Service designer / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Schooling

ST0894, service designer degree 6

This can be a abstract of the important thing issues that you simply – the apprentice and your employer must learn about your end-point evaluation (EPA). You and your employer ought to learn the EPA plan for the complete particulars. It has data on evaluation technique necessities, roles and tasks, and re-sits and re-takes.

What’s an end-point evaluation and why it occurs

An EPA is an evaluation on the finish of your apprenticeship. It’ll assess you towards the information, expertise, and behaviours (KSBs) within the occupational normal. Your coaching will cowl the KSBs. The EPA is your alternative to indicate an impartial assessor how effectively you’ll be able to perform the occupation you’ve been educated for.

Your employer will select an end-point evaluation organisation (EPAO) to ship the EPA. Your employer and coaching supplier ought to let you know what to anticipate and the best way to put together in your EPA.

The size of the coaching for this apprenticeship is usually 24 months. The EPA interval is usually 6 months.

The general grades obtainable for this apprenticeship are:

While you go the EPA, you’ll be awarded your apprenticeship certificates.

EPA gateway

The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you’ve met any necessities required earlier than you begin the EPA. You’ll solely enter the gateway when your employer says you might be prepared.

The gateway necessities in your EPA are:

• achieved English and arithmetic {qualifications} in step with the apprenticeship funding guidelines

• for the work primarily based challenge with presentation and questioning, the challenge’s title and scope have to be agreed with the EPAO and a challenge abstract submitted

• for the skilled dialogue underpinned by a portfolio of proof, the challenge’s title and scope have to be agreed with the EPAO and a challenge abstract submitted

Evaluation strategies

Challenge with report

You’ll full a challenge and write a report. You can be requested to finish a challenge. The title and scope have to be agreed with the EPAO on the gateway. The report ought to be a most of 4000 phrases (with a ten% tolerance).

You’ll have 12 weeks to finish the challenge and submit the report back to the EPAO.

You might want to put together and provides a presentation to an impartial assessor. Your presentation slides and any supporting supplies ought to be submitted similtaneously the challenge output. The presentation with questions will final at the very least 60 minutes. The impartial assessor will ask at the very least 6 questions concerning the challenge and presentation.

Skilled dialogue underpinned by a portfolio of proof

You’ll have an expert skilled dialogue with an impartial assessor. It’ll final 60 minutes. They may ask you at the very least 8 questions. The questions will probably be about sure points of your occupation. You should utilize it to assist reply the questions.

The EPAO will verify the place and when every evaluation technique will happen.

Who to contact for assist or extra data

You must converse to your employer if in case you have a question that pertains to your job.

You must converse to your coaching supplier if in case you have any questions on your coaching or EPA earlier than it begins.

You must obtain detailed data and help from the EPAO earlier than the EPA begins. You must converse to them if in case you have any questions on your EPA as soon as it has began.

Cheap changes

You probably have a incapacity, a bodily or psychological well being situation or different particular issues, you could possibly have an affordable adjustment that takes this under consideration. You must converse to your employer, coaching supplier and EPAO and ask them what help you will get. The EPAO will resolve if an adjustment is suitable.

This doc explains the necessities for end-point evaluation (EPA) for the service designer apprenticeship. Finish-point evaluation organisations (EPAOs) should observe this when designing and delivering the EPA.

Service designer apprentices, their employers and coaching suppliers ought to learn this doc.

An accredited EPAO should conduct the EPA for this apprenticeship. Employers should choose an accredited EPAO from the Schooling and Abilities Funding Company’s Register of end-point evaluation organisations (RoEPAO).

A full-time apprentice sometimes spends 24 months on-programme (this implies in coaching earlier than the gateway) working in direction of competence as a service designer. All apprentices should spend at the very least 12 months on-programme. All apprentices should full the required quantity of off-the-job coaching specified by the apprenticeship funding guidelines.

This EPA has 2 evaluation strategies.

The grades obtainable for every evaluation technique are:

Evaluation technique 1 – work primarily based challenge with presentation and questioning:

Evaluation technique 2 – skilled dialogue underpinned by a portfolio of proof:

The outcome from every evaluation technique is mixed to resolve the general apprenticeship grade. The next grades can be found for the apprenticeship:

The EPA will probably be taken inside the EPA interval. The EPA interval begins when the EPAO confirms the gateway necessities are met and is usually 6 months.

The expectation is that the EPAO will verify the gateway necessities are met and the EPA begins as rapidly as attainable.

The apprentice’s employer should verify that they suppose their apprentice is working at or above the occupational normal. The apprentice will then enter the gateway. The employer could take recommendation from the apprentice’s coaching supplier(s), however the employer should make the choice.

The apprentice should meet the gateway necessities earlier than beginning their EPA.

These are:

• achieved English and maths {qualifications} in step with the apprenticeship funding guidelines

• for the work primarily based challenge with presentation and questioning the apprentice should submit Scoping doc for work primarily based challenge

· the apprentice should agree the topic, title and scope for his or her challenge proposal with their employer and EPAO by submitting a scoping doc which will probably be not more than 500 phrases.

• for the skilled dialogue underpinned by a portfolio of proof the apprentice should submit Portfolio of proof

Portfolio of proof necessities:

Apprentices should compile a portfolio of proof throughout the on-programme interval of the apprenticeship. It ought to include proof associated to the KSBs that will probably be assessed by this evaluation technique. The portfolio of proof will sometimes include 18 discrete items of proof. Proof ought to be mapped towards the KSBs.

Proof could also be used to reveal multiple KSB; a qualitative versus quantitative method is usually recommended. Proof sources could embrace:

• office documentation/information, for instance:
  • office insurance policies/procedures, information
  • witness statements
  • annotated pictures
  • video clips (most complete period 5 minutes); the apprentice have to be in view and identifiable

This isn’t a definitive listing; different proof sources may be included.

The portfolio shouldn’t embrace reflective accounts or any strategies of self-assessment. Any employer contributions ought to give attention to direct statement of efficiency (for instance witness statements) relatively than opinions. The proof supplied ought to be legitimate and attributable to the apprentice; the portfolio of proof ought to include an announcement from the employer and apprentice confirming this.

The EPAO shouldn’t assess the portfolio of proof instantly because it underpins the dialogue. Unbiased assessors ought to evaluation the portfolio of proof to arrange questions for the dialogue evaluation technique. They aren’t required to offer suggestions after this evaluation.

The evaluation strategies may be delivered in any order.

The results of one evaluation technique doesn’t should be identified earlier than beginning the subsequent.

Overview

A challenge includes the apprentice finishing a big and outlined piece of labor that has an actual enterprise software and profit. The challenge should begin after the apprentice has gone by the gateway.

The work primarily based challenge with presentation and questioning have to be structured to present the apprentice the chance to reveal the KSBs mapped to this EPA technique to the best obtainable grade.

The challenge should meet the wants of the employer’s enterprise and be related to the apprentice’s occupation and apprenticeship. The EPAO should verify that it gives the apprentice with the chance to reveal the KSBs mapped to this EPA technique to the best obtainable grade. The EPAO should consult with the grading descriptors to make sure that tasks are pitched appropriately.

This EPA technique consists of 2 parts:

• challenge with a challenge output
• presentation with questions and solutions

The challenge and any parts have to be assessed holistically by the impartial assessor when they’re deciding the grade for this EPA technique.

Rationale

This EPA technique is getting used as a result of:

• The work-based challenge is essentially the most legitimate technique because it permits the demonstration {of professional} competence. The challenge will contribute to the employer’s enterprise and be a part of the apprentices’ on a regular basis work, guaranteeing that they’ll reveal the KSBs in apply. Producing a report displays regular apply within the office for a Service Designer, so this evaluation technique is suitable.
• It’s a vital and complicated piece of labor that completely checks each increased and decrease order information and expertise.
• Observe that it’s important that the challenge articulates the apprentice’s personal work apply relatively than the actions carried out by the staff of which they have been half.

Element 1: Challenge with a challenge output

Supply

Apprentices should full a challenge which can be primarily based on any of the next:

• a particular downside
• a recurring problem
• an concept or alternative.

The challenge might also be primarily based on:

Examples of the kinds of tasks an apprentice might submit:

• Innovating how a reception space of an area council constructing may be improved to make sure it’s inclusive to those that have extra wants akin to diminished mobility or cognitive impairments.
• Designing the checking-in course of at an airport to satisfy consumer, employee and organisational wants considering the wants of various passengers and test in employees but additionally organisational wants for effectivity and safety.
• Reworking the interplay between a financial institution and its prospects to make sure all prospects no matter their digital literacy can confidently entry its providers once they can now not go to a department.
• Creating a brand new service to widen participation in elections by permitting folks to register to vote by way of their cellphones.

To make sure the challenge permits the apprentice to satisfy the KSBs mapped to this EPA technique to the best obtainable grade, the EPAO ought to sign-off the challenge’s title and scope on the gateway to verify it’s appropriate.

The challenge output have to be within the type of a report.

The apprentice should begin the challenge after the gateway. They need to full and submit the report back to the EPAO after a most of 12 weeks. The employer ought to make sure the apprentice has the time and assets inside this era, to plan and full their challenge. The apprentice should full their challenge and the manufacturing of all its parts unaided.

The apprentice may match as a part of a staff which might embrace technical inner or exterior help. Nonetheless, the challenge output have to be the apprentice’s personal work and will probably be reflective of their very own function and contribution. The apprentice and their employer should verify that the challenge output(s) is the apprentice’s personal work when it’s submitted.

The report should embrace at the very least:

The apprentice will full their challenge and submit it to the EPAO after a most of 12 weeks from the gateway. The written challenge report and the presentation will probably be submitted to the EPAO collectively, 2 weeks previous to the presentation happening.

The challenge report has a most phrase rely of 4000 phrases. A tolerance of 10% above or under the phrase rely is allowed on the apprentice’s discretion. Appendices, references and diagrams should not included on this complete. The challenge report should map, in an appendix, the way it evidences the related KSBs mapped to this EPA technique.

Overview

Within the skilled dialogue, an impartial assessor and apprentice have a proper two-way dialog. It provides the apprentice the chance to reveal their competency throughout the KSBs as proven within the mapping.

Rationale

This EPA technique is getting used as a result of:

• it permits the apprentice to be assessed towards KSBs that won’t naturally happen as a part of a work-based challenge
• it permits the apprentice to indicate case their depth of understanding regarding the KSBs
• it permits the impartial assessor to contemplate the context and sector that the apprentice operates inside, giving flexibility to make sure that all of the KSBs may be assessed appropriately
• it’s price efficient, and it permits consideration of the potential must conduct the EPA remotely.

Supply

The skilled dialogue have to be structured to present the apprentice the chance to reveal the KSBs mapped to this EPA technique to the best obtainable grade.

The aim of the impartial assessor’s questions will probably be to additional make clear expertise demonstrated in a portfolio of proof.

The EPAO should give an apprentice 2 weeks discover of the skilled dialogue.

The impartial assessor should have at the very least 2 week(s) to evaluation the supporting documentation.

Apprentices should have entry to their portfolio of proof throughout the skilled dialogue.

Apprentices can consult with and illustrate their solutions with proof from their portfolio of proof, nonetheless the portfolio of proof will not be instantly assessed.

The skilled dialogue should final for 60 minutes. The impartial assessor can improve the time of the skilled dialogue by as much as 10%. This time is to permit the apprentice to answer a query if crucial.

For the skilled dialogue, the impartial assessor should ask at the very least 8 questions. Observe-up questions are allowed. The impartial assessor should use the questions from the EPAO’s query financial institution or create their very own questions in-line with the EPAO’s coaching. The skilled dialogue should enable the apprentice the chance to reveal the KSBs mapped to this EPA technique on the highest attainable grade.

The impartial assessor conducts and assesses the skilled dialogue.

The impartial assessor should preserve correct information of the evaluation. The information should embrace the KSBs met, the grade achieved and solutions to questions.

The impartial assessor will make all grading choices.

Evaluation location

The skilled dialogue should happen in an appropriate venue chosen by the EPAO (for instance the EPAO’s or employer’s premises).

The skilled dialogue may be carried out by video conferencing. The EPAO should have processes in place to confirm the identification of the apprentice and make sure the apprentice will not be being aided.

The skilled dialogue ought to happen in a quiet room, free from distractions and affect.

Query and useful resource improvement

EPAOs should write an evaluation specification and query financial institution. The specification have to be related to the occupation and reveal the best way to assess the KSBs proven within the mapping. It’s endorsed that is finished in session with employers of this occupation. EPAOs ought to preserve the safety and confidentiality of EPA supplies when consulting employers. The questions have to be unpredictable. A query financial institution of enough measurement will help this. The evaluation specification and questions have to be reviewed at the very least annually to make sure they continue to be fit-for-purpose.

EPAOs should develop purpose-built query banks and make sure that acceptable high quality assurance procedures are in place, for instance, contemplating standardisation, coaching and moderation. EPAOs should make sure that questions are refined and developed to a excessive normal.

EPAOs should make sure that apprentices have a unique set of questions within the case of re-sits or re-takes.

EPAOs should produce the next supplies to help the skilled dialogue underpinned by a portfolio of proof:

• impartial assessor evaluation supplies which embrace:
  • coaching supplies
  • administration supplies
  • moderation and standardisation supplies
  • steering supplies
  • grading steering
  • query financial institution
• EPA steering for the apprentice and employer

Efficiency within the EPA determines the apprenticeship grade of:

An impartial assessor should individually grade the evaluation strategies in step with this EPA plan.

The EPAO should mix the person evaluation technique grades to find out the general EPA grade.

If the apprentice fails a number of evaluation strategies, they are going to be awarded an general fail. 

To realize an general go, the apprentice should obtain at the very least a go in all of the evaluation strategies.

To realize an general distinction, the apprentice should obtain a distinction in each evaluation strategies.

Grades from particular person evaluation strategies have to be mixed within the following technique to decide the grade of the EPA general.

An apprentice who fails a number of evaluation technique(s) can take a re-sit or a re-take at their employer’s discretion. The apprentice’s employer must agree {that a} re-sit or re-take is suitable. A re-sit doesn’t want additional studying, whereas a re-take does.

An apprentice ought to have a supportive motion plan to arrange 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 usually taken inside 2 months of the EPA final result notification. The timescale for a re-take depends on how a lot re-training is required and is usually taken inside 3 months of the EPA final result notification.

Failed evaluation strategies have to be re-sat or re-taken inside a 6-month interval from the EPA final result notification, in any other case the complete EPA will should be re-sat or re-taken in full.

Re-sits and re-takes should not supplied to an apprentice wishing to maneuver from go to the next grade.

An apprentice will get a most EPA grade of go for a re-sit or re-take, except the EPAO determines there are distinctive circumstances.

The EPAO should have cheap changes preparations for the EPA.

This could embrace:

• how an apprentice qualifies for cheap adjustment
• what cheap changes could also be made

Changes should preserve the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined on this EPA plan.

Inner high quality assurance refers to how EPAOs guarantee legitimate, constant and dependable EPA choices. EPAOs should adhere to the necessities inside the roles and tasks part and:

• have efficient and rigorous high quality assurance methods and procedures that guarantee honest, dependable and constant EPA no matter employer, place, time or impartial assessor
• appoint impartial assessors who’re competent to ship the EPA and who:
  • have current related expertise of the occupation or sector to at the very least occupational degree 6 gained within the final 3 years or vital expertise of the occupation or sector
• function induction coaching for anybody concerned within the supply and/or evaluation of the EPA
• present coaching for impartial assessors in good evaluation apply, working the evaluation instruments and making grading choices
• present ongoing coaching for markers and invigilators
• present standardisation exercise for this apprenticeship normal for all impartial assessors:
  • earlier than they conduct an EPA for the primary time
  • if the EPA is up to date
  • periodically as acceptable (a minimal of yearly)
• conduct efficient moderation of EPA choices and grades
• conduct appeals the place required, in line with the EPAO’s appeals process, reviewing and making closing choices on EPA choices and grades
• haven’t any direct reference to the apprentice, their employer or coaching supplier. In all cases, together with when the EPAO is the coaching supplier (for instance the next training establishment)

Affordability of the EPA will probably be aided by utilizing at the very least a few of the following:

• utilising digital distant platforms to conduct relevant evaluation strategies

• utilizing the employer’s premises

• conducting evaluation strategies on the identical day

Skilled physique recognition will not be related to this occupational apprenticeship.