End Point Assessor - Apprenticeship - Healthcare Assistant Practitioner - Level 5 2020

Reference:EPA_HAP_182020 

Job description: Independent end-point assessor for Healthcare Assistant Practitioner (Level 5) End Point Assessments

 

About Pearson

Pearson is the world's leading learning company, with 35,000 employees in more than 70 countries working to help people of all ages to make measurable progress in their lives through learning. We put the apprentice at the centre of everything we do, because wherever learning flourishes, so do people. Find out more about how we can help you and your learners at qualifications.pearson.com

 

Overview of the independent end-point assessor role:

The Government has introduced a requirement that all apprenticeships contain an end-point assessment (EPA) which is a holistic assessment of the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviour (KSBs) that have been learnt throughout the apprenticeship. This is to make sure that apprentices meet the rigorous standard set by employers and are fully competent in the relevant occupation. Pearson must provide employers with the confidence that completing an apprenticeship means an individual is fully job-ready and that all apprentices, following the same standard, are assessed consistently, regardless of where they are undertaking their apprenticeship or who they are doing it with.

 

An independent EPA means that those making a decision on the competency of the apprentice have nothing to gain from the outcome of the assessment. To maintain independence within the scope of this EPA, an independent end-point assessor (IEA) can only undertake end-point assessments of apprentices, with whom they have no conflict of interest. This means they must be independent of the registered apprenticeship training provider at which the apprentice completed their on-programme element, and must not have been involved in the on-programme training, assessment, or line management of such apprentices.

 

The end-point assessments will be conducted onsite, or remotely, on dates agreed with employers and/or providers if appropriate. IEAs will record and submit the EPA outcomes, with clear justifications for the grading decisions. EPA activities will be quality assured by Pearson quality assurance representatives.

 

IEAs will be a registered healthcare profession that meets the occupational profile of the apprentices they are assessing and will be trained, standardised and approved to operate as IEAs. The IEAs will undertake EPAs in line with the associated apprenticeship assessment plan, and the materials provided by Pearson. Please see the below Key Accountabilities and Person Specification sections for further details.


Key Accountabilities:

The IEA will:

     Take part in regular training and standardisation activities, associated with the role of IEA for this EPA

     Maintain and provide evidence of ongoing, relevant Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

     Assess the performance of candidates in accordance with published assessment and grading criteria and procedures, ensuring overall standards are maintained

     Follow the protocols set out in Pearson’s specifications, assessment materials and quality assurance protocols, relating to the EPAs

     Maintain service-level agreements with regards to responding to EPA planning, operational activities, reports and submissions of assessment outcomes

     Report all risks and issues encountered during the end-point assessment to Pearson, including any suspected malpractice/maladministration

     Ensure all EPA reports and assessment evidence are high quality and recorded accurately

     Support Pearson, if necessary, with any appeals from apprentices, regarding assessment decisions

     Raise any conflicts of interest, including in relation to the independence of assessment

     Ensure that any personal actions are completed, as required by Pearson

     Contribute to the continuous improvement of Pearson’s end-point assessment activities

     Contribute to the external quality assurance activities undertaken by Ofqual

 

Person Specification Occupational Profile1:

Be occupationally competent. Occupationally competent means that each assessor must be capable of carrying out the full requirements within the competence they are assessing. Occupational competence must be at an individual function level which might mean different people being involved during the on-programme delivery however the assessor involved in the end point assessment must be occupationally competent across the whole apprenticeship standard.

 

 

Examples of common work activities include assisting in total patient assessment, coordination of care (including referrals to other practitioners) and higher clinical skills such as catheterisation, wound care and discharge planning. Assistant Practitioners can be found working in a range of areas such as Cancer Services, Physiotherapy, Genito- Urinary Medicine, Orthopaedics, Hospice Care, Mental Health, Social Care, Community, Occupational Therapy, Learning Disabilities as well as hybrid


1 Profile drawn and adapted from Apprenticeship Standard for Assistant Practitioner (Health) which was approved 19th May 2016, reference: ST0215. Usage under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence


roles that cross traditional occupational areas. Assistant Practitioners will therefore develop

additional skills and knowledge based on their employer’s requirements depending on the clinical or professional area within which they are working.

 

An Assistant Practitioner works under the supervision of a Registered Practitioner in accordance with employer policy, protocols and standard operating procedures. The Registered Practitioner remains accountable for the appropriate and effective delegation of activities and must ensure that the AP has the competency, confidence and expertise to carry out such activities. Having accepted the activity, the AP is accountable for their actions. In a situation where the AP feels they do not have the necessary skills or ability then they must alert the registered practitioner immediately.

 

 

Background and Experience (essential):

      Be occupationally competent

      Be a registered healthcare professional in the related field of practice

     Hold, or be working towards, a formal assessor qualification (e.g. A1, assessor component to TAQA etc)

     Have recent relevant experience of the occupation or sector to at least occupational level 5 gained in the last 5 years or significant experience of the occupation or sector

     Experience of leading meetings/structured interviews/discussions

     Experience of complying with quality assurance/regulatory requirements

     Evidence of commitment to maintaining CPD, in line with new apprenticeship requirements and the EPA specialism, including maintenance of recent occupational experience

 

Background and Experience (desirable):

     To hold, or be working towards an internal quality assurance qualification

     Experience of making grading judgements

     Current DBS

     Knowledge of prevent & safeguarding

     Have recent relevant experience of the occupation or sector to at least occupational level 5 gained in the last 5 years or significant experience of the occupation or sector

 

 

 

Skills & Knowledge (Essential)

    Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively respond to conflicts

    Flexibility to understand and respond to the individual needs and circumstances of employers/apprentices

    Sufficient and relevant technical knowledge of:

      The healthcare sector

      The role of the healthcare assistant practitioner

    In-depth knowledge of the associated apprenticeship standard, assessment plan, specification, assessment instruments and recording tools

    Ability to assess, free from bias

    Ability to assess and report risks

    Ability to meet deadlines

 

 

Other requirements

Any applicant undertaking this role will be expected to:

     Have personal IT equipment capable of running Pearson required software

     Have a suitable broadband connection, Microphone, Headphones and a webcam

     Have a personal and secure email account

     Have a postal address in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey Isle of Man

     Have the right to work in the UK

     Allow additional time for travel, when making EPA arrangements

 

Application Options

To take advantage of this opportunity complete our online application

If you have any further queries, or you need any additional support with your application, please contact the Associate Helpdesk team via the Pearson Support Portal.