SVQ Custodial Care and Practice SCQF level 7

Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) recognise competence in job-related skills and are based on National Occupational Standards.

This SVQ covers areas such as:

This qualification has been designed in partnership with the Custody and Detention sector and with the Skills for Justice sector skills council to ensure relevance to the sector.

This qualification is available through employers.

Why deliver this qualification

Learners will gain a nationally recognised qualification that ensures that they have the skills, knowledge and abilities required to carry out their role successfully. Employers will also benefit from their employees being occupationally competent.

Assessment is carried out in the workplace. This minimises any time learners need to be away from their work.

Who does this qualification suit

This SVQ is suitable for:

  • individuals who are currently employed in the Custody and Detention sector in roles such as police custody and security officer (PCSO), detention custody officer, prison officer – residential, prison officer operations and escort custody officer.

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 then to gather the required evidence.

Approval

Centres interested in offering this qualification must 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 Systems and Qualification Approval Guide (490 KB). The specific delivery requirements are set out in the assessment strategy.

How to assess

For general information, please refer to the document Information for Assessment of Scottish Vocational Qualifications (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

Current

Information about the qualification(s)

Qualification Structure

Group award code: GV4H 23

The SVQ in Custodial Care and Practice at SCQF level 7 consists of four mandatory units and four optional units.

For details of the units making up the SVQ, please refer to the qualification structure (50 KB).

National Occupational Standards

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

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.

Core skills signposting (119 KB)

Information about delivery, assessment, quality assurance and support material

Lapsing

Information about the qualification(s)

Qualification Structure

This group award has been replaced.

It enters its lapsing period on: 31/05/2024.

It finishes on: 31/05/2028.

Group Award Code:GH0V 23

The SVQ Custodial Care at SCQF level 7 consists of five mandatory Units and five optional Units.

For details of the Units making up the SVQ, please refer to the qualification structure.

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.

Awarding partnership arrangements

This SVQ is jointly awarded with the Scottish Prison Service.

Information about delivery, assessment, quality assurance and support material

Assessment strategy

Assessor's guidelines

Available on SQA's Secure website.

Candidate Guidance and Portfolio