Training | PPC91 May 2018
In May 2015 a group of 14 companies, large and small, approached BPCA for help in gathering a Trailblazer group together to create an apprenticeship for pest control technicians. Three years on, Karen Dawes, BPCA Training Development Manager, wraps up where we came from, and where we’re at.
With the help of BPCA the Trailblazer group created a standard designed to operate as a professional standard for people working as pest control technicians at Level 2 across the sector. In September 2017 that standard was approved and published.
The group subsequently went on to develop the end point assessment plan which puts together a framework for the consistent assessment of apprentices upon completion of their apprenticeship training. In January 2018 this assessment plan was approved by the Institute of Apprenticeships and is expected to be published in the coming weeks.
Ahead of publication this article looks at the standard for the Level 2 Pest Control Technician Apprenticeship and gives an overview of how apprentices will be assessed.
Entry level apprentices will typically have achieved a minimum of four GCSEs, grade C or above (or equivalent) including Maths and English. Apprentices recruited without the minimum will need to study functional skills outside of the apprenticeship programme and be required to have achieved Level 1 English and Maths and to have taken the test for Level 2 before undertaking their end-point assessment.
The duration of the apprenticeship is a minimum of 12 months, during which time the apprentice will undertake a structured programme of learning that will include:
- Practical, work-based learning supplemented by training to fill skill gaps
- Development of a portfolio of evidence
- Regular assessment reviews.
Pest management knowledge, skills and behaviours
KNOWLEDGE
What do I need to KNOW
|
Organisational knowledge |
| Environmental / H&S impacts |
| Legislation |
| Communication |
| Customer service |
| Technology |
| Food safety |
| Pest management and control |
SKILLS
What do I need to DO
|
Pest management and control |
| Interpersonal skills |
| Decision-making |
BEHAVIOURS
What do I need to SHOW
|
Self-management |
| Professionalism |
| The focus of the training will be around the development of the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours to ensure competence as well as a qualification. |
Apprenticeship Assessment
Assessment of the apprenticeship will be undertaken by independent assessment organisations who are registered on the ESFA’s Register of End Point Assessment Approved Organisations (RoEPAO) and will be carried out over a one-day period and will include three stand-alone modules.
Grading for all modules will fall into three categories: fail (59 or less), pass (60 to 84) and distinction (85 and above).
Assessment modules
| METHOD | COVERAGE | WEIGHTING |
|---|
| Knowledge test |
Technical knowledge |
20% |
| Practical assessment |
Overview of applied practical techniques |
40% |
| Professional discussion |
Competencies and behavious overview |
40% |
Knowledge Test
The test will cover knowledge elements detailed in the pest management knowledge, skills and behaviours table and will focus on core technical skills. The test will consist of:
- A total of 40 multiple choice questions taken under examination conditions in a controlled environment
- A mix of traditional and scenario-based questions. Each multiple choice question will have four response options with one correct option.
Practical Assessment
An observation of practical skills in which the apprentice will demonstrate their skills, behaviours and underlying knowledge required by the Standard. The assessment will take the form of a real-life site survey requiring the apprentice to:
- Prepare for work including undertaking any relevant risk assessment, method statements, manufacturers product requirement checks, selection of equipment for the task to include any pre-use checks
- Apply safe working techniques to prepare and handle any pest control products and equipment
- Carry out pest control tasks ensuring that tasks are completed to specification, comply with regulation and legislation and maintain safety standards.
Professional Discussion
This will take the form of a professional discussion based on the evidence provided in the portfolio review to:
- Confirm knowledge, skills and behaviours using the apprentice’s portfolio of evidence as a basis for the discussion
- Assess the apprentice’s ability to use a range of approaches to uncover causes of problems (root cause analysis)
- Test the apprentice on their level of structured problem solving and decision making, level of professionalism and customer service skills, self-management and risk perception.
Portfolio of Evidence
The portfolio will be used to inform questioning during the professional discussion. In the portfolio, the apprentice will document evidence collected from written work, small projects, progress review information and workplace observations. Examples include:
- Site survey reports
- Progress reports
- Site survey photographs or videos
- Customer references, feedback letters or emails
- Supervisor assessment documents.
Completion
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, the individual will be recognised as competent to perform in the role of a pest control technician across the sector, and BPCA will recognise the qualification as meeting membership criteria.
For further details please contact the BPCA Training Development Manager, Karen Dawes at karen@bpca.org.uk
ENQUIRIES AND BOOKINGS
bpca.org.uk/training
training@bpca.org.uk
01332 225 113
Karen Dawes
Training Development Manager
May 2018 | PPC91
Source: PPC91