Assessment of FETAC Courses
The learning on FETAC Courses is assessed in a variety of ways and some of these ways can be combined on a particular module for example there may be both written work and practical. The nature of the assessment and the percentage of marks allocated will depend on the Module being assessed. Some ways that modules are assessed are as follows:-
Written Assignments / Projects
Written work or projects are evidence of what you have learned on the course and how you have applied that learning or intend to apply that learning in the future.
Your tutor will give you a date for submitting any written work which will need to be assessed. Please ensure that you submit your written work by the date given. In exceptional circumstances, the tutor may agree an alternative date for submission by a particular Learner but this will only apply in genuine exceptional circumstances.
Written assignments can be typed or handwritten. If typed, please use double spacing with a left hand margin of approximately one to one and a half inches. If submitting a handwritten assignment, the writing must be clear and legible. Please only write or type on one side of the paper, please number each page and ensure your name is on each sheet. Please do not waste money on expensive folders or binding as these will be removed for ease of filing. Please staple your pages together in the top left hand corner. Please ensure that you keep a copy for yourself in case an assignment was to go missing. Please ensure that you submit your portfolio or assignment to no one other than your own tutor and to obtain written proof from them that you have submitted it.
Please bear in mind the confidentiality of clients and of places of work or work experience. Do not name residents, patients, staff or colleagues in written work. Do not include references to the name of any institution in your assignments or do not include any rosters or written policies or procedures in your work. This is to respect and maintain confidentiality at all times which is a critical part of your work in healthcare.
Your tutor will ask you to sign to say that the written assignments or projects were all your own work and were not copied from anyone else or reproduced from the internet or any other source. Please refer to the section on Plagiarism for further information on consequences of copying or representing written work of others as your own.
Where group projects or assignments have been done, every student will have to submit evidence of their contribution to the group assignment.
It is very important that you do not interfere with, copy, damage or destroy another Learners work or try to access files belonging to another student. This may lead to a student being asked to leave the course without certification.
Practical Assessments, Skills Demonstrations & Role Plays
Your tutor will advise you of the time, date and location of any skills demonstration which is going to be assessed. It is extremely important that you attend as otherwise your certification may be delayed as you wait for another assessment date on another course to arise.
All Learners should prepare seriously for the Skills Demonstration as it usually accounts for a significant proportion of marks. It is important that you imagine yourself to be in a real-life situation and that you communicate with the individuals involved as if they were the person you are caring for, your Line Manager or other person identified in the Role Play.
You should include any actions in advance of commencing contact with the person that you would normally undertake in a real-life scenario such as explaining what it is you are about to do and handwashing as appropriate.
Often the Skills Demonstration requires you to write up the task. Please ensure that you do so with as much detail as possible in a step by step approach as you would have done in carrying out the task.
Role Plays can be used as a means of assessing learning but also as a means of putting theory into practice. It is important to participate positively in these activities as directed by the tutor. Learners who feel that they do not wish to participate will not be able to be assessed properly and therefore are unlikely to achieve certification. Learners who feel nervous should make their feelings known to the tutor so that they can be reassured and supported. Great encouragement is also given to the Learner by other colleagues in the class and every Learner should respect and support their colleagues as they would like to be supported themselves. Comments which are unsupportive or demeaning will be taken as a serious breach of conduct and will be dealt with accordingly.
Written Examinations
Your tutor will advise you of the time, date and location of any written examinations if applicable. You will need to be seated and ready to start in advance of the examination time.
From once the examination has started, you will not be allowed to enter the room as this would distract other learners. If you leave the examination, you must hand up any examination papers and any written work, computer disks or other material prior to leaving the room.
You will not be allowed any mobile phones, paper or notes into the examination room. You will not be allowed any communication with other learners in the room during the examination. You will need to listen carefully to the tutors instructions before, during and after the examination.
Behaviour that is inappropriate or distracting to other learners could result in the person being asked to leave the examination and mean that that person may have to re-take the examination at some other location or time in the future.
Work Experience
Work Experience is a very important part of the FETAC Learning Experience so much so that it is a mandatory module on every Major Award. When you go out on work experience or on a work placement, it is a great opportunity to put your learning and skills into practice. It is also an opportunity to prove your value to a potential employer. Many jobs are never advertised, about 70% in fact, so how are they filled? Often these are filled from word of mouth, from work experience candidates who really stood out whilst on work experience and from referrals. Use the work experience as a selling opportunity for your skills and personality. Work hard, be on time, dress appropriately and do everything well!
Bear in mind that whilst you are on Work Experience you are not only representing yourself but also are representing your Tutor and The Carers Association. We will be judged on the quality of our training by how you behave. Please adhere to our Code of Conduct. We will take any complaints or breaches of conduct most seriously and it may result in a Learner being asked to leave the course.
You will generally be under the supervision of a registered nurse or other senior staff whilst on work placement. You should only take on responsibility in areas that you have been deemed competent in by the workplace supervisor. If in doubt, ask! If for any reason you are unable to attend your work placement you should first of all notify your workplace supervisor and then your class tutor. Ask for feedback regularly on your progress, on ways you can improve. Ensure that your work placement assessment has been completed before you conclude your placement.
Learner Journal or Learner Record
Sometimes you will be asked by your Tutor to keep a Learner Journal to record evidence of your learning on the course. It is important to maintain these journals as you go through the course and update them daily or weekly after the course or after a day of work experience. You should outline tasks you carried out, what you learned, what you would do differently if you had to do it again and other relevant commentary.
Repeating Assessments
If an individual fails an assessment for any reason, we will meet with the tutor concerned to review any difficulties or challenges that the learner faced. We may meet with the Learner to advise what is required in order to meet the standard for the Module. If we feel an independent assessment is required by the Training Unit or another tutor to double check the outcome, we may decide to do this in the interest of fairness to the Learner. However, it is important to note that not all Learners may achieve the required standard and it is the responsibility of the Learner to meet the standard. We can offer support and reassessment but if the individual still fails to meet the standard, then we have to uphold the integrity of the Award and the standard required. We will of course allow the Learner to Appeal the decision in the normal manner. Where an individual Learner does not achieve a pass grade and has been facilitated in every way possible to achieve a pass, there will be no refund of fees as payment of fees does not guarantee a pass. The Learner is responsible for meeting the required standard.
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