NOCN is a market-leading independent End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) who have been successfully delivering End Point Assessments since 2017. NOCN is at the forefront of apprenticeship reforms including the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in the UK, working in partnership with employers, Further Education colleges, Training Providers and skills experts to develop a range of standards and assessments for new apprenticeships.

NOCN is also an established Ofqual regulated Awarding Organisation, bringing this level of quality assurance to its End Point Assessment provision.

Assistant Practitioners work as part of the wider health and social care team and have direct contact with patients, service users or clients providing high quality and compassionate care.

NOCN works in partnership with employers and Training Providers to provide a quality-first End Point Assessment (EPA). End Point Assessment is the final stage of the apprenticeship where the apprentice demonstrates the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours gained on-programme to an independent End Point Assessor.

The required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the Healthcare Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship standard will be fully communicated to the apprentice at the start of their apprenticeship, in preparation for End Point Assessment. End Point Assessment is carried out independently by qualified NOCN End Point Assessors to ensure a quality robust End Point Assessment you can trust.

The required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the Healthcare Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship standard that the apprentice will be required to learn during the on-programme phase of the apprenticeship, are found on the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education website. Click the link below to see the apprenticeship standard and assessment plan in further detail:

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/healthcare-assistant-practitioner/

The apprentice will be supported by their employer and the Training Provider throughout the On-Programme phase of the apprenticeship. As a leading Ofqual regulated Awarding Organisation, NOCN offers a number of qualifications to support the apprentice, including: - NOCN Functional Skills maths and English

To move to End Point Assessment, the apprentice must have achieved the relevant maths and English at Level 2. They must have also demonstrated that they have met the standards of the Care Certificate during the first part of their apprenticeship. They should have a regulated Level 5 Occupational Competence Qualification and a reflective journal completed over the final three months.

At the end of the on-programme training period, the Training Provider and employer will also review the apprentice’s Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours against the Healthcare Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship standard. Once the apprentice has gained the required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours required of the apprenticeship standard then the apprentice can move forward to End Point Assessment.

End Point Assessment is the final stage of the apprenticeship. The overall grades available for the End Point Assessment are Pass, Merit, Distinction or Fail.
The End Point Assessment for the Healthcare Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship standard consists of the following:

Multiple Choice and Short Answer Test: 40 Multiple questions during a 90 minute period allowing the apprentice to display their Knowledge across the standard.

Observation: 90 minutes practical observation. The observation of practice is undertaken in the workplace to assess higher level Skills and Behaviours.

Reflective Journal and Interview: 2000 word reflective account of their development in Case Management and Supervision/Teaching. The final interview takes the form of a professional discussion to enable the apprentice to further showcase their Knowledge, skills and Behaviours. The assessor selects the areas they wish to explore with the apprentice after reviewing responses to the multiple choice /short answer test, the reflective journal and the outcome of the observation of practice.

NOCN organises the EPA at a suitable time for the employer, training provider and apprentice. We then book the independent expert assessor who will deliver the EPA.

Because arranging a quality EPA involves a number of people and organisations, NOCN requires a minimum of three months to ensure all elements of EPA are in place including, contracting, invoicing and scheduling.

On successful completion, NOCN will issue an EPA grade notification and apply to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to produce the final apprenticeship certificate.

NOCN EPA services are priced fairly and competitively. As a leading non-profit organisation we ensure our charges are below the maximum 20% of the total apprenticeship. A pre EPA fee is charged at the contracting phase to secure support materials and assessment booking. The remaining balance for the EPA is charged upon Gateway entry and EPA booking. NOCN applies a flexible approach to pricing based upon cohort size and delivery model.

For those Assistant Practitioners who wish to progress into Registered Practice, the apprenticeship can provide credits into some Higher Education programmes aligned to professional registration.