EPA Apprentice, Richard Gibbons, Talks Achieving a Distinction During the Pandemic

It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since the start of COVID-19. Looking back, we still shudder at the uncertainty it once instilled upon us all, but we've come a long way since then. It was a time when life momentarily paused during lockdown, when we indulged in TikTok coffees and relished restaurants reopening with two chairs per square meter.  

As an End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), we’re keen to look back and recognise the achievements that apprentices persevered during daunting times.  

Richard Gibbons was an apprentice taking the Children, Young People and Families Manager (CYPFM) apprenticeship standard during the height of the pandemic. Having worked in social care for over a decade, Richard knew that the next step in his career was to help others in improving their quality of life. 

Richard said, “I have always been passionate about social care. My career began over 10 years ago when I started supporting individuals with ASD and other complex needs. 

“The end-point assessment was a positive experience which led to me achieving the highest grade possible for my qualification, which I was extremely pleased with.” 

Achieving a distinction requires hard work, motivation, and dedication, especially during a pandemic. 

Taking place over the course of 24 months, the CYPFM standard is comprised of a situational judgement test and a competence interview with a portfolio of evidence. These assessment components identify that the apprentice is competent with their knowledge and the strengths that they’re able to demonstrate within the given standard. 

The apprentice, whether working as a manager in children's residential care or a manager in the community in various settings, places the child, young person, or family at the centre of their practice.  

To achieve a wide range of outcomes, the apprentice will work on a multi-agency basis with professionals from various backgrounds, along with team leaders and managers from their own organisation, to develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviours. 

Richard said, “’The end-point assessment was well structured, with information being effectively and promptly shared. I could prepare for the situational judgement test and the competency assessment in a manner that suited my learning style.” 

Despite this, the pandemic still impacted Richard’s overall studying and assessment. The significant gap between the completion of his portfolio and starting the EPA process was a waiting game for Richard. 

“I had to keep refreshed with legislative and regulatory knowledge that underpins practice in social care to ensure I had the best chance of success at the assessment stage,” he said. 

“I was able to achieve this through reflecting on my portfolio evidence and research-based knowledge. I was also supported extremely well by my TRN assessor, Pete Foot, who was a constant network of support, signposting me to required learning criteria and communicating both virtually and face to face when restrictions allowed.” 

The support that apprentices receive from their End-Point Assessors is crucial in giving them the best opportunity to prepare for their assessment and achieve the highest possible outcome. 

Richard said, “I received email and phone correspondence from my End-Point Assessor, who briefed me on the expectations of the end-point assessment and provided me with guidance on how to prepare for the test and interview. 

“I always had the opportunity to ask questions, and the process was outlined to me thoroughly. Having then sat both exams, the information I was given was a fair reflection on how the assessment phase transpired.” 

Effective communication between the End-Point Assessor and apprentices is vital for a smooth EPA journey. 

At our core, we care about making sure that assessment planning meetings happen quickly and efficiently for you. Waiting for assessors to be allocated can be frustrating, which is why we promise to assign them within 24 hours after gateway acceptance and make contact within five working days. This way, you can rest assured that your apprentice is getting the support they need right from the start. 

Is this the support you’d like for your apprentices?  

Get in touch to experience end-point assessment with TQUK!