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About the course

The Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice was introduced when the old V1 course was withdrawn. This course will enable you to become a qualified NVQ Internal Verifier or Quality Assurer. The qualification also acknowledges you are a qualified lead Verifier, leading a team, which can be other verifiers, assessors, and other practitioners. The course enables you to moderate any courses you are occupationally competent in.

You are usually expected to complete this course within 3 to 15 weeks depending on your enrolment. The course has a 115 hours guided learning requirement and a total qualification time of 170 hours.

Why carry out Quality Assurance?

The internal quality assurance process is at the heart of the auditing system. If you are externally audited by awarding bodies or organisations providing funding this is where you ensure the terms of your registration or contract are maintained. Whenever an external body comes to audit your processes they are checking if you remain compliant.

Internal quality assurance also upholds and defends the integrity of qualifications. If internal quality assurance did not take place it would be possible for standards to fall as assessors could be working at different standards. There will also be the potential of abuse, which might result in candidates who are unsuitable or not competent achieving qualifications. The quality assurance process tries to bring credibility by auditing the learning and assessment process.

Whenever there is an effective quality assurance system in place areas that require improvement will easily be identified and addressed which might end up resulting in your candidates having a good learning experience. A good learning experience might mean that they feel comfortable passing your details by word of mouth, which also results in good business.

This essential part of the quality cycle should therefore not be taken or viewed as a tick box exercise. Awarding bodies will also reward your efforts by awarding Direct Claims Status. If you are also regulated by Ofsted they will also give you a good rating which has a big influence on the status of your organisation.

The role of a quality assurer

Quality Assurers are the gatekeepers when it comes to certification of qualifications. They ensure that good practice has taken place such as learners being treated fairly. This involves supporting assessors and other staff, ensuring there are adequate resources. They are also responsible for ensuring compliance and putting systems in place to work in line with regulatory requirements such as legislation, policies, procedures and the condition of registration with awarding bodies.

Quality Assurers are also tasked with having the skill base, which will help them to embrace assessment techniques, theories, principles and characteristics which will assist them to inspire a good safe working environment. They should be able to use both formal and informal methods which include being the link between the awarding body and your organisation. Quality assures might also find themselves as a point of reference when it comes to appeals and complaints.

Lead Quality Assurers are expected to have additional leadership and management skills where you are expected to demonstrate leading a team in order to achieve the third unit. To fully achieve the unit, you are expected to demonstrate leading your team while managing a project. There should be a clear action plan which you should devise, monitor and adjust when necessary. Evidence of clear communication with your team will be expected as part of your evidence.