Occupation Profile

As an Assessor Coach, you will be a dual professional, using your up-to-date professional knowledge and skills to support vocational and professional development across the formal education and training sector as well as in any employer setting, and at any level.

You may for example, coach and assess apprentices, trainees or new recruits (ranging from young entrants, to new CEOs) in the workplace. As an Assessor Coach you will assess vocational learners, usually on a one-to-one basis, in a range of learning environments.

Your coaching skills involve complex communication techniques to actively listen, provide feedback and to engage learners in planning their individualised learning programme. These skills are also integral to assessing learners’ competence in relation to work-related/industry standards and life skills.

As an Assessor Coach, you will work co-operatively with other Education and training sector professionals (such as teachers, human resource professionals and mentors/supervisors in the workplace) in supporting the learner’s development of vocational competence and the wider skills that relate to employability and professionalism.

Entry requirements

Employers set their own entry requirements which may include:

• A qualification, at an appropriate level, and relevant up-to-date experience in your vocational/subject specialism.
• A Level 3 Assessor qualification

Programme qualifications & requirements

• Meet the skills, knowledge and behaviour requirements of the apprenticeship standard
• Achieve Level 1 Safeguarding
• Achieve maths, English and ICT skills at Level 2 (if not held)
• Achieve A Level 3 Assessor qualification (if not held) * although not a stipulation of the apprenticeship, may be a requirement of your employer
• Evidence showcase submission

Details of programme

You will be allocated a Skills & Development Coach who will support and guide you for the duration of your apprenticeship. The apprenticeship programme will be delivered as blended learning. Blended learning is a combination of both online and face to face delivery. You will need to have good internet access and a suitable device such as a smart phone, laptop, or tablet to work on. Microsoft Teams is used for coaching sessions and ZOOM is currently used for taught sessions. Please discuss accessibility with your employer as these applications are required, in order for you to complete your training.

It take a minimum of 15 months to complete this apprenticeship during which you will participate in training, development and on-going review activities. These typically include:

• Induction which is specific to your workplace
• Study days and training courses
• Mentoring/buddy support
• Completion of a portfolio through which you gather evidence of your progress
• Structured one to one reviews of your progress with your employer and/or Dynamic Training

During your apprenticeship you will develop the following professional behaviours, knowledge and skills:

As an Assessor Coach, you will:

• Inspire, motivate and raise learners’ aspirations through your passion for the sector
• Operate at all times to ethical and legal standards and within professional boundaries
• Model and encourage mutual respect, displaying a deep understanding of equality and diversity, with and between learners, colleagues and appropriate agencies
• Be resilient and adaptable when dealing with challenge and change, maintaining focus and self-control
• Value the importance of maths, English and ICT skills in the learners’ future economic and social well-being
• Evaluate and improve your own professional practice in relation to the Professional Standards for Teachers and Educators in the Education and Training Sector

As an Assessor Coach, you will be able to:

• Plan coaching and assessment
• Deliver coaching support
• Assess learners
• Support quality improvement

As an Assessor Coach, you will understand:

• Procedures for planning, coaching and assessment
• Effective coaching practice
• Effective vocational assessment
• Ways to support quality improvement

Assessment Gateway

Your employer will make the decision as to when you are ready to undertake the end point assessment
Before going forward for end point assessment you must have:

• Achieved the Level 1 Safeguarding qualification
• Achieved Level 2 maths, English and ICT (if not held)
• Submitted a showcase portfolio
• Met the set knowledge, skills and behaviours requirements
• Achieved Level 3 Assessor qualification (although not a requirement of this apprenticeship, maybe an enhancement requested by your employer)

End Point Assessment

Following successful completion of the Gateway, you will proceed to end point assessment (EPA).
The EPA is undertaken by an independent assessment organisation chosen by your employer.
The End Point assessment components are:

• 2 x Assessor Coach observations with Q&A
• Professional discussion informed by the showcase portfolio

Your overall grade of Fail, Pass or Distinction will be determined by the End Point Assessment organisation.