THE SMALL
FIRMS
Introduction
SFEDI, as an organisation, was originally responsible
for writing the competence standards for NVQ Owner Manager Qualifications for
managers of small businesses. Their portfolio has increased to include
standards for Business Support, Business Development and Business
Start Up.
Development
In 2002 the SFEDI Business Support Standards were
introduced in to Business Links, Enterprise Centres and similar organisations
as mandatory competence assessment standards for Business Advisers and Business
Information Staff who were working on Business Link branded products.
Initial
Assessments
Initial competence assessments were carried out by
people who had occupational competence in giving business advice and
information and also qualified NVQ Assessors holding D32/D33 Awards. Line
managers were not allowed to assess their own staff and various cross-over
arrangements were made with other departments or business links.
Other organisations went for external assessment by
approved Business Link Contractors.
The initial intention was to have SFEDI assessments
annually but this was changed.
Standards
Review
Following the initial assessments the SBS reviewed
arrangements and decided that all future assessments were to be made only by
members of the BLU/SBS National Standards Support Team. This team, numbering
60-70 assessors, was selected from the original assessors in the Business
Links. SFEDI assessments may only be performed by members of the National
Standards Support Team(SST) or those assessors acting
under the quality assurance of an SST member.
Mandatory
Requirements
These were reinforced by a letter from Martin Wyn
Griffiths, the Chief Executive of the Small Business Service, to all Business
Link CEOs in October 2002. It is still a requirement for all Business Advisers
and Information Services Staff to complete an assessment against the SFEDI
Business Support Standards within twelve months of their appointment.
Routes to
Achieving the Standard
In addition to the traditional SFEDI routes of
assessments using there are also parallel routes available in approved centres
for the
NVQ Level 4 in Business Support.
There are also new standards for Social Enterprise Advisers.
Accreditation/
Certification
There are two main routes through the SFEDI/ILM Core
Standards in Business Support and the (OCR) NVQ 4 in Business Support.
John Swift
2009
(Please see next page for SFEDI Assessment Action Plan)
1 Induction and Interview
2 Accreditation of Prior Achievement(APL)
Your
assessor will credit you with achievements from previous SFEDI/NVQ/BLU
assessments
where
they meet the quality criteria laid down for those awards.
Original
awarding body certificates will be required to be produced to your assessor.
3 Client Observations
Dependant
upon the substantive nature of your previous SFEDI records and achievements it
may be
necessary for you to be observed in up to three face to face meetings with your
clients.
Agree with
your clients that it is permissible for you to be accompanied by the assessor..
Keep
accurate records of the client meetings and any documents used with, or
supplied to, clients,
colleagues
or networks as a result of the meetings. Supply this naturally occurring
evidence in your portfolio.
Identify with your assessor any
further evidence required to fill any gaps on the performance checklist not
covered by the observations. This may be by
providing product evidence,
witness testimony from clients, colleagues
or network contacts or from client case histories.
Personal reports may be used to show
how you have done things in the past.
Record the title and page numbers of
this evidence on the Reference Matrix.
6 Knowledge and Understanding Evaluation
Consider your position relative to the Knowledge areas using the rating
scale provided.
Scores lower than 3 will generate a knowledge development need which may
be met by answering the
appropriate questions
from the Knowledge and Understanding Question bank. Your assessor will check
your ratings and agree which questions
are to be presented at
your next meeting.
7 Personal Behaviours Matrix
The matrix
will identify where you have met the required Personal Behaviours in your
assessments.
Any
development areas identified as an outcome of assessments will be profiled on
your
Personal Development Plan. A list of areas is
supplied for guidance. A planned programme
of
development will be agreed to focus on priority actions against the Standards.
9 Assessment Record
Your
assessor will profile your achievements against the Standards and update your
Assessment Record which shows which parts of the Standards have been met
in full.
10 Portfolio Submission
Ensure
that all documents in your portfolio and have been signed and dated
appropriately.
Your
completed portfolio of evidence is to be presented for Assessment and
Verification prior
to
Accreditation with SFEDI / ILM.