End Point Assessor - Apprenticeship - Early Years (Rochdale/Manchester area)

Independent End-point Assessor for Early Years Practitioner (Level 2) and Early Years Educator (Level 3) for the Rochdale/Manchester area.

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.

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 ensure that apprentices meet the rigorous standard set by employers and are fully competent in the relevant occupation. 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.

Key Accountabilities:

• 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.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Pearson’s end-point assessment activities.
• Contribute to the external quality assurance activities undertaken by OFQUAL.

Occupational Profile: Early Years Educators, and other job roles such as nursery nurse and childminders, are highly trained professionals who play a key role in ensuring that young children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.

Background and Experience (essential):

• Be occupationally competent of the early years educator sector.
• Qualified to at least the level of this standard.
• Hold or be working towards an assessor’s qualification (A1 assessors award or TAQA qualification).
• Hold a minimum Basic DBS that is registered for the update service.
• 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.
• Willing to travel to employer locations for face-to-face practical assessments.
• 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.
• Flexibility to understand and respond to the individual needs and circumstances of employers/apprentices.
• Sufficient and relevant technical knowledge of Health and Safety requirements in the workplace.
• Industry structure and processes.
• Relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.
• A range of products and services offered within the industry.
• Systems, tools, equipment, machinery and processes used within relevant roles.
• 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.