WHY use on-line assessment
The following excerpts are taken from the CWDC document, “The training, support and development standards for foster care - A Guide for Managers, Supervising Social Workers and Trainers”.
Provision of Training – page 12
Providers will need to look at alternative methods including e-learning and online learning. Providers should consider facilitating access to ICT to support this.
Accreditation, quality and regulation – page 13
Foster Care providers should ensure that training is of a high and consistent standard by evaluating both internal and external training.
Providers should also ensure a consistent and high standard is achieved in the assessment of the standards.
Fast tracking for experienced Foster Carers – page 16
Foster Carers will be able to fast track through the standards by providing evidence of competence.
Personal Development Plan – page 16
Each Foster Carer is required to have a personal development plan, which should be developed with their Supervising Social Worker.
Role of the assessing Social Worker or Supervising Social Worker – page 18
The assessing Social Worker who carries out the fostering assessment should use the standards as a guide for assessing knowledge and skills and identifying any gaps and priorities for training.
The first task of the Supervising Social Worker is to plan with the Foster Carer how they will achieve the standards
Assessing Foster Carers Learning – page 20
Fostering Managers have a responsibility to ensure that everyone who assesses Foster Carers, including themselves, have the skills and knowledge to carry out this role.
Assessing knowledge and skills – page 20
Knowledge and skills can be assessed from observed actions and questions, whether written or verbal.
Recording assessment – page 21
There are advantages in keeping full records for each Foster Carer, for evidence for inspectors and to link with NVQ’s.
Assessment as part of the learning process – page 2
Foster Carers may not always be able to demonstrate understanding of an outcome when first assessed on it. Further learning opportunities will need to be provided and knowledge re-assessed by an agreed time.
Signing off the assessment process – page 21
When the Supervising Social Worker is satisfied that a Foster Carer has met all the outcomes in the standards, it is their responsibility to sign off each outcome in the workbook as complete.
Supervising Social Workers should not sign off these certificates lightly. They should be aware of the implications for themselves and the individuals using the service, the questions the regulator might ask and their duty to ensure that all Foster Carers are safe and competent.
Evidence of reckless or negligent signing off is likely to deemed a disciplinary matter and could bring the Supervising Social Workers own registration into question.
Support and development needs for Foster Carers – page 22
The Foster Carer’s training, support and development needs should be regularly reviewed and their progress appraised at the Annual Foster Carer’s Review.
