CMI Unit 525: Using Reflective Practice to Inform Personal and Professional Assessment Brief 2026

UNIT CMI 525 Assessment Brief

Key Information For Learners

Each task in this assessment brief has been developed to enable you to evidence achievement of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for CMI 525: Using Reflective Practice to Inform Personal and Professional

Development.  Each of the assessment criteria must gain a pass outcome for you to successfully achieve the unit.

Preparation for the assessment

• Before you begin the assessment brief please read the CMI 525 unit specification thoroughly as only the content related to the achievement of the assessment criteria will be assessed.
• Research the topics being assessed. Suggested reading/web resources are provided on the CMI 525 unit specification. Your tutor may signpost you to relevant resources. Additionally, you may access excellent online resources at ManagementDirect https://members.md.cmi.org.uk. Please note that if you have a customised site the link will differ, please contact your Centre for clarification.
• If you are enrolled on the Trailblazer Apprenticeship programme you are encouraged to review the Apprenticeship Standard for Operations/Departmental Manager. 

Completing the assessment brief

• The assessment brief contains a series of tasks which are clearly referenced to the relevant assessment criteria and indicative content.
• Refer to the Assessment Guidance Table at the end of the assessment brief which outlines the requirements for a Pass or Refer.
• Evidence must be provided in the evidence booklet. Additional work based evidence such as plans or documentation (which has been referred to within the main text) should be included at the end of the booklet marked ‘Work Based Evidence’. Appendices are not a requirement of this assessment brief.  If appendices are included these will not be marked or moderated by the CMI.
• Work based evidence must be accompanied by a supporting statement in the learner evidence box, to explain the link to the assessment criteria. Work based evidence (where required by the task) must not exceed SIX (6) pages.  Files embedded in the booklet must not exceed 10MB.
• The evidence booklet must be completed in a professional manner (e.g. applying business conventions for writing formal reports) and by using Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format or another compatible software programme and not in a PDF format.
• An appropriate referencing system (such as Harvard Referencing) must be used to ensure the original source(s) of quotations or models can be verified.
• Finally, you must sign the Learner Authenticity statement (an electronic signature is accepted).

Learner support

For information regarding policies and procedures for assessment (e.g. special assessment arrangements, learner support, appeals, complaints, certification, confidentiality, plagiarism) you should contact your tutor or Centre manager and refer to the CMI Level 5 in Management and Leadership syllabus.

Introducing Assessment Brief Cmi 525

Being equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to manage and lead in a variety of organisational settings is essential if an individual and their organisation are to succeed.

Reflective practice is an essential management tool which supports the development of knowledge, skills and behaviours in the work place. By consciously analysing own performance, decision making, leadership and management skills (in different situational contexts); opportunities for on-going development can be identified.

Assessment brief CMI 525 has been designed to enable learners to evidence their ability to understand the value of reflective practice, and how reflection can be used as the basis of a meaningful personal and professional development.

Assessment Tasks And Word Count

Assessment brief CMI 525 features the following assessment tasks. Further detail is provided against each assessment task within the brief.

Guideline word count

The written word, however generated and recorded, is still expected to form the majority of assessable work produced by Learners at Level 5. The amount and volume of work for this unit should be broadly comparable to a word count of 2500-3000 words within a margin of +/-10%.  The excessive use of word count is not grounds for referral, however the CMI reserve the right to return work to the Centre for editing and resubmission by the Learner.

The following are excluded from inclusion in word count, if used and not required by the assessment brief: an introduction to a job role, organisation or department; index or contents pages; headings and sub headings; diagrams, charts and graphs; reference list or bibliography; reflective statement drawn from undertaking the assignment and how this has impacted on the learner’s work. Please see the CMI Assessment Guidance Policy for further guidance.

The Value Of Reflective Practice To Inform Personal And Professional Development

Reflective practice is an essential management tool that supports the development of a manager’s knowledge, skills and behaviours in the workplace and delivers benefits to both the individual and the organisation. Learning through doing and reflecting on the outcome of any activity is at the heart of continuous self-improvement and development.

Although it can often be difficult to find time to reflect, the process is an invaluable skill which if carried out with an open mind and a willingness to learn can reap benefits throughout an individual’s career.

Task 1

For an organisation you know well or have researched, you are required to create a briefing paper to be shared with other managers as part of the launch of a talent development programme.

The briefing paper is entitled ‘The use of reflective practice in personal and professional development’ and must use examples to:

1. Analyse the importance of continuous personal and professional development in achieving organisational objectives (AC1.1)
2. Evaluate the use of reflective practice in personal and professional development (AC1.2) iii. Evaluate approaches to reflective practice (AC1.3)

Applying Reflective Practice To Inform Personal And Professional Development

Task 2a

Using the principles of reflection, evaluate your own performance in the workplace (AC2.1).

There are TWO (2) options for answering this task. You only need to select ONE (1) option.

Option 1: If you have already completed a documented activity in the workplace to evaluate your performance against the requirements of your role as a manager (i.e. a skill scan or a preparatory document in readiness for a performance review) you may submit this documentation as work based evidence for Task 2a.

• Include the document(s) in the Work Based Evidence section of the evidence booklet for this unit (separate document). Evidence must not exceed SIX (6) A4 PAGES.

or

• Provide your evidence as separate document(s) outside of this assessment booklet.

NB: Where separate documents are provided they must not exceed 10MB in size and must be saved as PDF documents and must not exceed SIX (6) A4 pages.

Option 2: Complete the skills and competencies assessment form found on pages 7-11.

This questionnaire outlines a range of management skills and competencies.

Complete the questionnaire and decide on your level of competence in each area, giving yourself a score  from 0-3 (3 – able to do this without any support through to 0 – you cannot do this or it is not applicable to your current role).  Each line should only contain one score.

When you have completed your assessment, write a summary of your top THREE (3) strengths and areas for development.

Task 2b

Basing your response on your own work experience, you are required to write a reflective account entitled. The impact my working style has on others in the workplace’ (AC2.2)

The reflective account must include reference to a minimum of ONE (1) recognised working style and include examples of how the working style has impacted on others (i.e. individuals or teams).

Task 2c

Having assessed your current skills and competencies, you are now in a position to consider your development needs and development opportunities available to meet personal and professional objectives.

You are required to write an account on your own development needs and development opportunities.  The account must include an:

i. Analysis of your development needs for current and future roles (AC2.3)

ii. Examination of development opportunities to meet personal and professional objectives (AC2.4)

Task 2d

Create a personal and professional development plan, with a minimum of THREE (3) and a maximum of SIX

(6), measurable objectives. (AC2.5)

There are TWO (2) options for answering this task.  You only need to select ONE (1) option.

Option 1: If you have already completed a personal and professional development plan in the workplace, you may present a copy of the findings to address this task.

• Include the document(s) in the Work Based Evidence section of the evidence booklet for this unit (separate document)

or

• Provide your evidence as separate document(s) outside of this assessment booklet.

NB: Where separate documents are provided they must not exceed 10MB in size and must be saved as PDF documents and must not exceed SIX (6) A4 pages.

Option 2: Create a personal and professional development plan using the CMI template on page 15.

Marking Criteria