SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) SCQF level 9

The Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Social Services (Children and Young People) at SCQF level 9 allows candidates to demonstrate competence in job related skills in their particular area of work.

This qualification has been designed in partnership with the Sector Skills Council, Skills for Care and Development to ensure relevance to the sector.

SVQs are based on National Occupational Standards. SQA works in partnership with other organisations to ensure that National Occupational Standards (NOS) are relevant to the current and future needs of Scottish industries.

This qualification is available through employers and training providers.

Why deliver this qualification

The Level 4 SVQ in Social Services (Children and Young People) at SCQF level 9 is a re-accredited qualification.

Upon successful completion, learners will gain an international recognised qualification which guarantees that they have the skills, knowledge and abilities required to carry out their role successfully.

As assessment is normally carried out in the workplace this minimises any time learners would need to be away from their work and allows candidates to generate evidence based on the actual work they are carrying out.

Candidates can progress from the Level 4 SVQ in Social Services (Children and Young People) at SCQF level 9 to other appropriate awards. Candidates may transfer across to the adult sector by undertaking some additional units in SVQ Social Services and Healthcare. The progression route for each candidate will depend on their job role and level of responsibility.

The SVQ can be offered in any of the following modes:

  • full-time
  • part-time

The achievement of other qualifications such as HNC Early Years and HNC Social Care, as well as Childcare qualifications at SCQF level 8 can contribute towards gaining underpinning knowledge for this award.

Who does this qualification suit

This SVQ is suitable for:

  • individuals who are currently in employment and who wish to obtain a formal qualification

The target audience for the SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) at level 9 are people who are employed in the childcare sector in a senior and/or management role. It is a requirement by the SSSC that those employed as a Manager of a Residential Child Care Service, and as a Manager of a Residential School Care Accommodation Service should have achieved or be working towards achievement of this qualification.

This qualification meets the SSSC practice registration requirement for managers in the following services:

  • Managers of a Residential Child Care Service
  • Managers of a Residential School Care Accommodation Service

To meet the SSSC practice registration requirement for:

  • Practitioners in Day Care of Children Services 
  • Managers in a Day Care of Children Service

the mandatory units and four of the following units are required:

  • H5W6 04 Evaluate the environment for children and families
  • H5WJ 04 Advocate with and on behalf of children and young people
  • H5WK 04 Support parents and carers to acquire skills to care for and protect babies, children and young people
  • H5W2 04 Lead the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children
  • H5W3 04 Lead the support of children's communication
  • H5W4 04 Lead the support for children’s creativity
  • H5W5 04 Lead the support for children’s mathematical learning, exploration and problem solving

You must hold a practice qualification before you gain the mandatory management qualification. Find out what you need to register with the SSSC.

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre.

Candidates should be in a job or placement where they are carrying out relevant tasks and responsibilities which allow them to gather the required evidence.

Progression

The level 4 award could provide progression to:

  • Candidates can progress from the Level 4 SVQ in Social Services (Children and Young People)at SCQF level 9 to other appropriate awards. Candidates may transfer across to the adult sector by undertaking some additional units in SVQ Social Services and Healthcare. The progression route for each candidate will depend on their job role and level of responsibility.

Approval

Centres will have to come forward for approval and should contact SQA's Business Development Team for guidance.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA's general requirements for technical/occupational competence as outlined in the Guide to Approval.

How to assess

For general information on how to assess this qualification, please refer to the document Guidance on how to assess SVQs. For detailed guidance on how to assess this particular SVQ, please refer to the Assessment Strategy.

Where can you take this course?

Qualification content and delivery tools

Information about the qualification(s)

Qualification Structure

Group Award Code: GH5X 24

The SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) at SCQF level 9 consists of 4 mandatory Units and 4 optional Units.

For details of the Units making up the SVQ, please refer to the Qualification Structure (137 KB)

National Occupational Standards

Unit information for this qualification is available on our Unit Search.

Core Skills signposting

Core Skill mappings are carried out by the SSC responsible for the development of an SVQ. It is a requirement of SQA Accreditation that every SVQ submission includes information on where possible opportunities for candidates to develop Core Skills exist across the mandatory units.

Centres should note that mappings are not audited or validated against the Core Skills framework/units so are not accepted by SQA awarding body as evidence towards achievement of the Core Skills units.

Technical Apprenticeships

This SVQ is a mandatory component in the Social Services (Children and Young People) Technical Apprenticeship

Those undertaking Technical Apprenticeships need to have career skills certificated rather than core skills. Technical apprentices must achieve career skills at a minimum of 15 credits at SCQF Level 7, or above, as well as the SVQ. The career skills need to be separately certificated and cannot be used if they form part of the SVQ studied by the candidate. This is considered double counting. The technical framework will identify eight units from which candidates can choose those most suitable for their learning/employment to fulfil the 15 credits requirement noted above.

Table 1 below list the Units candidates can select.

SSC/NOS Code Unit title SCQF level SCQF credit
CFAMLD9 Build and manage teams 7 8
CFABAA532 Manage budgets 7 5
CFAMLD6 Allocate and monitor the progress and quality of work in your area of responsibility 7 14
CFAMLA2 Manage your own resources and professional development 7 8
CFAMLD3 Recruit select and keep colleagues 9 12
CFAMLB11 Promote equality of opportunity. Diversity and inclusion in your area of work 8 10
CFAMLB6 Provide leadership in your area of responsibility 8 9
CFAMLC2 Encourage innovation in your area of responsibility 9 12

Apprentice providers will need approval from the relevant awarding body to deliver and certificate career skills separately.

Information about delivery, assessment, quality assurance and support material

Useful Links

 SkillsDevelopment Scotland Logo Scottish Social Services Council Logo.