External Assessments of Registration and Specialist Portfolios

We have received a number of enquiries regarding alternative means of verifying registration training and examining specialist portfolios and we wish to alleviate concerns by suggesting the following measures that should limit the need for face-to-face meetings and  avoid unnecessary travel.  These enable us to remain committed to ensuring that candidates who are ready for verification/examination should be able to be assessed in a fair and timely manner.  

• We are recommending that, for the foreseeable future, verifications and examinations are carried out “virtually” if the verifier/examiner can receive the portfolio either electronically or by post.
• We would then recommend that a viva takes place over the telephone or by Skype. This will allow the verifier/examiner to assess the work in the portfolio, follow up any areas that might require further probing and also meet the HCPC standards of education and training in completing the report forms.
• If you decide to embrace these recommendations, please indicate this on the report form.
• If portfolios cannot be reviewed remotely and it is possible to carry out the assessment in the standard way, we recommend that all parties should be in agreement with this.  As arrangements may be subject to last minute change we ask that train tickets are NOT booked in advance. Even though this may be more cost effective the Institute does not wish to have unnecessary expenditure due to last-minute cancellations.

We recognise that even with these arrangements individuals may be concerned about delays in the process due to lack of availability of external verifiers and examiners.  This is particularly likely to occur if employers are reluctant to release staff due to pressures on the service.  We ask for your patience and understanding if this happens.  

Portfolio Training and Placements

It is also likely that internal training or placement training may be affected due to measures that may need to be taken by individuals, employers and universities to deal with the COVID-19 situation.  For example, many universities are taking measures to limit student access.  If training laboratories feel their ability to take a placement student is compromised, they must notify their university contact person at the earliest opportunity.