Continuing Professional Development for Faith Leaders and Workers

Frequently Asked Questions

Course Delivery

Q: How many hours of learning prior to accreditation
A: To achieve the full qualification all three units must be successfully completed. (Separate unit certification is also available) Each unit has a credit value of 3 i.e. 30hrs

Q: Will the course be delivered within a ten-week period? I.e. in fewer than 90 guided learning hours?
A: The course would be made up of guided learning and individual/group work. What is important is that all Learning Outcomes must be achieved to the specified Assessment Criteria

Materials

Q: Exactly what materials will be available? How will new materials come to the surface for future CPD qualification? Are the sessions I the pack just examples? Will they be developed further?
A: The session plans in the pack are available and reference is made to websites and sources of information as appropriate. We hope to develop more materials as the pilot progresses.

Q: What is the relationship between own materials and NIACE materials?
A: If trainers have their own learning materials these can be used as long as all Learning Outcomes are achieved to the specified Assessment Criteria for the three units.

Q: The materials appear to be at a level higher than level 1?
A: For the pilot it has been agreed that the accreditation will be at Level 1. It is anticipated that there will be a mix of learning levels across the participants in each group so the trainer will need to use materials developed, so far, as appropriate to their group.

Assessment and Assessors

Q: When does assessment take place?
A: Assessment will take place throughout the course.

Q: What methods of assessment will be used? What will be the assessment process?
A: Open College Network East Midlands Region (OCNEMR) will provide information and support on assessment.

Q: Who will have the role of assessor? If it is the trainer will there be a conflict of interest? Who does the assessment?
A: The trainers will carry out assessment. There will external moderation of assessment and this will be provided by OCNEMR.

Q: What training is available for trainers in assessment?
A: OCNEMR will provide training on assessment for all trainers.

Q: What are the underlying units against which assessment will be made? Please clarify the 3 existing units for assessment? What are the 3 units for the level one accreditation?
A: There are three units:

Q: How important is a validation and assessment qualification i.e. what if you don’t have one?
A:  It is important that trainers understand the principles of assessment. Support and training will be available from OCNEMR for those trainers who do not hold a recognised assessment qualification.

Q: How many modules are there for level 1?
A: There are 3 units – however a number of themed session plans have been developed so far to support assessment opportunities.

Q: Does assessment create competition within the group?
A: The purpose of accreditation is to ensure that learners achieve recognition for their learning. Leaning Outcomes are either achieved or not achieved therefore it is unlikely that competition will be created within the group.

Q: Will there be enough time with individuals to asses what they have learned?
A: There should be

Accreditation levels and qualification

Q: Pilot participants will gain a unit in the progression award – what will be the future award?
A: Learners in the pilot who achieve all 3 units will gain the National Open College Network (NOCN) Level 1 Award in Progression. (Separate unit certification is also available). The pilot will inform the development of a new qualification that meets the needs of community faith leaders and workers.

Q: What are the chances of higher levels accreditation?
A: It is anticipated that the new qualifications developed will be at Levels 1, 2 and 3.

Q: Is the accreditation optional?
A: No. It is an aim of the pilot that learners receive accreditation for their learning.

Q: How do we sell level 1 in the pilot to a wide range of participants?
A: Participants in the pilot will be contributing to the development of a new qualifications that meet the needs of community faith leaders and workers.

Q: How do we market the course for people who may not be good at reading and writing to enable them to take part?
A: A range of delivery and assessment methods can be used. OCNEMR will be able to provide information and support.

Q: How does level 1 equate to or compare with GCSEs?
A: NOCN Level 1 Award in Progression is a Level 1 qualification within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and meets the criteria for learning at Level 1. GCSE (grades D-G) is Level 1 learning.

Q: How will the qualification help me?
A: Learners achieving the NOCN Level 1 Award in Progression will be able to use it to contribute to the entry requirements for other or to progress to the NOCN Level 2 Award in Progression.

General

Q: Create a learning platform place all the information on it, and video training sessions on required topics.
A: There is a centre in Sunderland that holds all the FCDL resources in a small library. It might help in terms of efficient use of time to have someone with you and at present there is not a permanent community development staff presence there. I would happily go with you or you could ask Dick Ellison to show you the materials. (Answered by Jonathan Adams 0191 525 1881).

Q: How do we make sure that learning is more important than accreditation?
A: Accreditation is there to ensure that learners received recognition for their learning. By using appropriate assessment activities trainers will be able to ensure that assessment supports the learning rather than ‘driving’ the learning.

Q: Is qualification important or group experience?
A: Both are important and should not be mutually exclusive.

Q: What support is there for bi-lingual participants?
A: NIACE has proposed to DIUS that language support be offered in the next phase.