SVQ: Meet the Team

Falkirk Council Social Services Assessment Centre

Andrew Clydesdale

SVQ and Career pathways Manager and Centre Contact for Falkirk Council Social Services Assessment Centre
andrew.clydesdale@falkirk.gov.uk / 07921 942 211

I manage the day-to-day delivery of services provided by Falkirk Social Services Assessment Centre and I’m the Centre Contact for Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA). The Assessment Centre is well established, providing assessment and verification for a range of Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) awards for frontline practitioners and line managers working across Adult and Children’s Services.

Our Assessment Centre programmes provide opportunities for our staff to undertake vocational awards associated with professional registration requirements. The centre also provides development opportunities for staff in support of continuous professional development and career progression.

To support recruitment and retention of staff the centre aims to increase the opportunities available for existing employees for career progression and attract talent into Social Care through the provision of career pathways. We collaborate with a wide range of partner agencies and services including Higher Education Institutions, Registration and Scrutiny Bodies, our Employment Training Unit as well as Council and Health and Social Care Partnership services.

I have been an SVQ Assessor – Verifier since 2003 supporting candidates at all levels of SVQ Social Services and Healthcare awards from Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level 6 to SCQF Level 10 I’ve experience of working with a variety of assessment centres across central and western Scotland before moving to Falkirk Council.

My experience of working in Health and Social care dates back to 1994 with a background in respite, residential and day care service provision for individuals with physical and learning disabilities.

Eileen Bennie

SVQ Assessor & Internal Verifier
Eileens.bennie@falkirk.gov.uk / 07793 721 602

I currently work within Falkirk Social Services Assessment Centre as an SVQ Assessor and Internal Verifier. I provide assessment and verification for a range of Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) awards for frontline support workers to line management across the Adult and Children Services.

I had the opportunity to become a work base SVQ Assessor in 2006 whilst working in Housing Support and Social Worker Services where I assessed candidates through their SVQ award at SCQF Level 7. I then attained a secondment opportunity with the Social Service Assessment Centre in 2018 and became a permanent full-time SVQ Assessor/Internal Verifier in 2019 where I remain supporting candidates at all levels of SVQ Social Services and Healthcare awards from Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF Level 6 to SCQF Level 10.

My experience working in Health and Social Care dates back to 1995 where I have worked in several Local Authority Care Services supporting people with complex needs within residential and housing with support settings.

Jackie Black

SVQ Assessor & Internal Verifier
Jackie.black@falkirk.gov.uk/ 07483 354 822

I became an SVQ Assessor in 2015 whilst working as a support worker in the community, I assessed candidates as a workplace assessor across SCQF level 6, SCQF Level 7 and SCQF Level 9 once I had achieved my assessor award. I went on to take up a full-time assessor role with a variety of organisations’ assessment centres.

I began employment with the Social Service Assessment Centre in April 2019 and became a permanent full-time SVQ Assessor for care and support at home services.

I achieved my Internal Verifier award in 2024 with Falkirk Council and became an Assessor – Internal Verifier in 2025. where I remain supporting candidates at all levels of SVQ Social Services and Healthcare awards from Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework with further training.

My experience working in Health and Social Care dates back to 1984 when I began my nurse training. After qualifying as a nurse, I worked mostly in care of older adults. After leaving nursing I worked as a support worker in the community with a wide range of service users with different levels of care needs, this enabled me to have the time to achieve my assessor award.

Kevin Woodcock

SVQ Assessor & Internal Verifier
kevin.woodcock@falkirk.gov.uk/ 07483 375 613

I have been employed by Falkirk Council since 2019 in the role of SVQ Assessor / Internal Verifier. I assess and support candidates to achieve their qualification.

Working with front line support / care staff, supervisors and senior care staff and with managers. My role as an internal verifier involving me in supporting assessors and confirming their assessments are complying the SQA assessment process / protocols and following the standardised practice within the SVQ centre

I gained my assessor award in 1989 whilst working in England and my internal verifier award whilst working in Scotland with a private training provider in 2017.

I am currently assessing in both Health and Social Care and in Children and young peoples’ services.

I have worked in health and social care since the mid-1980s, initially as a foster carer working with teenage girls who had experienced varying forms of abuse. Then working for a local authority in a reception unit for young people, and moving to a group living / residential unit for young people, where I completed my assessor award in 1989.

As my career in care progressed, I worked as a manager, gaining experience of managing services working with Disabilities / Sensory impairments. Mental Health. Learning Disabilities and Older People.

Since moving to Scotland in 2010 I have worked in a range of services providing care and support to individuals with a range of needs front line care in group living / supported living services / adult residential / home care.

I have also worked as an SVQ assessor (and internal verifier from 2017) with two private training providers, gaining a wealth of experience assessing candidates at all levels within several service areas.

Links to our other pages about:
Falkirk SVQ Team | Information | Career Pathways | Career Pathways (MA) | Feedback

Andrew Clydesdale
SVQ and Career Pathways Manager
andrew.clydesdale@falkirk.gov.uk / 07921 942 211
The Foundry, 4 Central Park Ave, Central Blvd, Larbert FK5 4RU