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Level 5 Improvement Specialist

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Level 5 Improvement Specialist

Level 5 Improvement Specialist

Improvement Specialists are responsible for leading the deployment of improvement strategy, for training others and for providing broad and deep technical expertise in advanced and complex Lean and Six Sigma, Project and Change Management principles and tools to enable identification and delivery of improvement opportunities aligned to key business goals.

Improvement Specialists typically report to Improvement Leaders who develop the improvement strategy and governance processes, and who provide technical guidance on advanced analysis. Improvement Specialists manage (directly and/or matrix) Improvement Practitioners who lead smaller improvement projects aligned to the improvement strategy. A typical ratio of Improvement Specialists to Improvement Practitioners in an organisation could be 1:10. In comparison with the work of an Improvement Practitioner, Improvement Specialists draw on their advanced knowledge and skills in applying Improvement principles and tools across a range of programmes/ projects/areas to build the capability of others. They also swiftly visualise processes, problems and opportunities and use both graphical and statistical analysis to deliver improvements.

They work closely with other Improvement Specialists to support the delivery of improvement strategy, working on multiple simultaneous projects linked to key business objectives, identifying and engaging both subject matter experts and key stakeholders. Their work generally requires them to interact with others but typically involves a high-degree of autonomy.

Teaching

Having completed a minimum of 8 months on programme training and completed the required amount of off-the-job hours specified by the apprenticeship funding rules, the apprentice will undertake a Professional discussion and Examination based on mini case Studies.

01. Application

Once the Employer has decided to use the Academy4PM for the EPA of their learner, the Employer will be required to complete and submit the Academy4PM EPA Application Form which activates the EPA process and initiates EPA for the Apprentice.
02. Submission

At Gateway, this EPA requires the submission of a portfolio of evidence by the Apprentice in electronic form to the EPAO.
03. Review

The assessor panel, once selected and any identified conflicts of interest have been resolved, will review the submitted documentation in preparation for the Scenario Test with Questioning and Professional Discussion.

04. Panel

The assessment will be led by an Academy4PM assessor who will act as independent assessor and may include representatives from the employer or learning provider free of any direct conflict of interest. The assessor panel will contain members who have:
- Hold or be working towards an assessor qualification, for example CAVA (Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement) or A1 and have had training from their EPAO in terms of good assessment practice, operating the assessment tools and grading.
- Be qualified at level 6 or above in an improvement discipline (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.) and have recent (within last 5 years) experience working in improvement, or be approved by the EPAO as meeting this requirement through demonstrable knowledge and experience and currently working in the improvement sector.
The Academy4PM will have the final decision on grading.
05. Assessment

The EPA will assess the full range of knowledge, skills and behaviours listed in the published Standard utilising the following:
- Scenario Test with Questioning lasting 2 hours.
- Professional discussion lasting 4 hours.
The above is an opportunity for the apprentice to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and behaviours required in their day-to-day work.

Final Outcome

Once the lead Assessor has concluded the Apprentices Professional Discussion and Examination , the Assessor Panel will review and finalise their marks and provide the Academy4PM with an overall grading recommendation. Both assessment methods are weighted equally in their contribution to final EPA grade.

Grading Matrix

Professional discussion, underpinned by portfolio of evidence	Examination, based on mini case-studies	Overall grade to be awarded
Fail	Any	Fail
Any	Fail	Fail
Pass	Pass	Pass
Pass	Merit	Pass
Pass	Distinction	Merit
Merit	Pass	Pass
Merit	Merit	Merit
Distinction	Pass	Merit
Distinction	Merit	Merit
Merit	Distinction	Merit
Distinction	Distinction	Distinction

Re-Assessment

Apprentices who fail one or more EPA method will be offered the opportunity to take a re sit/retake. Re-sits/re-takes must not be offered to apprentices wishing to move from pass to merit or distinction or from merit to distinction. A re-sit does not require further learning, whereas a re-take does.

The apprentice’s employer will need to agree that a re-sit/re-take is an appropriate course of action. Apprentices should have a supportive action plan to prepare for the re-sit/re-take.

The timescales for a resit/retake is agreed between the employer and EPAO. A resit is typically taken within three months of the EPA outcome notification. The timescale for a retake is dependent on how much re-training is required and is typically taken within 6 months of the EPA outcome notification.

The maximum grade awarded to a re-sit/re-take will be pass, unless the EPAO identifies exceptional circumstances accounting for the original fail.

EPAOs must ensure that apprentices complete a different examination when taking a re-sit/re take.

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