Widening Access and Widening Participation Professional Standards Framework and Accreditation Scheme 2023 - 2024
SCAPP is pleased to announce that phase two of the Widening Access and Widening Participation Professional Standards and Accreditation Scheme has been launched for 2023 – 2024, working across Scotland and in partnership with specific institutions in England, led by the University of Nottingham.
Professional accreditation will be offered at two levels for 2023/2024: Affiliate level; and Practitioner Level.
The Scheme will run from November 2023 – June 2024.
Applications to take part in the Accreditation Scheme, as a Peer Reviewer and a Scheme Applicant, closed on 1st September 2023.
We will be in contact with all applicants in due course.
If you have any questions about the Professional Standards Framework and Accreditation Scheme, please contact scapp@stir.ac.uk
Please note that SCAPP retain the copyright of all information, documentation and content related to the Widening Access and Widening Participation Framework and Accreditation Scheme, and this information should not be copied, distributed or duplicated without express permission of SCAPP.
Professional Accreditation Scheme
The WA and WP Professional Accreditation Scheme has been designed to provide individuals working in a widening access/participation role in education or related/partner organisations with a route to professional accreditation.
The Scheme is designed to be incorporated into institutional/organisational professional learning and development processes, enabling you, with agreement and support from your line manager, to gain professional accreditation in WA and WP through the submission of an evidence-based portfolio. The portfolio will comprise a context statement and a reflective statement of your practice, illustrating how you meet the relevant professional standards statements for each theme WA and WP Professional Standards Framework.
Benefits
The Professional Accreditation Scheme offers WA and WP affiliates and practitioners the following benefits:
- Professional recognition for your work and achievements in WA and WP.
- Enhances the quality of practice in WA and WP and endorses the value and experience of your professional practice.
- Rewards your commitment to WA and WP and illustrates the impact your work has had to enable those most marginalised in society to reach their potential.
- Provides a vehicle for you to benchmark your practice against national WA and WP standards and evidence quality assured professional practice to employers and other key stakeholders such as funding bodies.
- Enhances your Professional Learning/CPD portfolio and provides opportunities that allows you to stand out in a competitive job market by being able to evidence the contribution you have made to the development of WA and WP.
- Provides an opportunity for you to learn and keep up with the latest professional practice.
- Provides an opportunity for you to engage with and contribute to a growing community of WA and WP practitioners and to current research and practice.
Professional Standards Framework
The Widening Access and Participation Professional Standards Framework
The Widening Access and Participation Professional Standards Framework sits at the centre of the Professional Accreditation Scheme. It has been developed to provide a comprehensive set of professional standards against which you can self-evaluate your widening access/participation work and produce evidence to demonstrate a personal commitment to professionalism in WA and WP.
The Professional Standards Framework has been developed in Scotland, but is relevant to the professional development of WA and WP practice across the UK and Internationally.
It can be applied to a diverse range of WA and WP professional roles and environments both in education and within related organisations.
Framework Themes
The Professional Standards Framework sets out professional practice in WA and WP under three inter-related themes:
- What we VALUE
- What we DO
- What we KNOW and UNDERSTAND
Each theme contains a number of statements setting out the breadth of professional practice expected from those working in a WA and WP role.
Accreditation Levels
The scheme currently has two levels of accreditation:
- Affiliate Level
- Practitioner Level
Affiliate Level Accreditation is designed for individuals who contribute to WA or WP in affiliation with HEI’s, colleges or related organisations. These individuals will have an interest in promoting and supporting WA and WP and are able to demonstrate that they provide support for WA and WP learners as part of a wider remit/role within their organisation. Typically, applicants will have a minimum of one year’s experience.
Examples of the types of role that would be eligible to apply for Affiliate Level will be provided in the Affiliate Level Descriptor in the Determining the Correct Level for You guide.
Practitioner Level Accreditation is designed for WA and WP professionals with a substantive role/remit for WA and WP in an HEI, college, school or related organisation. Typically, applicants will have a minimum of two years’ experience of working in a WA and WP role.
Examples of the types of role that would be eligible to apply for Practitioner Level Accreditation will be provided in the Practitioner Level Descriptor in the Determining the Correct Level for You guide.
Please note: Minimum level of experience. Please note that applicants can use evidence and experience from past WA and WP roles up to a maximum of 3 years before being employed in their current role. We will consider applications from practitioners with less than two years’ experience if the applicant can provide a supporting statement from the line manager stating their confidence that the applicant can demonstrate evidence against the relevant Level Descriptor. See the Determining the Correct Level for You guide.
SCAPP Congratulates our Accredited Members!
October 2022
SCAPP are delighted to announce the following members have been successful in achieving accreditation in the Pilot of the Scottish Widening Access and Participation Professional Standards Framework and Accreditation Scheme, at the following levels:
Amy McDermott – Practitioner
Ann Playford – Practitioner
Daniella Gash – Affiliate
Jackie Smith – Practitioner
Lidia Dancu – Practitioner
Lorna Lamont – Affiliate
Morag Anderson – Affiliate
Nicola Kennedy – Practitioner
Paula Christie – Practitioner
This is a brilliant achievement, and is credit to the hard work and dedication of these professionals. We know you’ll join us in congratulating our colleagues!
Many thanks to our Peer Reviewers: Amanda Baldwin, Alice Smith, Andrew Comrie, Gill Ryan and Peter Tormey for their work reviewing and providing feedback.
And thank you to the Support Managers, for supporting these members to work towards Accreditation.
Evaluation of the Pilot is now complete, and discussions are underway for Phase 2 of the Accreditation Scheme. We will share this news with our SCAPP members once finalised.
Launch and Pilot of Scottish Widening Access and Participation Professional Standards Framework and Accreditation Scheme 2021-2022
Following significant work towards the development and preparation for the SCAPP Scottish Widening Access and Participation Professional Framework and Accreditation Scheme, the pilot phase of the Scheme was launched in 2021.
SCAPP members were invited to apply to participate as an applicant to the Accreditation Scheme or to be a Peer Reviewer. There were three levels of accreditation offered in the Pilot – Affiliate, Practitioner and Leadership.
Successful Peer Reviewers assessed applications by individuals wishing to participate in the scheme at the various accreditation levels.
An Induction for Participants took place in December 2021 and Help Hub sessions were held for applicants.
An information session was held in January for support managers of the participants to ensure that they were clear about their role in supporting and guiding them.
A Writing Workshop was held at the University of Stirling at the end of February 2022, bringing the participants together for the first time – a most enjoyable and productive afternoon in spite of terrible weather conditions!
Evidence Portfolios were submitted for the appraisal by Peer Reviewers in May 2022, and assessed against the competencies as outlined in the Framework. Applicants were advised of the outcome in June 2022.
This pilot was concluded in July 2022, and a formal external evaluation was undertaken to inform its further development and shape.
Any enquiries about the Professional Standards Framework and Accreditation Scheme may be sent to scapp@stir.ac.uk