Alumni Spotlight - Clair McCracken
If you’re looking to gain a recognised qualification in Social Services, without studying full-time, our SVQ3 Social Services (Children and Young People) allows you to do this with on-the-job training. Having recently completed the qualification, Clair chats to us about her experience.
Can you introduce yourself?
Hi, my name is Clair McCracken. I live in Perth, and I work in a local school nursery.
What qualification did you complete with UHI Perth?
Social Services (Children and Young People) SVQ3.
Why did you decide to gain a qualification through UHI Perth?
I felt the course was the perfect fit for me and offered the right qualification I needed to progress in my career.
How did you hear about the course?
Through a work colleague.
Completing a qualification and working can be difficult to juggle – can you describe any challenges you have faced and how you managed to overcome them?
I work five days a week and I also have two young children, so finding the right time to work on completing my qualification could be tricky. I set times in my calendar and stuck to these to ensure I was putting in the time I needed to gain my qualification.
How have you found the style of teaching and the support you have received from your trainer, employer, and assessors?
I had a great support system from my work colleagues who were always willing to help and point me in the right direction. My assessor was always easy to reach if I was unsure of anything and she was always more than happy to help.
Has there been any standout/memorable moments?
I really enjoyed planning for my practical assessments and seeing the enjoyment and learning opportunities the children in my nursery setting gained from them. My assessor Allison was always so supportive on her visits to observe me and made me feel at ease.
How do you feel your qualification will help you in your career progression? What are your career goals and plans?
Gaining my qualification has helped me expand my knowledge and gain more confidence in my job role. My goal is to progress in my career and become an Early Childhood Practitioner.
Anything else you feel like telling us about your experience?
The online access I had to help me through my course was fantastic. I found Brightspace so helpful as it had all the relevant documents that I needed to refer to. I also thought the online system used to upload my work was great for keeping me on track as I could easily see how much work I had done and how much was left to do.
And finally, what advice would you give to anyone thinking about doing a similar qualification with UHI Perth?
It can be daunting the thought of gaining a qualification and all the work it entails but the support system that is in place to help you complete and gain your qualification is great. I always felt well supported throughout my course and my assessor was always there to help and encourage me. I am so delighted that I took the decision to apply for this course and I have really enjoyed working through it. I would tell anyone who is thinking about doing a similar qualification to go for it.
