4. End-point assessment
The EPA for Early Intervention Practitioner contains two methods of assessment:
Professional Discussion Underpinned by a Portfolio of Evidence
The Professional Discussion is a structured discussion designed to draw out the best of the apprentice’s competence and excellence and cover the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) assigned to this assessment method. It is a two-way discussion which involves both the Independent End Point Assessor (IEPA) and the apprentice actively listening and participating in a formal conversation. The assessment duration is 60 minutes (the IEPA has the discretion to increase the time of the Professional Discussion by up to 10% to allow the apprentice to complete their last answer). The Portfolio of Evidence will be completed during on-programme learning, covering the KSBs to be assessed by the Professional Discussion
Grading: the Professional Discussion will be measured as Fail, Pass or Distinction.
Case Study with Report and Presentation with Questioning
The Work-Based Case Study (Component 1) will be in the form of a written report and a video recording of the apprentice conducting a meeting with either the individual and or family they are working with, or with relevant professionals. The Case Study topic will be agreed by the employer and NCFE at Gateway and submitted after a maximum of nine weeks from passing Gateway. It requires the apprentice to complete a significant and defined piece of work that has a real organisational benefit and is based on a real-life work-based activity. It should enable the apprentice to demonstrate that they understand and can apply the relevant KSBs to the full cycle of work undertaken with an individual and/or family. The video recording will allow the IEPA to observe the apprentice’s interpersonal skills. Following the marking of the Work-Based Case Study, the Questioning assessment method (Component 2), will involve the IEPA asking the apprentice a minimum of five open questions to test and seek clarification regarding the content and/or depth of understanding of the Work-Based Study Report and video recording against the required KSBs.
Component 1: the Case Study Report will be 3,500 words (+/-10%) with NCFE’s approval of the Case Study’s scope and title. The accompanying video recording must not exceed 15 minutes and should be one continuous recording.
Component 2: the duration of the questioning should be fixed at 30 minutes and include a minimum of five open questions. The IEPA has the discretion to increase the duration by up to 10% to allow the apprentice to respond to a question.
Grading: the Case Study with Report and Presentation will be measured as Fail, Pass or Distinction.