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Glossary of Terms

  • External Quality Assurance (EQA)
  • Institute of Apprenticeship & Technical Education (IfATE)
  • End Point Assessment (EPA)
  • End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO)
  • Independent Assessor (IA)
  • Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)
  • Awarding Organisation (AO)

Policy

This policy takes into account the negative impact malpractice and/or maladministration could have on Nurture, Learners, organisations & regulators.

Nurture is fully compliant to the regulations as set out by ensuring that a robust procedure is in place to inform stakeholders of the consequences that will be enforced in such circumstances.

Nurture has set out clear risk management strategies to ensure that any malpractice or maladministration is minimised, sanctioned and reported with a clear and informative complaint process.

Nurture has a team of professionals who complete quality monitoring activities on a regular basis to ensure that the systematic processes are followed and any practice within the hub is authentic and done so following the systematic process. Our team also conducts checks to ensure that CPD is regularly updated and that profiles of the IA demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competencies to conduct EPA.

Nurture is aware that annual reporting is carried out on individual EPAOs by EQAs for the purpose of reviewing the quality of assessments, the number of assessments carried out and the outcomes of those assessments; as such Nurture requires that practices and processes are conducted in a way that is authentic and transparent to support EPA practices and processes in a positive and supportive way whilst using the hub for recruitment, employment and assessment purposes.

Stakeholders must be made aware of the consequences of non-conforming to the regulations as informed by regulators, all information from external regulators can be found https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/quality/external-quality-assurance/

Purpose of the Policy

The purpose of this policy is to:

  • Define malpractice and maladministration.
  • Set out the rights and responsibilities of Nurture EPA Hub, stakeholders and candidates in relation to such matters.
  • A description of the procedures to be followed in cases where there is reason to suspect malpractice or maladministration.

Maladministration Definition

Maladministration is any activity or practice which results in non-compliance with the contents ofthe Terms and Conditions; of Nurture EPA Hub; qualification or assessment requirements and / or End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAO) regulations and systematic procedures.

Malpractice Definition

Malpractice is any activity or practice that is unethical and / or illegal which compromises, or could compromise the integrity, reputation and / or the validity of the EPA process, the programme, certificates, the AO, the centre or the wider education sector. Malpractice could occur at a organisational, learner, freelance and / or centre level.

Procedure

Nurture has proceeded through information & guidance from regulatory documents to inform this policy. Any stakeholder involvement must take the information with the utmost seriousness, failing to do so will result in an initial investigation that could lead to instant dismissal and no further interaction with the hub.

This policy has also been written in conjunction with Nurture EPA Hub Terms & Conditions. Click here to view.

Reporting Suspect malpractice and maladministration

Cases of suspected malpractice and maladministration may be reported by a number of sources, such as:

  • By the IA
  • By the IQA
  • By the candidate
  • By an external organisation
  • By Nurture internal quality management
  • Employers
  • Training Providers

Investigation Procedure for Suspected malpractice and Maladministration

Where an allegation of possible malpractice or maladministration is made; Nurture will appoint a senior manager or a director to conduct an investigation.

Evidence will be informally collected and reviewed for any confirmation of suspicious activities.

Evidence will be formally recorded in writing and a final report will be presented to the Nurture Management Team; with a decision made based on the facts.

Should the facts present confirmation of malpractice and/or maladministration external parties whom need to be informed will be issued with the findings.

EQA will be informed of any issues as per the EQA ways of working guidelines and operating procedures. The ways of working operating procedures also states that EPAO quality mana gers maybe referred to for investigation, course of action, resolution and lessons learned feedback to the EQA.

Nurture EPA Hub Managerial Responsibility

The responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation and operation of the arrangements will rest with the Managing Director Debbie Richards who will ensure that all company directors, managers freelance and organisational users always operate with in the policy and arrangements.

  • All directors, managers, freelance and organisational users are aware of the policy arrangements, and the reasons for the policy.
  • All directors, managers, freelance and organisational users have a duty to co-operate to ensure that this policy is effective.
  • Action will be taken against directors, managers, freelance and organisational users who breach this policy.