Professional Pathway
The next stage in your development as a social value practitioner
The Professional Pathway is a multi-level professional qualification for those looking to understand, measure and report on social value. It assesses their skills, knowledge and practice in impact management so they can become effective social value practitioners. The Professional Pathway is also the first step in becoming a trainer or assurance assessor for Social Value International (SVI) and its affiliates.
Please note: The Professional Pathway is an individual accreditation and not a training course, but does operate in conjunction with Social Value and SROI Practitioner Training.
Associate Practitioner
Accredited Practitioner
Advanced Practitioner
Level 1 – Social Value Associate
Level 1 Social Value Associate status shows the applicant has demonstrated theoretical competence in social value and impact management in line with the SVI Framework. This qualification is achieved by passing the online Social Value and Impact Management exam.
Level 2 – Accredited Practitioner
Level 2 Accredited Practitioner status shows the applicant has demonstrated practical competence in the application of social impact and social value assessment in line with the SVI Framework.
Level 3 – Advanced Practitioner
Level 3 Accredited Practitioner status shows the applicant has demonstrated advanced practical competence in the application of social impact and social value assessment with all aspects of SVI Framework applied in full.
Why become a practitioner?
The SVI Professional Pathway supports those who are developing their skills, knowledge and practice in social value, impact management, and the practical application of the SVI Framework. Each level of the pathway verifies the Practitioner’s knowledge and understanding of social value and impact management, firstly applied theoretically and then practically to increase levels of expertise. This knowledge and understanding is essential for anyone working to understand, improve, and demonstrate the impact their activities have, and for those involved in SROI or impact measurement.
The SVI Framework is guided first and foremost by the Social Value Principles, and supported by guidance and standards. This pathway is designed to ensure that individuals across the SVI network have a good level of technical understanding theoretically and in practice.
Careers and professional development
As an SVI Practitioner you will be welcomed in to the SVI Practitioner Community of Practice which collaborates on the continued development of social value and SROI practice. The community connects through meetings, online channels and forums, sharing issues and challenges, knowledge and solutions, and creating tools and resources.
Each level of SVI Practitioner status allows for access to a variety of new opportunities throughout the global SVI network. This includes opportunities to continue your professional development by progressing through the 3 levels, as well as continuing on to become an SVI Accredited Trainer, or an SVI Assurance Assessor once you have achieved Level 3 Advanced Practitioner status.
Whilst you are developing your practice at Levels 1 and 2 there are also the opportunities to deliver different types of training and workshops through the SVI network.
For guidance on the CPD opportunities available to you as an SVI Practitioner, please see this document.
If you are detailing your CPD as part of an application to renew your SVI Practitioner status, a statement template is available here.
“I have found that being an Accredited Practitioner has been invaluable. Professionally, as a consultant, it gives my clients an added level of confidence and adds weight to the whole process – particularly those that are less aware of Social Value to begin with.”
Hannah Marsh
FAQs
No. The Professional Pathway is an individual accreditation, no training is provided as part of the pathway. The Pathway does operate in conjunction with our Social Value and SROI Practitioner Training. In order to progress to Level 2 and Level 3, an individual must have completed a Social Value International accredited training course.
They are very similar. Both test a practical application of the SVI principles and framework for accounting for value. Applicants must be members, a Level 1 Social Value Associate and author a report that passes SVI Report Assurance as part of their application. The main difference is as follows:
Level 2 Accredited Practitioner status can be achieved through a more supported pathway, with the option to undertake mentoring or use the Pre-Report Assurance Outcomes Check. Level 2 Accredited Practitioners can also author a report that is assured with limitations attached, namely ‘Limitation of the application of Principle 4: Only include what is material’, where an analysis has included material outcomes for only a limited group of stakeholders – the main beneficiary group or groups.
Level 3 Advanced Practitioner status is achieved by producing a report that meets all of the principles, with no limitations. It includes what matters to all stakeholders affected by the activities. Level 3 Advanced Practitioners have not completed their analysis with additional mentoring or support, and have not used a staggered assurance route and so they have demonstrated advanced Social Value and SROI practice.
Please note: Applicants can jump from Level 1 Social Value Associate to Level 3 Advanced Practitioner status. It is not a requirement that an applicant must become a Level 2 Accredited Practitioner before becoming a Level 3 Advanced Practitioner.