3CO03

Core behaviours for

people professionals
Learner Assessment Brief
Assessment ID / CIPD_3CO03_21_01

Level 3
Foundation Certificate in
People Practice
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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

3CO03
Core behaviours for people
professionals

This unit introduces the core behaviours for people professionals, focusing on ethical practice to
create value. It considers how certain ways of thinking and acting should be universally consistent,
even in new and challenging situations, to promote a sense of wellbeing and inclusivity in the
organisation.

CIPD’s insight

Ethical practice in the time of coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many organisations to make rapid changes to their business
model. This may include reducing operations, redeploying staff, or hiring new workers to meet
increased demand. It is also bringing unique people management challenges as employees adapt
to workplace changes or personal challenges such as juggling caring responsibilities or self -
isolating.
In this unparalleled situation, having a principled based approach to decision making is essential to
make sure organisations behave ethically. There are many factors to be considered, from
employee wellbeing and safety, business finances and long-term sustainability. Using a principle-
based approach can help guide decisions as the situation evolves. We’ve created a COVID-19
workforce planner to help organisations navigate complex decisions about workforce changes
during the pandemic.
People professionals need to champion ethical practice and work with the wider business
throughout the crisis to ensure the best possible outcomes for all. Find out more about the role that
people professionals should play in Coronavirus and the workforce: doing the right thing in a
crisis.

There’s more on what employers should be doing in our Responding to the coronavirus hub.

Ethics at work; an employer’s guide

Red flags, practical resources and action points for employers looking to foster ethical behaviour in
their organisation.
Ethical values provide the moral compass by which we live our lives and make decisions: ‘doing
the right thing’ because it’s the right thing to do. However, there are several reasons why unethical
behaviour continues to happen in the workplace, from individual actions and choice to industry-
wide indiscretions and compromising decisions.
https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/culture/ethics/ethics-work-guide

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Case study
You are currently a Junior Associate in People Practice and are working on your CIPD
qualification. A local television production company has contacted the Head of your Study Centre
to ask for some assistance. They are making a current affairs programme on business issues and
ethical practice. They are particularly keen to highlight the role in a People Practice team to help
support and promote ethical practice in organisations following a number of well publicised
examples of unethical practices and exploitation at work. They are concerned about the link
between ethical practice and the impact on the day-to-day experience of work for members of staff.
You suspect that they might be biased and are looking for examples to justify their viewpoint that
modern day organisations exploit workers and do not care about their wellbeing at all. The Head of
your Study Centre has asked you to prepare an initial briefing paper to help shape the response to
the production company.

Preparation for the Tasks:

 At the start of your assignment, you are encouraged to plan your assessment work
with your Assessor and where appropriate agree milestones so that they can help
you monitor your progress.
 Refer to the indicative content in the unit to guide and support your evidence.
 Pay attention to how your evidence is presented, remember you are working in the People
Practice Team.
 Make sure that the evidence generated for this assessment remains your own
work.

You will also benefit from:

 Completing and acting on formative feedback from your Assessor.
 Reflecting on your own experiences of learning opportunities and continuing professional
development.
 Reading the CIPD Insight, Fact Sheets and related online material on these topics.

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Task One – Ethical Practice Briefing Paper

The purpose of the briefing paper is to demonstrate the role of HR in practising and promoting
professional values, ethics and principles within organisations. The paper should include and
address the following points:
1) Explain what is meant by ‘ethical principles’ and ‘professional values’, and how these might
inform the way people approach their work. (1.1)
2) Identify a piece of legislation and a Code of Practice that supports ethical and professional
practice, with examples of how an HR professional can conform to these. (1.2)
3) Explain the importance of ethical behaviour for an HR professional and the potential
consequences (personal and professional) for them of unethical behaviour (2.1)
4) Describe how an HR professional would demonstrate a positive and ethical approach to
each of the following: (1.3, 2.2)

- clarifying problems or issues

- contributing views and opinions
- working in a team
- showing sensitivity to others*
- showing respect for colleagues*
* For the two asterisked bullet points, you should include a work-based or personal
example of when you have demonstrated the positive and ethical behaviour you describe.

You may use bullet points to add emphasis to your briefing paper and it is expected that you will
use headings as well to help guide the reader through.

Your evidence must consist of:

 Briefing document (approximately 1,250 words, refer to CIPD word count policy).

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Task Two – Self-Reflective Journal

Self-reflection is a valuable means of analysing, identifying and recording how improvements can
be made to your professional practice. In this task, you are required to write a reflective journal
that considers how you perform at work and in your studies, and how you develop your skills and
abilities.
Your task is to write a self-reflective journal, which addresses the following:
1) At the beginning of your journal, summarise different ways a people practice professional
can upgrade their knowledge and skills and stay up-to-date with developments in the
people profession and wider world of work. This might be informal methods such as
discussion and reading through to formal research and development methods. (2.4)
2) Continue your journal with ongoing reflections on your performance and development. Your
journal should record (2.5)
- Examples of your performance (successes or challenges) or issues you have faced.
These may be from current or previous work, your studies or personal examples. Give a
little detail about each. (This is the WHAT of your reflection.)
- Your reflections on your performance/response. What was the impact - positive or
negative – on you and those around you, such as colleagues, customers, stakeholders,
your organisation? (This is the SO WHAT of your reflection and can be the most difficult
part as you are asked to think in ways that may be unfamiliar – but it is from this
reflective thinking and learning, that you are able to progress to the next step.)
- Examples of how you have recognised and accepted your own mistakes, and how you
have recognised others’ mistakes whilst showing them empathy. (2.3)
- The action you will take as a result of your reflections. (This is the NOW WHAT). Based
on what you know and feel about the situation, what should happen next? Do you need
to learn something new? Do you want to change a process or a procedure? Do others
need more training? (Note: the action you take here could form the next example for
you to reflect on.)
3) Finally, complete your journal with a short review of how effective you have found this
Reflective Journal approach to your professional development. (2.5)

Your evidence must consist of:

 Reflective journal (approximately 1000 words, refer to CIPD work count policy)

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Assessment Criteria Evidence Checklist

Use the following as checklists to make sure that you have included the required evidence to meet
each task. Please enter the evidence title and to where it can be referred. An example has been
provided for you.

Task 1 – Ethical practice briefing paper

Evidenced
Assessment criteria Y/N Evidence reference

1.1 Consider how ethical principles and Ethical practise briefing paper
professional values inform approaches to
work.

1.2 Specify ways in which you conform

consistently with relevant regulation and
law within the context of ethics and
professional practice.

1.3 Summarise ways of demonstrating

positive working relationships with
colleagues with reference to ways in
which you could:
▪ clarify problems or issues.
▪ contribute your views and
opinions clearly.
▪ work effectively as part of a team.

2.1 Describe the meaning of ethics within the

context of work including reference to the
consequences of your actions to
personal and professional integrity.

2.2 Model ways in which you can

acknowledge sensitivity and respect to
others within a working context.

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Task 2 – Self-reflective journal

Evidenced
Assessment criteria Y/N Evidence reference

2.3 Reflect on the ways in which you can Self-Reflective Journal

recognise and accept your own mistakes,
and those of others, whilst also showing
empathy.

2.4 Recommend ways in which you can

show inquisitiveness about issues and
developments in the people profession
and the wider world of work.

2.5 Reflect on proactive approaches to

developing, recording and reflecting on
your professional knowledge, skills and
experiences.

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Declaration of Authentication

Declaration by learner

I can confirm that this assessment is all my own work and where I have used
materials from other sources, they have been properly acknowledged.

Learner name:

Learner signature:

Date:

Declaration by Assessor

I confirm that I am satisfied that to the best of my knowledge, the work produced is
solely that of the learner.

Assessor name:

Assessor signature:

Date:

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

3CO03
Core behaviours for people
professionals

Assessment Criteria marking descriptors.

Assessors will mark in line with the following assessment criteria (AC) marking descriptors, and will
indicate where the learner sits within the marking band range for each AC.
Assessors must provide a mark from 1 to 4 for each assessment criteria within the unit. Assessors
should use the mark descriptor grid as guidance so they can provide comprehensive feedback that
is developmental for learners. Please be aware that not all the mark descriptors will be present in
every assessment criterion, so assessors must use their discretion in making grading decisions.

The grid below shows the range for each unit assessment result based on total number of marks
awarded across all assessment criteria.
To pass the unit assessment learners must achieve a 2 (Low Pass) or above for each of the
assessment criteria.
The overall result achieved will dictate the outcome the learner receives for the unit, provided
NONE of the assessment criteria have been failed or referred.
Please note that learners will receive a Pass or Fail result from the CIPD at unit level. Referral
grades can be used internally by the centre.

Overall mark Unit result

0 to 15 Fail
16 to 20 Low Pass
21 to 26 Pass
27 to 32 High Pass

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Marking Descriptors

Mark Range Descriptor

1 Fail Insufficient demonstration of knowledge, understanding or skills (as
appropriate) required to meet the AC.
Insufficient examples included, where required, to support answers.
Presentation and structure of assignment is not appropriate and does
not meet the assessment brief.

2 Low Pass Demonstrates an acceptable level of knowledge, understanding or

skills (as appropriate) required to meet the AC.
Sufficient and acceptable examples included, where required, to
support answers.
Required format adopted but some improvement required to the
structure and presentation of the assignment.
Answers are acceptable but could be clearer in responding to the task
and presented in a more coherent way.

3 Pass Demonstrates good knowledge, understanding or skills (as

appropriate) required to meet the AC.
Includes confident use of examples, where required, to support each
answer.
Presentation and structure of assignment is appropriate for the
assessment brief.
Answers are clear and well expressed.

4 High Pass Demonstrates a wide range and confident level of knowledge,

understanding or skill (as appropriate).
Includes strong examples that illustrate the point being made, that link
and support the answer well.
Answers are applied to the case organisation or an alternative
organisation.
Answers are clear, concise and well argued, directly respond to what
has been asked.
The presentation of the assignment is well structured, coherent and
focusses on the need of the questions.
Includes clear evidence of the use of references to wider reading to
help inform answer.

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 Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice

Marking grid

Task 1 – Assessment criteria Mark (1-4)

1.1 Consider how ethical principles and professional values inform approaches to
work.

1.2 Specify ways in which you conform consistently with relevant regulation and
law within the context of ethics and professional practice.

1.3 Summarise ways of demonstrating positive working relationships with

colleagues with reference to ways in which you could:

▪ clarify problems or issues.

▪ contribute your views and opinions clearly.
▪ work effectively as part of a team.

2.1 Describe the meaning of ethics within the context of work including reference
to the consequences of your actions to personal and professional integrity.

2.2 Model ways in which you can acknowledge sensitivity and respect to others
within a working context.

Total for this task

Task 2 – Assessment criteria Mark (1-4)

2.3 Reflect on the ways in which you can recognise and accept your own
mistakes, and those of others, whilst also showing empathy.

2.4 Recommend ways in which you can show inquisitiveness about issues and
developments in the people profession and the wider world of work.

2.5 Reflect on proactive approaches to developing, recording and reflecting on

your professional knowledge, skills and experiences.

Total for this task

Total marks for unit

12