Dear Auntie Sue,

Just would like to say this is a really helpful site and thank God for that, I have nearly finished my level 3 hsc and I have decided not to go and do level 4, I have been let down numerous times by my assessor, and have had absolutely no help what so ever, only for this site I would be at a complete loss, I have been isolated in doing this on my own and only for the fact I am not going to give up I think that is the reason why I am still battling away at this.

I may have had a bad experience and I hoped I was a one off, but recently I have found that there are others who are also in the same position as myself, are there such things as rougue assessors I wonder ?. I am sure there are, just like there are rougue carer's, this has made me deeply suspicious of their role in helping people to achieve the correct standard of practice and education so that I may put into practice all that I have learnt, is it really worth it, I ask myself ?,

Please forgive me, as I know that just by looking here that you are not one of those assessors, you are here to help guide us in the right direction, but I feel very let down and as such I am wondering that if that particular assessor treat's others the way she has treated me, are there carers working the system that actually shouldn't be ?, do we have level 3 wokers not fully understanding what that entails ? and have some of them carers been allowed to slip through the net ? effectively continuing to deliver bad practice.

As soon as I have my certificate I will be looking forward to moving on in my career but it definately wont be in the field that I am in now, I have come to the conclusion over the last year that having a level 3 in HSC for some means absolutely nothing, it is a piece of paper that is worthless.

With reluctance,

CM

This upsets me to read this. I am almost qualified as an assessor in HSC, and I am looking for a job as an assessor. Most private companies seem to be driven by targets over quality provision to candidates. There seem to be so many assessors out there that aren't motivated and are in it for the wrong reasons. I actually want to go into cos I feel passionate about helping others gain knowledge.

You sound like you have your head in the right place and it would be a shame if you did not continue your development. I can see why you are resentful of other passing under 'shady' circumstances. It is the whole system that seems to be at fault. The LSC seems to chuck money at companies for people to pass.

Anyway this is my two cents worth

Dear CM,

Your message is so sad and, unfortunately, a common one. There are poor practitioners in all occupations and at all levels. MPs are just one example of this!

Most people working in the care sector do so because they 'care'. They 'care' about the people they care for but many lack the skills and knowledge to do it to the standards required. I have met many caring people who say "I've worked in care for years I don't need to learn about it" only to discover that they did need to update some of their practice and knowledge.

NVQ (and whatever replaces it) is intended to give workers good standards to work to. Without this vulnerable people would not get the care they deserve.

This site shows that there are lots of candidates who want to do well and many good advisers who want to support them. Yes some assessors are poor. Some just aren't up to it and others are being pressured to complete candidates who are not really ready. Its up to the rest of us to get on with it. You have been unlucky.

Maybe the 'piece of paper' is not always a sign that standards have been achieved. The real evidence comes from the work we do after getting it. Good workers must challenge poor practice when we see it however 'qualified' the worker.

You may feel let down but don't give up use it and this forum's example to fire you to keep up your own standards.

If as you say you got little support from your assessor you can be proud that you did it all yourself - with a bit of help from us!

Good luck in whatever you decide for the future.

Hope that helps

Aunty Sue