Operations or Departmental Manager Level 5

Version 1.2  |  ST0385

EPA Overview

End-Point Assessment (EPA) is the final stage of the apprenticeship and provides an opportunity for apprentices to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and behaviours they have developed during their Operations or Departmental Manager Level 5 apprenticeship.

The assessment for an Operations or Departmental Manager Level 5 apprentice includes a Professional Discussion and Project Proposal, Presentation and Questioning.

An apprentice cannot achieve their apprenticeship without passing the End-Point Assessment.

The End-Point Assessment for Operations or Departmental Manager Level 5 can be carried out remotely or face-to-face.

Gateway Requirements

Gateway requirements for Operations or Departmental Manager Level 5 apprentices includes:

• Evidence of achieving relevant maths and English qualifications if required by funding regulations or the employer

• Evidence of a complete Portfolio of Evidence demonstrating completion of knowledge, skills and behaviours

• Typically, 30 months on programme

Assessment Methods

The EPA for the Operations or Departmental Manager Level 5 apprenticeship is made up of two assessment components, both of which must be passed to achieve the apprenticeship.

Professional Discussion Underpinned by a Portfolio of Evidence

This element will take form as a Professional Discussion between the apprentice and the Independent End-Point Assessor. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to make detailed and proactive contributions to confirm their competency across the KSBs mapped to the method. The Professional Discussion will last 60 minutes.

Project Proposal, Presentation and Questioning

A Project Proposal involves the apprentice completing a relevant and defined piece of work that has a real business benefit. The Project Proposal is undertaken after the apprentice has gone through Gateway. Apprentices will then prepare for and deliver a presentation that, along with the proposal appropriately covers the KSBs assigned to this method of assessment.

Results

NQual will communicate results within 10 working days of the final assessment.

If an apprentice Fails one or more component, they will be offered the opportunity to re-sit / re-take the component(s). It is then up to the apprentice’s employer how many attempts an apprentice is given.

The timescale for a re-sit typically takes 3 months and a re-take 6 months (dependent on how much re-training is required). All assessment methods must be taken within a 6-month period, otherwise the entire EPA will need to be resat / retaken.

Where any assessment method must be re-sat or re-taken, the apprentice will be awarded a maximum EPA grade of Pass. Re-sits and re-takes are not offered to an apprentice wishing to move from Pass to a higher grade.

View NQual's Support Pack document for full details about the Operations or Departmental Manager Level 5 apprenticeship assessment.