify, critically Identify, critically

analyse, apply and analyse, apply and evaluate SW theories, evaluate SW theories, models and methods models and methods of working as used in of working as used in this specific area of this specific area of practice, drawing practice, drawing upon an appropriate upon an appropriate knowledge base.knowledge base.

Banding CriteriaBanding CriteriaEvidence Based Evidence Based

Practice:Practice:► Use reading and Use reading and

research material research material from a variety of from a variety of relevant sources.relevant sources.

Banding CriteriaBanding CriteriaCommunication:Communication:► Identify and Identify and

demonstrate effective demonstrate effective communication skills.communication skills.

Banding CriteriaBanding CriteriaSocial Work Context:Social Work Context:

► Understand, analyse and evaluate the legal, social, Understand, analyse and evaluate the legal, social, cultural and professional context of the placement.cultural and professional context of the placement.

The Assessment ToolThe Assessment ToolCriteriaCriteria 11stst (75) (75) 2:1 (65)2:1 (65) 2:2 (55)2:2 (55) 33rdrd (45) (45) Assessed Assessed

GradeGrade

Self reflectionSelf reflection Very good Very good evidenceevidence……

Good Good Evidence…Evidence…

Evidence…Evidence… Sufficient Sufficient evidence…evidence…

Knowledge Knowledge BaseBase

Very good Very good evidenceevidence……

Good Good evidence…evidence…

Evidence…Evidence… Sufficient Sufficient evidence…evidence…

Evidence Evidence Based Based PracticePractice

Extensive Extensive range of range of sources…sources…

Wide Range Wide Range of sources…of sources…

A range of A range of sources…sources…

Sufficient Sufficient evidence of evidence of sources…sources…

CommunicatiCommunicationon

Very Very articulatearticulate……

Very Good Very Good degree of degree of clarity…clarity…

Good degree Good degree of clarity….of clarity….

Sufficient Sufficient degree of degree of clarity…clarity…

Social Work Social Work ContextContext

Very good Very good evidenceevidence……

Good Good evidence…evidence…

Evidence…Evidence… Sufficient Sufficient evidence….evidence….

Overall Assessment of PLO PerformanceOverall Assessment of PLO Performance

Name of Name of StudentStudent

Level of Level of StudyStudy

Assessor’s Assessor’s SignatureSignature

Date:Date:

The Panel ProcessThe Panel Process

► Initial Initial Recommendation Recommendation (PE)(PE)

► Reciprocal Reading Reciprocal Reading Panel (PE)Panel (PE)

► Second Reading Second Reading Panel (PE’s & Tutors)Panel (PE’s & Tutors)

► Formal Panel Formal Panel (Independent (Independent Chair/PE’s & Tutors)Chair/PE’s & Tutors)

ImpactImpact

►Not Earth Shattering Not Earth Shattering – But very positive.– But very positive.

► Raised Student Raised Student Motivation for Motivation for Reflective activity.Reflective activity.

►Greater CriticalityGreater Criticality► Raised Overall Raised Overall

performance. performance. (Grades)(Grades)

The Critical QuestionsThe Critical Questions

►Are We Truly Are We Truly Assessing Practice?Assessing Practice?

►Have the students Have the students got the necessary got the necessary skills to make them skills to make them fit for purpose?fit for purpose?

►We need your help!We need your help!

The Next Steps ExerciseThe Next Steps Exercise

► In groups:In groups:►Groups A & C:Groups A & C:

What What SkillsSkills do students employ in their practice do students employ in their practice to reflect competence against the NOS? to reflect competence against the NOS?

NB: Are these relevant to NB: Are these relevant to EveryEvery placement? placement?

►Groups B & D:Groups B & D: What What SkillsSkills reflect the professional capabilities reflect the professional capabilities

framework?framework?

Professional Capabilities Professional Capabilities FrameworkFramework

► ProfessionalismProfessionalism► Values and ethicsValues and ethics► DiversityDiversity► Rights, Justice and Rights, Justice and

Economic well-beingEconomic well-being► Knowledge Knowledge

(Application)(Application)► Critical reflection & Critical reflection &

AnalysisAnalysis► Intervention & SkillsIntervention & Skills► Contexts and Contexts and

OrganisationsOrganisations► Professional LeadershipProfessional Leadership

The Next Steps (Continued)The Next Steps (Continued)

► All Groups: How would you All Groups: How would you measuremeasure a a student’s skills? student’s skills?

Findings to date…Findings to date… SKILLSSKILLS

► CommunicationCommunication

► Organisation Organisation

► PlanningPlanning

► Team Working Team Working

► Information Gathering and Information Gathering and ResearchResearch

► Engagement in SupervisionEngagement in Supervision

► Inter-professional Inter-professional EngagementEngagement

► AssessmentAssessment

► Critical AnalysisCritical Analysis

► ReflectionReflection

► Recording and Report Recording and Report WritingWriting

► PresentationPresentation

► IT SkillsIT Skills

► ChallengeChallenge

Findings to date… Findings to date… METHODSMETHODS

►Direct ObservationDirect Observation

►Mentor / Mentor / Supervisor’s Supervisor’s FeedbackFeedback

►Work SummariesWork Summaries

► Practice AnalysesPractice Analyses

► Service User Service User FeedbackFeedback

► Panel Assessments Panel Assessments – Verbal– Verbal

► Scenario-Based Scenario-Based ExamsExams