The Management and Leadership Qualifications Forum meets on a quarterly basis to discuss issues related to the M&L NOS and to agree things such as assessment strategies and evidence requirements for S/NVQs.

How are S/NVQs in Management and Leadership achieved?

S/NVQs are achieved through assessment and training. Assessment is normally through on-the-job observation and questioning. Candidates produce evidence to prove they have the competence to meet the S/NVQ standards. Assessors sign off units when the candidates are ready. The assessor tests candidates’ knowledge, understanding and work-based performance to make sure they can demonstrate competence in the workplace.

When new candidates start an S/NVQ, the assessor will usually help them to:

• Identify what they can do already
• Agree on the standard and level they are aiming for
• Analyse what they need to learn
• Choose and agree on activities that would allow them to learn what they need.

At this point, candidates might take a course if that seems the best way to learn what they need. Or they might agree with their employer or supervisor to do slightly different work to gain the evidence of competence they need.

Candidates compare their performance with the standards as they learn. They look at what they have achieved, how much they still need to do and how they should go about it, until they are assessed as competent for a unit or a whole S/NVQ. The system is right for candidates who already have skills and want to increase them, but also for those who are starting from the beginning. As the system is so flexible, new ways of learning can be used immediately.