Tips for completing the BLP Competency Assessment

1. Access the BLP Competency Assessment Tool with the link emailed to you

• • Keep your link handy, so you can go back into your assessment portfolio at any time. 
  • We suggest you bookmark it in your browser.

2. Start with Step 1: My Info 

• • Complete a section at a time, making sure you click the ‘Request Assessment’ button for each section. 
  • Make sure your email address is the same one you used in when you registered in the BLP portal.
  • Describe briefly your experience, particularly your advisory experience.
  • Make sure you provide 3 referees. At least one should be a client you’ve delivered advisory services to. 
  • Let your referees know you’ve nominated them and to expect to hear from us soon.

 3. Select Technical Competencies 

• • Start with one technical competency, the one that most closely matches your advisory service.  You can always go back and add other technical competencies at a later stage.
  • Read the questions carefully to make sure your evidence answers every part of the question.
  • Have a look at the competency descriptor under each question to understand what sort of evidence we’re looking for.
  • Prepare your evidence in a separate word processor document first, then copy and paste it into the assessment tool, just in case the internet goes down, and you lose your work.
  • Use the chat function to ask any questions you may have. Your assessor get back to you with answer to any questions and will guide you through the process.

• • You can add any extra evidence in the chat box or go back into the answer section. Make sure you don’t remove your original evidence though, and clearly label your supplementary evidence.
  • Try to keep your evidence as short and succinct as possible and make sure you address the question.
  • Remember we are assessing your individual skills (not your organisation’s or your team’s) so discuss what you have personally/ individually done.
  • When you’re ready, don’t forget to click the “Request Assessment” button! That will let our assessors know your answers are ready to be reviewed.

For more tips, check out our webinar on completing the BLP competency assessment

Once you’ve completed Steps 1 & 2, you will become a BLP Approved Advisor!

• Once you’ve been approved for your first technical competency in Step 2, go back and check if your referees have done their part in Step 1. If not, remind them to complete your reference check. 
• Now have a look at the other technical competencies, you might find other areas you can be approved for. If so, go through the same process as you did before in Step 2. 
• Next you can compile your evidence for Step 3 Advisor Skills. If you complete all of Step 3, you’ll be awarded the BLP advisor Gold status.
• Use Step 3 as an opportunity to test yourself and see how you’re doing with a range of more generic advisory skills. 
• In Step 3, you’ll need to provide evidence of your understanding of SMEs; how you diagnose business issues, communicate with and support SMEs to implement solutions; and how you manage your consulting practice.
• Take your time, complete one or two sections at a time, get your assessor’s feedback then you can go back to it. The chat function is a great way to tap into guidance from an Assessor. Ask for support if you need it.  
• Working through Step 3 is a great opportunity to see where you might benefit from further professional development.