2. PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSION

3. PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSION
What is Professional Discussion?
When would you use it?

4. PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSION - 1
Is an in-depth, two-way conversation between the assessor and the candidate
It is a good method to use when you are assessing complex tasks

5. PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSION – 2*
There are no hard and fast rules for conducting a Professional Discussion: much depends on how you respond to what your candidate says and your skill in moving the discussion forward
However, such discussions work best when you both know what you will be discussing and when the candidate has had enough time to prepare and so feels relaxed about talking to you

6. PLANNING THE DISCUSSION - 1
90% of a successful professional discussion is down to preparing and training the candidate and the assessor
Question
How would you Plan for a Professional Discussion

7. PLANNING THE DISCUSSION - 2
Before carrying out a professional discussion you will need to plan it so that the candidate agrees with the timing of it and what you both want to achieve
This stage is crucial and requires time and effort from both assessor and candidate

8. PLANNING THE DISCUSSION - 3
The assessor needs to plan with the candidate what they will be talking about and identify anything they need to bring with them to support their claim of competence

9. PLANNING THE DISCUSSION - 4
ASSESSOR
Have I checked the standards and assessment strategy to ensure that:
Professional discussion is an appropriate method to use
Am I sure this candidate is ready to be assessed
Have we agreed a time and place to meet

10. PLANNING THE DISCUSSION – 5*
CANDIDATE
Do I know the topics I will be expected to discuss and how these relate to the standards
Do I know what products or examples of my work I need to bring with me to the discussion
Do I have enough time to prepare
Am I confident about taking part in a professional discussion

11. DURING THE DISCUSSION
What would you be doing during the discussion?

12. DURING THE DISCUSSION - 1
Put your candidate at ease
For most candidates professional discussion is something of an ordeal. They may be very good at their jobs but not confident about talking to an assessor. Talk to your candidate beforehand about what to expect

13. DURING THE DISCUSSION - 2
Lay ground rules and explain them before you start
You should explain to them that – it’s OK to ask questions if they lose the thread
You will be making notes, but this isn’t a reflection on them – it’s your aide-memoir
You may use recording equipment
Make sure they stick to their real experiences and not just talk theory
You will stop them when we have covered the topic in enough depth

14. DURING THE DISCUSSION - 3
Encourage, focus and move on
Your job is to keep up the pace of the discussion and to steer it where necessary
This means encouraging your candidate to keep talking when they are on the right track
Keep them focused on the standards and move them on when they have covered the topic in enough depth

15. DURING THE DISCUSSION - 4
To encourage them:
Use active listening skills such as nodding or saying “Tell me more”
To move them on:
Use specific questions – “I’d like you to talk about …..

16. DURING THE DISCUSSION - 5
Don’t be afraid to interrupt if they wander off the point – But remember to be holistic in outlook.
Say something like “Can I interrupt you” and follow it with a specific question.

17. DURING THE DISCUSSION - 6
Identify further opportunities
Be holistic
Bring it to a close

18. DURING THE DISCUSSION – 7*
Record it on an appropriate proforma
Or record it on tape
Remember if you record it you must reference the tape so IVs and EVs know where to access specific evidence

19. AFTER THE DISCUSSION - 1
After you’ve finished your candidate will want to know how well they have done and it’s your job to provide appropriate feedback

20. AFTER THE DISCUSSION –2*
Agree on what the candidate needs to do next, such as:
Provide further evidence
Identify and arrange to speak to potential witnesses if you want further corroboration (Supporting Evidence)
Arrange to observe the candidate if necessary
Record these a action points and agree them with the candidates, along with timescales