The Social Services Industry Training Organisation recognises that social services staff and volunteers have many years of experience. We work with them so that their experience is recognised in the sector and to increase their skills and gain qualifications. This is called work-based learning because the learning occurs while the trainee is still working. 

Social services employees usually contact us find out how they can gain a national qualification. Sometimes, a social services employer will contact us to formalise the learning opportunities they provide for their staff. Other times, we approach social service organisations to identify training and learning needs.

Once we have found out what is needed and identified the right qualification, we sign up the trainee to the programme. The trainee receives a Recommend Assessment Plan that consists of clusters of unit standards. The trainee also receives workbooks, assessment guides and other resources to help them link their learning to these unit standards.

We also assign an assessor to the trainee. An assessor is a trained social service professional who will assess the learner’s skills and knowledge against the unit standards. 

Assessment in the workplace involves the collection and evaluation of evidence about a trainee’s practice. Evidence can be collected in a variety of ways and can include observing performance, completing projects and assignments, writing reports and undertaking research etc. The type of evidence required depends on the unit standard and the circumstances of the trainee. The evidence is then judged against the criteria in unit standards

Visit our Trainee's page to find out more.