End Point Assessor – Apprenticeship – Senior Healthcare Support Worker Children and Young People’s Support (Level 3) 2020

Independent end-point assessor for Senior Healthcare Support Worker (Children and Young People’s Support) (Level 3)

Overview of the independent end-point assessor role

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. Independent end-point assessors 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 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
Allow additional time for travel, when making EPA arrangements
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:

Senior Healthcare Support Workers (SHCSW) help registered practitioners deliver healthcare services to people. As an experienced support worker, they carry out a range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare or therapeutic tasks, under the direct or indirect supervision of the registered healthcare practitioner. SHCSWs provide high quality, compassionate healthcare, following standards, policies or protocols and always acting within the limits of their competence. SHCSWs may work in a range of services e.g. hospital, community, health or day case unit, birth centre or midwifery led unit, someone’s home, operating theatre, nursing or care home, assessment centre, hospice, school, prison, GP surgery, charity or voluntary organisation; working in partnership with individuals, families, carers and other service providers.

Duties are delegated to the SHCSW in line with care plans. Not all duties are routine and the SHCSW will need to use their knowledge, experience and understanding to take decisions within their area of responsibility. A SHCSW is accountable for their work and for reviewing the effectiveness of their actions. The role is undertaken following a period of experience in healthcare so they are able to demonstrate best practice and act as a role model. A SHCSW may supervise or guide the less experienced staff in their team. SHCSWs follow the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers.

Children and Young People’s Support

Children and young people (CYP) senior healthcare support workers look after neonates, babies, infants, children and young people in a range of settings; their duties will vary accordingly. CYP senior healthcare support workers will support them with their healthcare needs. The CYP senior healthcare support worker’s supervisor will be a registered healthcare practitioner, in most instances a registered nurse. CYP senior healthcare support workers will work within guidelines and legislation designed to protect and support children and young people, recognising the different needs and rights they have at different ages and stages of their development. CYP senior healthcare support workers will promote person and family-centred care, working in partnership with parents, families and other services and agencies.

Background and Experience (essential):

Be occupationally competent in the children and young people’s support field
Be a registered healthcare professional or have completed a level 5 apprenticeship or regulated occupational competence qualification at level 5 or above
Hold, or be working towards, a formal assessor qualification (e.g. A1, assessor component to TAQA etc)
Have experience of working in a healthcare setting within the last 2 years
Experience of leading meetings/structured interviews/discussions
Experience of complying with quality assurance/regulatory requirements
DBS – Hold a current DBS certificate (Applicants applying for this role will will need to hold an Enhanced DBS (with or without a barred list check) that is registered for the update service. Other supporting documents will also be required as evidence. Upon submission of an application, the Associate Recruitment team will be in touch to request DBS evidence and supporting documents. For further information on the DBS requirements please read the attached document titled DBS Guidelines for applicants)
Evidence of commitment to maintaining CPD, in line with new apprenticeship requirements and the EPA specialism(s), including maintenance of recent occupational experience
Essential others

Only UK based candidates will be considered for this role due to requirements
Minimum of two working days during the week will be required for EPA role.
Background and Experience (desirable):

To hold, or be working towards an internal quality assurance qualification
Experience of making grading judgements
Knowledge of prevent & safeguarding
Skills & Knowledge (Essential)

Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively respond to conflicts
Ability to understand and respond to the individual needs and circumstances of employers/apprentices
Sufficient and relevant technical knowledge of:
othe healthcare sector

othe role of the children and young people (CYP) senior healthcare support worker

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