End Point Assessor - Apprenticeship - Senior Healthcare Support Worker; Allied Health Professio

Independent end-point assessor for Senior Healthcare Support Worker (Allied Health Profession – Therapy Support) (Level
3)

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.

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.

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,…