Meet Sharon, an Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) at FuturU and true champion for quality and learner success.
In this article, Sharon shares why quality assurance matters, outlines the unique approach FuturU takes to support learners and assessors, and offers her advice to apprentices approaching their End-Point Assessment (EPA).
Can you start by telling us a little bit about your career before FuturU?
I’ve worked for smaller training providers in the past, as well as larger ones like Skills Solutions in Manchester – I worked there for a very long time! I’ve also worked for another End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), GP Strategies Assessment Services, creating and developing Standards from the ground up – I like a challenge, I thrive on that.
I’ve always worked in care, starting out as a Care Assistant all the way up to management level – I actually lived and worked in a Catholic Convent and nursing home for a very long time. I then became an assessor, and trained others at the convent, and have worked as an IQA and Lead IQA.
I believe in apprenticeships very strongly, training your staff and upskilling them, making them feel valued and respected, empowering them to follow their dreams. I hold apprenticeships very dearly in my heart because I started at the very bottom and went all the way up to the top as Deputy Manager.
What’s your role at FuturU?
I’m employed as an IQA for the Lead Practitioner in Adult Care Apprenticeship at Level 4 and Leader in Adult Care Apprenticeship at Level 5 within our Quality Assurance team. Day-to-day, I quality assure the End-Point Assessments that our associate assessors complete, checking the gradings they’ve given and providing them with constructive feedback. I’m meticulous in ensuring that we not only maintain the correct standard, but also that we raise those standards and improve our processes continuously. Ultimately, I want the experience for our learners to be really positive.
Alongside that, I’m responsible for checking all the paperwork that comes through to FuturU as part of an apprentice’s Gateway submission as they progress to the EPA phase of their apprenticeship. Where an apprentice’s paperwork does not meet our requirements, I’ll feed back recommendations.
I also step in on occasion when an associate assessor is unwell to cover that role, ensuring neither the learner or training provider is let down.
How is FuturU different from other End-Point Assessment organisations you’ve worked with?
Where I’ve worked previously, we might have a meeting once a month, but at FuturU, it’s far more frequent, and a lot more personalised.
Helen, Head of Education Operations and Linda, Lead IQA in the EPA team will meet regularly with training providers to feed back what we learn as part of the quality assurance process, and the trends we’ve identified, to help make improvements.
Ultimately, it’s about providing the best possible experience for learners, and ensuring they feel prepared and confident in the run up to their assessment.
While we can’t share the questions they’ll be asked, we can and do provide resources and guidance to help learners understand what’s expected of them – it all really helps.
What motivates you at work?
Having a positive impact on our assessors, our organisation and our learners. Day-to-day, I’m guiding our assessors, helping them to improve and build their confidence. It’s all about quality for me – I want to help our assessors improve their performance constantly, in turn positively impacting our learners and their experience.
What brings you joy at work?
I love quality. And I love making a difference every day. It’s a great feeling to see our assessors act on the constructive feedback I give them and improve, and to see the impact that has on the learner’s experience too.
Our assessors do an absolutely amazing job, and I’m really proud to play a part in that.
What advice would you give to someone approaching their End-Point Assessment?
I don’t think learners always know quite what to expect from their assessment. They look at it like it’s a test, and a frightening thing, and it’s not. They don’t always realise that the EPA really is a positive experience, an exciting moment, and an opportunity to showcase what they’ve done. It’s their moment to shine.
Make sure you’re well prepared – get guidance from your training provider, look at your Standard and assessment plan – and think about how you can showcase what you’ve done. Try to see your assessment as an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the fantastic journey you’ve been on to get to this point.
