Memorandum of Understanding / letter of intent
Dear Customer,
Re: Independent end-point assessment provider
Thank you for expressing an interest in working with us on your end-point assessment (EPA) requirements.
Skillsfirst Assess has been approved as an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) for the following standards:
• Adult Care Worker • Lead Adult Care Worker
• Customer Service Practitioner • Team Leader / Supervisor
Our team has been working with our network of sector specialists to deliver an EPA solution that gives apprentices the opportunity to achieve their best possible outcome.
As employers, apprentices and providers, we understand that you need flexible, cost-effective solutions, designed to fit in with the way you run your businesses. Perhaps most importantly though, we think you’ll be looking for an EPA partner who you can trust to make quality assessment decisions. This is our focus at Skillsfirst Assess.
It is our intention, as outlined in our application to ESFA, to be able to provide EPA services for these standards from January 1st 2018.
Statement of intent
This letter does not seek to create a legally binding arrangement. Instead, we seek to confirm the intentions of our customers with regards to their EPA requirements. By understanding your EPA plans, it will enable us to plan our resources to ensure we deliver the best possible service.
Booking an end-point assessment for your apprentice
You must become a Skillsfirst Assess approved customer to book an assessment on our secure administration system, ePASS. This approval will be completed via an online form.
You can book an EPA for your apprentice at any time after sign-up onto the standard, but we will need a minimum of 10 days’ notice before conducting the EPA. The booking system is flexible, allowing you to adopt different timescales for reservations depending on the standard and individual undertaking the apprenticeship.
Once you’ve booked the date of the EPA, a member of our team will contact you directly to confirm the exact requirements. We’ll also need to confirm that your apprentice has met
the gateway criteria – this is an essential stage in all standards. A checklist for this can be found on our website http://www.skillsfirst.co.uk/end-point-assessment.
A fee of 1% of the apprenticeship standard funding cap will be charged when you register an apprentice with us for EPA. This registration will give your apprentice access to e-learning resources and support material and enable us to make sure we have an Independent Assessor available when you need them.
The remaining fee will be invoiced after the EPA has taken place and the apprentices grade has been confirmed. Payment terms on all invoices are 30 days.
The apprenticeship certificate
The ESFA issues apprenticeship certificates after we’ve sent them the EPA results and managed any queries they have. ESFA send the certificate directly to the apprentice’s employer.
Confidentiality
Skillsfirst Assess has produced a data protection statement outlining how we will ensure that we comply with the current legislation on data protection. This is published in the Skillsfirst Centre Handbook, available on request.
Next Steps
We look forward to working with you. Following receipt of this signed letter, we will ensure you receive a login to our secure ePASS system as soon as it is available. This will enable you to complete the customer engagement form.
If you require any assistance with this please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.
Yours sincerely
Head Of Assessment Services
Skillsfirst Assess
Customer acknowledges and confirms that this reflects a common understanding.
Signature of Customer: ______
Name:
Title:
Company:
Date:
Predicted End-point Assessment apprentice numbers
Standards for which Skillsfirst Assess currently has EPAO approval
Apprenticeship Standard / Predicted apprentice numbers / Estimated date of first EPAAdult Care Worker
Lead Adult Care Worker
Customer Service Practitioner
Team Leader / Supervisor
Standards for which Skillsfirst Assess will be seeking EPAO approval
Apprenticeship Standard / Predicted apprentice numbers / Estimated date of first EPAOperations Manager
Customer Services Specialist
Recruitment Resourcer
Recruitment Consultant
Business Administrator
Healthcare Support Worker
Senior Healthcare Support Worker
Early Years Educator
Please return completed letters of intent to:
Skillsfirst Awards Ltd I Suite 416 I Fort Dunlop I Fort Parkway I Birmingham I B24 9FD I
t: 0121 2705100 I e: I w: www.skillsfirst.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales Nº: 6904840