Last Updated on 21/08/2023
Introduction
The Self-Assessment Exercise (SAE) is designed to help trainees identify what their strengths are and what their areas for development are from the beginning of their training. It enables trainees to become active and engaged participants in their own learning and development and provides an opportunity to engage in different exercises to understand themselves and their needs better.
The assignment comprises a brief written reflective report and a ‘clinical viva’ with the markers (usually the trainee’s individual clinical and research tutor). The report is based on a series of essential and desirable activities with the viva being based on the report. It is a ‘broad skills’ assignment.
Actively assessed domains
The SAE will actively assess the following domains: –
- Collating information and knowledge
- Critical analysis & synthesis
- Strategy for application (deciding)
- Responsive to impact & learning from experiences
- Communicating information effectively
Preparing for the assignment
Trainees undertake a number of essential and desirable formative activities prior to submitting the written component of the assignment. This begins with a broad self-appraisal exercise (see form below) and then includes a range of other self-assessment exercises covering a range of knowledge and skills (e.g. statistical ability, writing skills, basic clinical engagement skills, and engaging with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) student code of conduct). Trainees are expected to identify strengths and areas of development needs or challenge together with strategies to address identified areas of development or challenge and write about these in the 1,500 word report which is submitted to markers in advance of the clinical viva meeting (more details can be found in the ‘how to’ guide).Trainees are offered the chance to meet with their individual tutors on two occasions to discuss and reflect on their progress on these activities prior to submitting their written report.
Preparation for the ‘clinical viva’ will involve the trainees being familiar with what they have written in the report and be able to answer any questions about how they reached the conclusions they have in the report about their strengths/needs and strategies to address.
Structure of the Assignment
The written component of the SAE is completed using the SAE form (link below) and comprises a 500 word initial self-appraisal section and a 1,000 word consideration of the outcome of the self-assessment process. Trainees also append the outcome of all formative activities undertaken (with the exception of the Quick Scan assessment) to the submission. Trainees who have additional considerations (e.g. adjustments the programme needs to be aware of) that they wish to discuss as part of the SAE can be permitted to submit a form with a higher word count (see trainee ‘how to’ guide for details).
The clinical viva focuses on discussing with the trainee their identified strengths and development needs and the path by which they identified these as being most important.
Process of Assessment
The submitted SAE form is read by the tutor pair prior to the viva. During the viva the tutors ask questions based on the contents of this form.
Trainee performance in the viva is assessed by the markers who will jointly determine domain ratings together. The trainee feedback form, including the outcome, will be sent to the trainee following the viva.
If a Pass is awarded the trainee is not required to do anything further with the SAE. If no fails, but at least one ‘pass with conditions’ rating is awarded for a domain, the overall mark will be pass with conditions. Under these circumstances the trainee will be required to make some amendments to their SAE form (which will be detailed to them in the trainee feedback form) and resubmit these. If approved, the mark will then be converted to a full pass. A fail will require the trainee to have a second attempt viva and they may be required to make changes/amendments to the SAE form in advance of the viva.
Assessment guidance and forms
SAE – guide to materials
SAE – how to guide
SAE – trainee feedback
SAE – trainee form
Exercises and tools
SAE – initial self appraisal exercise
SAE – Moodle resources