EPA - Apprenticeship - Network Cable Installer

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Job description

Due to increased demand within the End-Point Assessment space, Pearson are looking to recruit independent end-point assessors across a range of standards. Pearson's End-Point Assessment portfolio is growing and covers many diverse standards.

Being an OFQUAL accredited End-Point Assessment Organisation, we are looking for occupationally competent experts to join our ever-expanding team and service national demand.

Being an apprentice centric organisation, Pearson prides itself on ensuring apprentices are assessed to industry standards through fair, but rigorous, end-point assessment. Alongside this, Pearson is well renowned for high quality training and support to our assessor community. Being flexible and embracing remote technology, this role can be undertaken around existing roles and responsibilities.

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

Role Profile

The role of the network cable installer is to install, terminate, test, and certify network cable infrastructure components in accordance with National and International industry standards. This network infrastructure will provide the communications backbone for the digital infrastructure ecosystem, enabling all types of digital devices including computers, servers, smart devices, security equipment, wireless access points, access control, building management systems and lighting systems to communicate between each other, internally, nationally and globally. Installers work in data sensitive environments and contribute to the organisation's cyber security strategy by ensuring the physical security l as well as complying with basic cyber security principles for the maintenance of confidentiality, integrity and availability of data.

They could be called upon to work in the Inside Plant (ISP) environment which is dedicated to the installation of cable within buildings and structures, and the Outside Plant (OSP) environment, which is dedicated to the installation of cable externally between buildings, cities and countries.

Background and Experience (essential):

• Be occupationally competent in the Cable installation field
• Have a minimum 5 years demonstrable experience within the Network Infrastructure sector
• Recent relevant experience of the occupation/sector at least one level above the apprentice gained in the last three years or significant experience of the occupation/sector
• Have received training and certification in all practical aspects of the apprenticeship standard
• Be able to demonstrate through interview a commitment to continued professional development, by demonstrating a knowledge of industry legislation, standards and industry technical developments
• Hold or working towards an assessor qualification, A1 assessors award or TAQA qualification
• 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 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