Holistic assessment
Holistic assessment
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The focus of a holistic assessment
What does a holistic assessment focus on?
Holistic assessment focuses on:
whole work activities
assessment of skills
Holistic assessment provides an opportunity to assess more than one standard within the context of whole work activities rather than assessing single standards.
It works best when observing a worker who is applying their knowledge whilst demonstrating practical skills, rather than in testing knowledge alone.
The holistic approach
Let's look at the approach to holistic assessments in more detail.
What does it mean to plan a holistic approach?
Whilst each of the standards in the Care Certificate are independent, they are also inter-related in many instances.
For example, communication is an independent standard but communication is a skill that a worker uses when interacting with individuals across almost all other Care Certificate Standards.
What are the benefits of a holistic assessment?
Makes best use of an assessor’s time
Can cover several standards at once
Uses same evidence to meet different standards
Reflects the real world and skill requirements of the sectors
Much less impact on the individuals supported.
Can any assessor carry out a holistic assessment?
Yes, any assessor can carry out a holistic assessment.
However, the assessor may not be competent to assess a particular standard, for example, basic life support.
Therefore, another competent assessor may have the responsibility for assessing certain components.
Meet Pawel and Gary
Pawel is a healthcare support worker. He is supporting Gary with his care.
This will include assisting Gary from his bed to his wheelchair and into his bathroom. Pawel is following agreed ways to do this in line with his training, policies and procedures.
What different interactions and care activities do you think you will see Pawel provide to Gary?
How does your answer compare?
In providing this assistance, Pawel will:
gain Gary's consent
communicate to Gary what is happening
check the equipment is safe to use
encourage Gary to contribute to the transfers and ensure he is safe
promote Gary's privacy and dignity
carry out personal care
work in a person-centred way
ensure Gary is comfortable
By observing Pawel competently carrying out this one activity that he completes on a regular basis, you may be able to gain evidence towards several Care Certificate standards.
Planning a holistic assessment
You've just seen how you can gather evidence observing a worker carry out one activity.
You are now about to arrange an assessment of another worker. You want to plan this holistically, so you can capture evidence across as many different standards as possible.
When is the best time for you to carry out the assessment?
Choose the correct option and check your answer.
When the worker is providing care and support
When the worker is not busy and has time to chat with you
When the worker's manager is available to talk to you
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When you are planning to observe a worker's performance or skills holistically across different standards, it's best to assess the worker whilst they are providing care and support to individuals during their working day.
By choosing a suitable time during their working hours, you will be able to observe them performing a variety of care tasks with individuals that they support. This is more time efficient than coming back to observe a worker doing all these things separately, at different times.
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