Apprenticeship - Learning and Skills Assessor (Level 3) - End Point Assessor

Job description: Independent end-point assessor for Learning and Skills Assessor (Level 3) 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, 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 for this EPA will be qualified assessors that meet 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 Profile: 

The Learning and Skills Assessor role has emerged within the Education and Training Sector (ETS), over the last 30 years, originally as a result of the implementation of vocational (competence-based) qualifications (notably NVQs) and formalised work-based education and training. The LSA is a dual professional, using their up-to-date professional knowledge and skills to support vocational and professional development across the formal ETS as well as in any employer setting, and at any level. 

Background and Experience (essential): 

• Be occupationally competent in this sector
• Qualified to at least the level of this standard
• Hold an assessor’s qualification (A1 assessors award or TAQA qualification) for 2yrs
• Mentoring experience for 3 years 
• Be a member of a professional mentoring body 
• Have recent relevant experience of the occupation or sector to at least occupational level 3 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 

Background and Experience (desirable): 

• To hold, or be working towards an internal quality assurance qualification
• Experience of making grading judgement 
• 3 years recent assessing experience 
• Continual CPD in assessment and Mentoring practice within the last 2 years. 
• Knowledge of prevent & safeguarding 
• Will to travel due to face-to-face assessments 

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: Assessment Practice, Context and Values
• 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
• Willing to travel 

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