VOCATIONAL COMPETENCY SCALE

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON TRAINEE

Name: Sex:

Date of Birth:

Date of Joining:

Remarks (if any)

The purpose of this scale is to measure the vocational competency of individuals in the Vocational
Training Programme. The scale is intended to measure actual performance and not presumptive
ability. Individuals are to be rated at the levels at which they characteristically perform at present.
The 30 items in the scale encompass four (4) dimensions of vocational competence:

MOTOR SKILLS (M)

COGNITIVE (C)
RESPONSIBILITY (R)
SOCICAL-EMOTIONAL BEHAVIOUR (E)

Instructions

Each item in the scale contains five (5) options which range from a low level of competence (1) to a
high level of competence (5). The levels are cumulative in that an individual who is rated 5 on an
item is presumed to be able to perform at all preceding levels. This scale is designed in such a
manner that it would be able to provide an on going record of the trainees’ progress in the various
areas.

For each item, write the assessment date beside the option that most nearly describes the
individual being rated. Be sure to complete all 30 items.

No Item Rating Date

RESPONSIBILITY
1 ATTENDANCE 1. Less than 50%
2. Between 50-69%

Adapted from assessment tool of Touch Community Sheltered Workshop, Singapore 1994
Revised by Malaysian Care PSN/AS Team @ June 2011 1
 3. Between 70-89%
4. 90%
5. 100%

2 INITIATING TASK 1. Hardly ever

After arriving in the morning, 2. Occasionally
proceeds with the daily routine 3. Approximately ½ the time
(getting materials, preparing work 4. Frequently
area, etc) without delay. 5. Nearly always

3 REQUESTING MATERIALS 1. Hardly ever

Requests additional materials when 2. Occasionally
he/she runs out of them while 3. Approximately ½ the time
performing a task. 4. Frequently
5. Nearly always

4 FOLLOWING SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Hardly ever

Follow safe operating procedures 2. Occasionally
when instructed to do so. 3. Approximately ½ the time
4. Frequently
5. Nearly always

5 CORRECTING ERRORS 1. Hardly ever

After making an error or spoiling 2. Occasionally
some materials, he/she corrects the 3. Approximately ½ the time
error or uses new material on his/her 4. Frequently
own initiative. 5. Nearly always

6 REPORTING PROBLEMS 1. Hardly ever

Reports when there is a dangerous 2. Occasionally
situation or when equipment is in 3. Approximately ½ the time
poor repair. 4. Frequently
5. Nearly always

Adapted from assessment tool of Touch Community Sheltered Workshop, Singapore 1994
Revised by Malaysian Care PSN/AS Team @ June 2011 2
No Item Rating Date
7 REACTION TO ABSENCE OF 1. Stop working
SUPERVISION 2. There is a substantial decrease in
When left unsupervised. productivity
3. There is a moderate decrease in productivity
4. There is a small decrease in productivity
5. There is no decrease in productivity

8 RETURNING FROM BREAKS 1. Hardly ever

Returns promptly without being 2. Occasionally
reminded from coffee breaks, lunch 3. Approximately ½ the time
or other activities. 4. Frequently
5. Nearly always

9 CLEANING UP 1. Hardly ever

When a task is completed or the 2. Occasionally
work day concluded, he/she cleans 3. Approximately ½ the time
up work area without being 4. Frequently
reminded 5. Nearly always
COGNITION
10 REMEMBER INSTRUCTIONS 1. Hardly ever
After a task has been explained & 2. Occasionally
demonstrated, he is able to perform 3. Approximately ½ the time
the task on his/her own. 4. Frequently
5. Nearly always

11 FOLLOWING VERBAL INSTRUCTION 1. Unable to follow with demonstration

Follows verbal instructions.
2. When they are accompanied by
demonstration
3. Without a demonstration if only one specific
task is involved
4. Without a demonstration. When two specific
task are involved
5. Without a demonstration, when three or
more tasks are involved within the same job

Adapted from assessment tool of Touch Community Sheltered Workshop, Singapore 1994
Revised by Malaysian Care PSN/AS Team @ June 2011 3
No Item Rating Date
12 READING ABILITY IN SOCIAL 1. Cannot read any signs or instructions
PHRASES 2. Can read signs which contain one or two
familiar words (eg. STOP or OFF-ON)
3. Can read signs which contain one or two
words or brief instruction not seen before
4. Can read relatively long instruction seen
before
5. Can read relatively long instructions not seen
before

13 MEASURING SKILL (LENGTH) 1. Cannot use measuring instruments of any

kind
2. Given a measuring stick or object of a
specific length, he/she can measure
3. Can measure to the nearest metre
4. Can measure to nearest cm
5. Able to use the skill (ie to measure a book,
to draw 3cm line)

14 SPECIFYING WHAT IS UNCLEAR 1. Indicates that he/she does not understand

the task before attempting the task
2. Indicates that he/she does not understand
the task only after attempting to perform it
3. Indicates, before attempting the tasks, that
he/she does not understand, but given no
further explanation
4. Indicates in general terms what is unclear
before attempting the task
5. Indicates specifically what is unclear before
attempting the task

15 KNOWLEDGE OF JOB 1. Knows the task required to perform after a

few demonstration
2. Knows only the task required to perform
3. In addition to his/her own tasks, knows
either the preceding or succeeding task
4. Knows both the immediately preceding and
succeeding tasks
5. Knows all the task required for the job

No Item Rating Date

Adapted from assessment tool of Touch Community Sheltered Workshop, Singapore 1994
Revised by Malaysian Care PSN/AS Team @ June 2011 4
16 PERFORMING PREVIOUSLY LEARNED 1. One job only
TASKS 2. Two jobs
When required, performs within the 3. Three jobs
same day previously learn tasks 4. Four jobs
relating to 5. More than five jobs

17 REORIENTATION TO TASK 1. Must be completely reoriented to the

When removed from a task for a
week or two in order to perform
some other task.
previous task
2. Must be given demonstration to perform
the task.
3. Must be given a no. of specific details before
being able to pursue the previous task
4. Needs only one or two specific details
before being able to pursue the previous
task
5. Can pursue the previous task with no further
instruction

18 TRANSFERRING SKILLS 1. Hardly ever

Is able to transfer previously learned 2. Occasionally
skills to a new task. 3. Approximately ½ the time
4. Frequently
5. Nearly always

19 TIME IN LEARNING THE TASK 1. More than 30 minutes

2. 16 to 30 minutes
3. 11 to 15 minutes
4. 6 to 10 minutes
5. 5 minutes or less

20 EXPLAINING TASKS 1. Is unable to

When asked to explain (demonstrate 2. Able to use gesture
and/or verbally instruct) to another 3. Gives an incomplete explanation
worker how to perform a task. 4. Gives a complete but general explanation
5. Gives a complete explanation including
specific details
MOTOR
21 TIME IN COMPLETING THE TASK 1. More than two hours
A task which can be completed by a 2. From one to two hours
typical individual within 20 minutes 3. From 31 minutes to one hour
can be completed by him/her in 4. From 21 minutes to 30 minutes
5. Approximately 20 minutes period

No Item Rating Date

22 WORK IMPROVEMENT WITH 1. No improvement

Adapted from assessment tool of Touch Community Sheltered Workshop, Singapore 1994
Revised by Malaysian Care PSN/AS Team @ June 2011 5
 EXPERIENCE 2. Shows little improvement
With experience the quality of 3. Improves slowly but gradually
his/her work. 4. Improves at a fairly rapid rate
5. Improves rapidly

23 OPERATING EQUIPMENT WITH 1. Nearly always

MOVING PARTS 2. Frequently
When operating equipment with 3. Approximately ½ the time
moving parts, causes the equipment 4. Occasionally
to become inoperative (ie. It breaks 5. Hardly ever
down or jams)

24 ADEQUACY OF PERFORMANCE 1. Nearly always

When required to perform a task in 2. Frequently
which there are several steps, his/her 3. Approximately ½ the time
work has to be discarded or redone. 4. Occasionally
5. Hardly ever
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL BEHAVIOUR
25 SEEKING HELP 1. Hardly ever
Seeks help from immediate 2. Occasionally
supervisor when having difficulty in 3. Approximately ½ the time
performing a task. 4. Frequently
5. Nearly always

26 RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN ROUTINE 1. Stop working

When there are changes in the
routine, such as time schedules,
organization of the work, and
composition of the group.
2. There is a substantial decrease in
productivity
3. There is a moderate decrease in productivity
4. There is a small decrease in productivity
initially
5. There is no decrease in productivity

27 OFFERING ASSISTANCE 1. Hardly always

He/she offers assistance when 2. Occasionally
someone he/she is working with 3. Approximately ½ the time
needs help. 4. Frequently
5. Nearly always

No Item Rating Date

28 RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OR NOISE 1. Stop working
When there is considerable 2. There is a substantial decrease in

Adapted from assessment tool of Touch Community Sheltered Workshop, Singapore 1994
Revised by Malaysian Care PSN/AS Team @ June 2011 6
 movement or noise in the immediate productivity
work area. 3. There is a moderate decrease in productivity
4. There is a small decrease in productivity
5. There is no decrease in productivity

29 ACCEPTING SUGGESTIONS 1. Stop working

When the supervisor makes
suggestions for improving
performance.
2. There is a substantial decrease in
productivity
3. There is a moderate decrease in productivity
4. There is a small decrease in productivity
5. There is no decrease in productivity

30 REACTION TO FRUSTRATION 1. Stops working

When refused something or when
things are not going well.
2. There is a substantial decrease in
productivity
3. There is a moderate decrease in productivity
4. There is a small decrease in productivity
5. There is no decrease in productivity

Vocational Competency Graph

No Items Scale
1 2 3 4 5
1 Attendance
R 2 Initiating Task
E
3 Requesting Materials
S
P 4 Following Safety Instructions
O 5 Correcting Errors
N 6 Reporting Problems
S (R)
I
7 Reaction to Absence of Supervision
B 8 Returning from Break
I
L
I
T 9 Cleaning Up
Y

C 10 Remembering Instructions
O 11 Following Verbal Instructions
G 12 Reading Ability
N 13 Measuring
I (C) 14 Specifying What is Unclear
T 15 Knowledge of Job
I 16 Performing Previously Learned Task
O 17 Reorientation to Task

Adapted from assessment tool of Touch Community Sheltered Workshop, Singapore 1994
Revised by Malaysian Care PSN/AS Team @ June 2011 7
 N 18 Transferring Skills
19 Time in Learning the Task
20 Explaining the Task
M 21 Time in Completing the Task
O 22 Work Improvement with Experience
T (M) 23 Operating Equipment with Moving Parts
O 24 Adequacy of Performance
R

25 Seeking Help
S 26 Response to Changes in Routine
O 27 Offering Assistance
C B 28 Response to Movement or Noise
- E 29 Accepting Suggestions
E H 30 Reaction to Frustration
M (E)
O

*Level 3 and above will be needed for Open Employment

Colour Assessed by Date

Adapted from assessment tool of Touch Community Sheltered Workshop, Singapore 1994
Revised by Malaysian Care PSN/AS Team @ June 2011 8