Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Handbook

1 Internal Quality Assurance (IQA). Handbook Process and Procedure V3 updated March 18. 1. Contents P3 Introduction P3 Role of Internal Quality Assurer (IQA). P4 Workplace Assessment Responsibilities P5 Quality Assuring Assessments P5 sampling Assessments Interim/Formative sampling Summative sampling P7 Monitoring Assessment Practice P8 Standardising Assessment Judgements P8 Developing and Supporting Assessors P9 Common issues with the Assessment Process P11 Appendices 1. Formative sampling Plan 2. Formative sampling Activity 3. Internal Quality Assurance Commentary 4. Summative sampling Plan 5.

2 Development to Competence Sign off Sheet 6. Portfolio Evidence Record Sheets 7. Candidate Interview Review 8. Assessor Induction and Declaration Form 9. Assessor/IQA CPD/Reflective Learning Log 2. Internal Verification of NVQs Introduction This guidance has been produced to ensure that all the Internal Quality Assurers (IQA's). for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service understand the procedures, processes and their responsibilities required for Internal Quality Assurance of assessment decisions. There are tracking and auditing requirements at each stage of the process and in this Handbook you are provided with examples of pro formas that can be used within the system.

3 The appendices include these forms and it is important that IQA's are familiar with all the paperwork. It is important that up to date records are kept of both formative and summative assessments that the IQA is involved in. Each IQA has a folder on the G. drive to keep their paperwork in which will be monitored by both the Accredited Centre and visiting Standards Verifiers. Each IQA can password protect their folder if they wish but they must advise the Accredited Centre Manager of the password. The Role of the Internal Quality Assurer The IQA needs to be at the heart of the Quality Assurance process at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service s Accredited Centre, working in conjunction with the lead Internal Quality Assurer.

4 The main aspects of the IQA role are: Develop and support Assessors by monitoring the activities of the Assessors, ensuring they have time, resources and experience to carry out assessment duties and taking appropriate action when they do not. In order to properly monitor each Assessor an IQA has responsibility for they need to ensure that on an annual basis they monitor the Assessor in all assessment methods and update the sampling plan on the G drive. Maintain communication with the Accredited Centre and act in strict accordance with the Centre's guidelines, policies and procedures in order to manage the Quality of the NVQ process Meet with Assessors on a regular basis Undertake risk assessment of Assessors.

5 Develop action plans and ensure these are agreed and supported by Managers Quality assure assessments by undertaking sampling and Quality Assurance of Learner's portfolios as stipulated in the Accredited Centre sampling strategy It is important to understand that the role of the IQA is not to second assess a Learners work but is to monitor activities of the Assessors that they have responsibility for. Brief details showing the responsibilities of everyone involved in the assessment process can be found on the following page. Workplace Assessment Responsibilities 3. Standards Verifier (Pearsons/EDEXCEL or Skills for Justice).

6 Monitor the standards of the Accredited Centre Central IQA. Monitor the standard of IQA's and the assessment process IQA. Monitor the standard of Assessors Monitor the activities of the Assessors, ensuring they have time, resources and experience to carry out assessment duties and taking appropriate action when they do not;. Maintain communication with the Accredited Centre and act in strict accordance with the centre's guidelines, policies and procedures;. Meet with Assessors on a regular basis as stipulated in the Internal Quality Assurers process;. Undertake risk assessment of Assessors, develop action plans and ensure these are agreed and supported by Managers; and Undertake sampling and Quality Assurance of Learner's portfolios as stipulated in the sampling Policy (section 8, Workplace Assessment Policy).

7 Assessor Monitor the standard of the Learner Support, encourage and motivate the Learners for whom they have responsibility;. Work with their Learners as stipulated in the Assessment strategy and associated guidance documents;. Undertake assessment activities as stipulated in the Assessment strategy and other relevant documents;. Ensure Learners' work is submitted for sampling and Quality Assurance as stipulated in the sampling Policy (section 8, Workplace Assessment Policy);. Attend, as necessary, Assessor standardisation meetings/activities;. Maintain effective communication with their Internal Quality Assurers; and Alert Internal Quality Assurers and the relevant Line Managers when problems in assessment occur.

8 Learner Produce evidence to satisfy the learning outcomes of their award Attend relevant training and development as identified in any assessment plan which is aligned to them;. Complete any training and development within any agreed time scale which has been stipulated in their development plan;. Work with their assigned Assessor;. Complete any written work as stipulated for their accredited award;. Keep both their Manager and their Assessor updated with the progress made towards their accredited award; and Inform their Assessor and/or Internal Quality Assurers of any problems with completing their accredited award.

9 4. Quality Assuring Assessments The aim of Quality Assurance is to ensure consistent and reliable assessment and to monitor the Quality of assessment and highlight any problems and development needs of Assessors. There are three strands to verifying assessment sampling Assessments Monitoring Assessment Practice Standardising Assessment Judgements The next sections will explain how these areas should be carried out. sampling Assessments sampling assessments should involve reviewing the Quality of the Assessors'. judgements at both formative and summative stages. It is imperative to ensure that the Internal Quality Assurance is not end loaded and that accurate records are maintained throughout the process with the Accredited Centre Manager being kept up to date with the progress of Learners through Assessment/Development Plans which need to be saved onto the G drive (as detailed above).

10 Verification must not be end loaded and sampling must occur throughout the process. Interim/Formative sampling (during the construction of a portfolio). The IQA must dip in to the assessment process undertaken with the candidate at different stages in the process. This could include: I. Observation of an assessment taking place or reviewing the candidate's work either before decisions have been made or after an assessment has taken place. This will entail checking the Assessment Development Plans given to the learner by their assessor and will allow the IQA to evaluate the Quality of formative guidance on assessment and how effective the assessment planning has been.