HM forces serviceperson (protective services)

This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the HM Serviceperson (Protective Services) apprentices. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering their EPA.

HM forces serviceperson (protective services) apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.

An approved EPAO must conduct the EPA for this apprenticeship. Employers must select an approved EPAO from the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Register of end-point assessment organisations (RoEPAO).

A full-time apprentice typically spends 12 months on-programme (this means in training before the gateway) working towards competence as a HM forces serviceperson (protective services). All apprentices must spend at least 12 months on-programme. All apprentices must complete the required amount of off-the-job training specified by the apprenticeship funding rules.

This EPA has 2 assessment methods.

The grades available for each EPA method are:

EPA method 1 - practical skills assessment:

• fail

• pass

EPA method 2 - interview:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

The result from each EPA method is combined to decide the overall apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the apprenticeship:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

The EPA will be taken within the EPA period. The EPA period begins when the EPAO confirms the gateway requirements are met and is typically 3 months.

The expectation is that the EPAO will confirm the gateway requirements are met and the EPA begins as quickly as possible.

The apprentice’s employer must confirm that they think their apprentice is working at or above the occupational standard. The apprentice will then enter the gateway. The employer may take advice from the apprentice's training provider(s), but the employer must make the decision.

The apprentice must meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA.

This includes:

• achieving English and maths qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules

The apprentice must submit any policies and procedures as requested by the EPAO.

The assessment methods can be delivered in any order.

The result of one assessment method does not need to be known before starting the next.

Overview

In a practical assessment, the independent assessor observes the apprentice completing a task or series of tasks set by the EPAO. The EPAO decides where it takes place, and the test environment must closely relate to the apprentice’s natural working environment.

The practical and responses to questions must be assessed holistically by the independent assessor when they are deciding the grade for the practical assessment.

Rationale

This EPA method is being used because this is a practical role and therefore it is important that the apprentices demonstrate that they have the skills to undertake the tasks in practice and to confirm the apprentice has the skills required to safely operate and control the standard issue basic weapon without endangering the lives of others.

Delivery

The practical skills assessment must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this EPA method to the highest available grade.

The practical skills assessment will be administered by a competent person independent of the apprentice, and who has not contributed to their on-programme delivery i.e., there must be no conflict of interest and they must be independent of the apprentice's on-programme learning and training. Due to the specialist nature of the organisation and occupation, this may be someone from within the same organisation.

The independent assessor must only observe one apprentice to ensure quality and rigour they must be as unobtrusive as possible.

The EPAO must give an apprentice 14 days notice of the practical assessment.

The practical skills assessment must take 1 hour.

The independent assessor can increase the time of the practical skills assessment by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to complete a task or respond to a question if necessary. The practical assessment and questioning must allow the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs at the highest possible grade.

The practical skills assessment cannot be split, other than for comfort breaks or to allow apprentices to move from one location to another. Where breaks occur, they will not count towards the total EPA time.

EPAOs must manage invigilation of apprentices at all times to maintain security of the EPA, in line with their malpractice policy. This includes breaks and moving between locations.

The independent assessor must explain to the apprentice the format and timescales of the practical skills assessment before it begins. This does not count towards the assessment time.

The independent assessor should observe the following during the practical assessment. These activities provide the apprentice with the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs as shown in the mapping:

task one: weapon safety

• handling the weapon safely as not to endanger the life of others

task two: stripping and assembly

• strip and assemble the weapon including ancillaries by using the correct tools and equipment

task three: magazine filling

• fill magazines with rounds

task four: loading the weapon

• conduct the safety checks, adopting the correct position, check the magazine and fit correctly to the weapon

task five: making the weapon ready

• ready the weapon for firing

task six: conduct the immediate action drills

• use forward assist, deal with loose ammunition, empty magazines and breach obstructions

task seven: unloading the weapon

• remove the magazine, check working parts ensuring no rounds are present, working parts forward and firing the action

These activities provide the apprentice with the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs as shown in the mapping.

The independent assessor conducts and assesses the practical skills assessment. They must record the KSBs observed, KSBs demonstrated in answers to questions and the grade achieved.

The independent assessor sends recommendations to the EPAO who will make all grading decisions.

Assessment location

The practical skills assessment will take place in a simulated environment selected by the EPAO (for example the EPAO’s or employer’s premises). The simulated environment must relate to the apprentice’s natural work environment. Equipment and resources needed for the practical skills assessment must be provided by the EPAO, who can liaise with the employer to provide these.

Resource development

EPAOs must ensure that appropriate quality assurance procedures are in place. For example, considering standardisation, training and moderation.

EPAOs must produce the following materials to support the practical skills assessment:

• independent assessor assessment materials which include:
  • training materials
  • administration materials
  • moderation and standardisation materials
  • guidance materials
  • grading guidance
• EPA guidance for the apprentice and employer

Overview

An interview consists of an independent assessor asking an apprentice a series of questions to assess their competence against KSB's. It differs from a professional discussion in that the independent assessor's role is restricted to asking set questions, and there is no scope for two-way discussion. The independent assessor leads this process to obtain information from the apprentice to enable a structured assessment decision making process. When determining whether a professional discussion or interview should be selected as an assessment method, consider how the KSBs are best assessed.

Rationale

This EPA method is being used because the apprentices have been exposed to a considerable amount of knowledge-based information about serving and working within the Armed Forces and many aspects of the apprenticeship can be determined through this method and is appropriate to ensure that this knowledge, skills and behaviours are embedded.

Delivery

The interview must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this EPA method to the highest available grade.

The purpose of the independent assessor's questions will be to check the understanding and application of the knowledge, skills and behaviours discussed.

The interview will be administered by a competent person independent of the apprentice, and who has not contributed to their on-programme delivery i.e., there must be no conflict of interest and they must be independent of the apprentice’s on-programme learning and training. Due to the specialist nature of the organisation and occupation, this may be someone from within the same organisation.

The interview consists of the independent assessor asking an apprentice a series of questions to assess their competence against the KSBs. The Independent assessor leads this process to obtain information from the apprentice to enable structured assessment decision-making to occur.

They will operate under the independent quality assurance arrangements of an EPAO. The independent assessor will make a recommendation regarding pass/fail of the EPA to the EPAO, who will make the final grading decision.

It will involve a series of scripted questions that will focus on aspects of military training, activities outlined in the KSBs. The assessment is closed book which means that the apprentice cannot refer to reference any notes, books or materials.

The EPAO must give an apprentice 5 days notice of the interview.

The interview must last for 90 minutes. The independent assessor can increase the time of the interview by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to respond to a question if necessary.

For the interview, the independent assessor must ask at least 9 questions. Follow-up questions are allowed. The independent assessor must use the questions from the EPAO’s question bank or create their own questions in-line with the EPAO’s training. The interview must allow the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this EPA method at the highest possible grade.

The independent assessor conducts and assesses the interview.

The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. The records must include the KSBs met, the grade achieved and answers to questions.

The independent assessor sends recommendations to the EPAO, who will make all grading decisions.

The interview will involve a series of scripted questions that will focus on aspects of military training, activities and KSBs. The assessment is closed book which means that the apprentice cannot refer to any notes, books or materials.

The independent assessor will provide all evidence and documentation of the apprentice’s performance to the EPAO. The EPAO will then make the grading decision based on this evidence. The evidence provided by the independent assessor should focus on direct observation of performance rather than opinions.

Assessment location

The interview must take place in a suitable venue selected by the EPAO.

The interview should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.

The interview will take place at the employer's premises.

Question and resource development

EPAOs must write an assessment specification and question bank. The specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs shown in the mapping. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. EPAOs should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting employers. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this. The assessment specification and questions must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.

EPAOs must develop purpose-built question banks and ensure that appropriate quality assurance procedures are in place, for example, considering standardisation, training and moderation. EPAOs must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard.

EPAOs must ensure that apprentices have a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.

EPAOs must produce the following materials to support the interview:

• independent assessor assessment materials which include:
  • training materials
  • administration materials
  • moderation and standardisation materials
  • guidance materials
  • grading guidance
  • question bank
• EPA guidance for the apprentice and employer

The EPA methods contribute equally to the overall EPA grade.

Performance in the EPA will determine the apprenticeship grade of:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

Independent assessors must individually grade the: practical skills assessment and interview according to the requirements set out in this EPA plan.

EPAOs must combine the individual assessment method grades to determine the overall EPA grade.

Apprentices who fail one or more assessment method will be awarded an overall EPA fail.

Apprentices must achieve at least a pass in all the EPA methods to get an overall pass. In order to achieve an overall EPA distinction, apprentices must score a distinction in the interview and a pass in the practical skills assessment.

Grades from individual assessment methods should be combined in the following way to determine the grade of the EPA as a whole.

Apprentices who fail one or more EPA method(s) can take a re-sit or a re-take at the employer’s discretion. The apprentice’s employer needs to agree that a re-sit or re-take is appropriate. A re-sit does not need further learning, whereas a re-take does.

Apprentices should have a supportive action plan to prepare for a re-sit or a re-take.

The employer and EPAO agree the timescale for a re-sit or re-take. A re-sit is typically taken within 2 months of the EPA outcome notification. The timescale for a re-take is dependent on how much re-training is required and is typically taken within 4 months of the EPA outcome notification.

Failed EPA methods must be re-sat or re-taken within a 6-month period from the EPA outcome notification, otherwise the entire EPA will need to be re-sat or re-taken in full.

Re-sits and re-takes are not offered to apprentices wishing to move from pass to a higher grade.

An apprentice will get a maximum EPA grade of pass for a re-sit or re-take, unless the EPAO determines there are exceptional circumstances.

The EPAO must have reasonable adjustments arrangements for the EPA.

This should include:

• how an apprentice qualifies for reasonable adjustment
• what reasonable adjustments may be made

Adjustments must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.

Internal quality assurance refers to how EPAOs ensure valid, consistent and reliable EPA decisions. EPAOs must adhere to the requirements within the roles and responsibilities section and:

• have effective and rigorous quality assurance systems and procedures that ensure fair, reliable and consistent EPA regardless of employer, place, time or independent assessor
• appoint independent assessors who are competent to deliver the EPA and who:
  • have recent relevant experience of the occupation or sector to at least occupational level 3 gained in the last 3 years or significant experience of the occupation or sector
  • meet the following minimum requirements:

    independent assessors must be a serving officer or non-commissioned officer and hold a weapons instructor qualification

• operate induction training for anyone involved in the delivery and/or assessment of the EPA
• provide training for independent assessors in good assessment practice, operating the assessment tools and making grading decisions
• provide ongoing training for markers and invigilators
• provide standardisation activity for this apprenticeship standard for all independent assessors:
  • before they conduct an EPA for the first time
  • if the EPA is updated
  • periodically as appropriate (a minimum of annually)
• conduct effective moderation of EPA decisions and grades
• conduct appeals where required, according to the EPAO’s appeals procedure, reviewing and making final decisions on EPA decisions and grades
• have no direct connection with the apprentice, their employer or training provider. In all instances, including when the EPAO is the training provider (for example a higher education institution)

Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:

• completing applicable assessment methods online (for example computer-based assessment)

• utilising digital remote platforms to conduct applicable assessment methods

• assessing multiple apprentices simultaneously where the method of assessment permits this

• using the employer’s premises

• conducting assessment methods on the same day

Professional body recognition is not relevant to this occupational apprenticeship.