Senior Healthcare Support Worker (Adult Nursing Support) (Level 3)

Location: London, GBR
Req ID: EPA/SHSW-ANS

About the Role

Pearson is seeking an Independent End-Point Assessor (IEA) for the Senior Healthcare Support Worker (Adult Nursing Support) Level 3 apprenticeship standard.

This is a specialist opportunity for experienced healthcare professionals who want to use their clinical knowledge and assessment expertise to evaluate whether apprentices have met the required occupational standard at the end of their apprenticeship journey.

The role involves conducting independent end-point assessments (EPA) either onsite or remotely, based on arrangements agreed with employers, and making fair, evidence-based grading decisions in line with Pearson’s quality and regulatory standards.

About Pearson

Pearson is one of the world’s leading learning companies, employing 35,000 people across more than 70 countries.

The company is focused on helping learners of all ages make measurable progress through education and skills development. Within apprenticeships, Pearson places the apprentice at the center of the learning journey and is committed to ensuring that end-point assessments are rigorous, fair, consistent, and aligned with employer expectations.

Pearson’s goal is to give employers confidence that successful apprenticeship completion means an individual is truly job-ready and fully competent in their occupation.

Overview of the Independent End-Point Assessor Role

The UK government requires all apprenticeships to include an end-point assessment (EPA). This is a final, holistic assessment of the apprentice’s Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs) gained throughout the programme.

The purpose of the EPA is to confirm that the apprentice has achieved the occupational standard expected by employers and is competent to perform in the role.

What “Independent” Means

An Independent End-Point Assessor (IEA) must have no conflict of interest in the outcome of the assessment.

This means the assessor must:

• Be independent from the apprentice’s training provider
• Have had no involvement in:
  • On-programme training
  • On-programme assessment
  • Line management of the apprentice
• Have nothing to gain from the apprentice’s final result

This independence is essential to maintaining fairness, objectivity, and credibility in the apprenticeship process.

How the Assessments Are Conducted

Pearson’s end-point assessments may take place:

• Onsite at employer locations
• Remotely, where appropriate

Assessment dates are arranged with employers, and assessors are responsible for:

• Conducting the assessment in line with Pearson procedures
• Recording outcomes accurately
• Submitting results and grading decisions
• Providing clear written justifications for grades awarded

All EPA activity is subject to quality assurance by Pearson’s quality assurance representatives.

Key Accountabilities

As an Independent End-Point Assessor, you will be expected to carry out the following responsibilities:

• Take part in regular training and standardisation activities
• Maintain and provide evidence of relevant, ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
• Assess apprentice performance in line with:
  • Published assessment criteria
  • Grading criteria
  • Pearson procedures
• Follow all protocols outlined in:
  • Pearson specifications
  • Assessment materials
  • Quality assurance processes
• Meet service-level expectations for:
  • EPA planning
  • Operational activity responses
  • Reporting
  • Outcome submissions
• Report all risks and issues encountered during EPA activity, including:
  • Suspected malpractice
  • Suspected maladministration
• Ensure all EPA reports and evidence are:
  • High quality
  • Accurate
  • Properly recorded
• Support Pearson, where needed, in handling:
  • Apprentice appeals related to assessment decisions
• Build in additional time for travel when arranging face-to-face EPAs
• Declare any conflicts of interest
• Complete all required personal actions requested by Pearson
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Pearson’s EPA processes
• Support external quality assurance activities, including those undertaken by Ofqual

Occupational Profile – Senior Healthcare Support Worker (Adult Nursing Support)

Senior Healthcare Support Workers (SHCSWs) support registered practitioners in delivering healthcare services to patients.

They carry out a combination of:

• Clinical tasks
• Non-clinical tasks
• Therapeutic support activities

…under the direct or indirect supervision of a registered healthcare practitioner.

These professionals work across a wide range of settings, including:

• Hospitals
• Community healthcare services
• Day case units
• Birth centres / midwifery-led units
• People’s homes
• Operating theatres
• Nursing homes
• Care homes
• Assessment centres
• Hospices
• Schools
• Prisons
• GP surgeries
• Charities
• Voluntary organisations

They are expected to deliver:

• Compassionate care
• High-quality support
• Safe practice
• Work within protocols, standards, and scope of competence

They may also:

• Use professional judgment within delegated responsibilities
• Review the effectiveness of their actions
• Act as role models
• Support or guide less experienced team members

They are expected to follow the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers.

Adult Nursing Support Specialism

This specific EPA role focuses on the Adult Nursing Support pathway.

Senior adult nursing support workers care for adults across a wide variety of settings, and their duties can vary significantly depending on the environment and the needs of the patient.

In most cases, their supervising professional will be a registered nurse.

Types of Patient Needs They May Support

They may care for people with:

• Short-term needs (e.g. injury recovery)
• Long-term conditions such as:
  • Asthma
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Heart disease
  • Dementia
  • Depression
  • Stroke
  • Arthritis

Many patients may have multiple conditions at the same time, requiring more complex and holistic support.

Some individuals may require:

• 24-hour care
• Full support with personal care
• Feeding assistance
• Washing and toileting support
• Clinical monitoring such as:
  • Blood pressure checks
  • Pulse checks
  • Wound care and dressing support

This means assessors must have a strong understanding of the real-world responsibilities and competencies expected in this pathway.

Essential Background & Experience

To be considered, applicants must meet the following essential requirements:

Occupational Competence

• Be occupationally competent in the adult nursing support field

Professional Registration / Qualification

• Be a registered healthcare professional
• OR have completed:
  • A Level 5 apprenticeship
  • Or a regulated occupational competence qualification at Level 5 or above

Assessor Qualification

• Hold, or be actively working toward, a formal assessor qualification such as:
  • A1
  • TAQA assessor component
  • Or equivalent

Recent Healthcare Experience

• Have worked in a healthcare setting within the last 2 years

Assessment / Interview Experience

• Experience leading:
  • Meetings
  • Structured interviews
  • Professional discussions

Quality & Compliance Experience

• Experience complying with:
  • Quality assurance requirements
  • Regulatory requirements

CPD Commitment

• Evidence of ongoing commitment to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) aligned to:
  • New apprenticeship requirements
  • EPA specialism(s)
  • Recent occupational practice

NMC Registration

• Hold a current NMC PIN number

Travel Requirement

• Be willing to travel to employer sites for face-to-face practical assessments

Availability

• Be available for a minimum of two working days during the week for EPA duties

DBS Requirement

• Hold an Enhanced DBS certificate
• The DBS must be:
  • With or without barred list check
  • Registered on the DBS Update Service

Pearson notes that additional supporting documents will be required, and their Associate Recruitment team will contact applicants after application submission to request the necessary DBS evidence and related documentation.

Essential Additional Requirement

• Only UK-based candidates will be considered due to the requirements of the role

Desirable Experience

While not mandatory, the following would strengthen your application:

• Hold, or be working toward, an Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) qualification
• Experience making grading judgments
• Current DBS already active on the yearly update service
• Knowledge of:
  • Prevent
  • Safeguarding

Essential Skills & Knowledge

Applicants should also demonstrate the following core capabilities:

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication
• Ability to manage and respond effectively to conflict
• Ability to understand and adapt to the needs of:
  • Employers
  • Apprentices
• Strong and relevant technical knowledge of:
  • The healthcare sector
  • The Senior Adult Nursing Support Worker role
• In-depth understanding of:
  • The apprenticeship standard
  • The assessment plan
  • Pearson’s specification
  • Assessment instruments
  • Recording tools
• Ability to assess fairly and without bias
• Ability to identify and report risks
• Strong time management and ability to meet deadlines

Other Requirements

Anyone undertaking this role will also need to have:

• Personal IT equipment capable of running Pearson-required software
• A suitable broadband connection
• A microphone
• Headphones
• A webcam
• A personal and secure email account
• A postal address in one of the following:
  • United Kingdom
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Guernsey
  • Jersey
  • Isle of Man
• The right to work in the UK
• Willingness to allow additional travel time when arranging EPA activities

Application Information

Pearson notes that it has multiple opportunities available for teaching and assessment professionals to join its expanding teams across areas such as:

• Examiners
• Moderators
• Verifiers

This role is part of that wider growth and is particularly suited to healthcare professionals with strong assessment capability and recent occupational experience in adult nursing support environments.

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