ST1419 Level 7 Community Nurse Specialist Practitioner (NMC 2022) Assessment Plan V1.0

(Date updated: 20/09/2023)

Apprenticeship standard number: ST1419
Level of this end-point assessment (EPA): 7
Integrated: Statutory integrated

Click on the below sections to access the End-point assessment plan for Community nurse specialist practitioner (NMC 2022) apprenticeship standard.

Introduction and overview
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) regulates all registered nurses including community nurse specialist practitioners. The NMC sets the standards of proficiency for community nursing specialist practice (NMC 2022) against which the specialist practice qualifications are approved. These standards support the achievement of the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. The apprenticeship standard and the delivery of the apprentices training must be aligned to all relevant NMC standards to ensure that apprentices are able to record the qualification against their entry on the NMC register. It is against the law for anyone to work as a registered nurse if they are not registered with the NMC. For those working as community nurse specialist practitioners, they must be registered and are required to act within their scope of practice. They can demonstrate that they have knowledge, skills and experiences by meeting the requirements of the NMC approved programme for community nurse specialist practitioners. The end-point assessment (EPA) assesses whether apprentices have also passed the apprenticeship, and is based on the same professional knowledge, skills and behaviours as the occupational standard.

This document sets out the requirements for EPA for the community nurse specialist practitioners statutory integrated apprenticeship standard. It is for the end-point assessment organisations (EPAO), that must be an NMC Approved Education Institution (AEI), who need to know how EPA for this apprenticeship must operate. It will also be of interest to apprentices and their employers.

Apprentices will typically spend 24 months on-programme working towards the occupational standard.

The EPA period should only start, and the EPA be arranged, once the employer and NMC Approved Education Institution (AEI) are satisfied that the apprentice is consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard and all of the pre-requisite gateway requirements for EPA have been met. It is expected that the gateway will be reached on completion of the final qualification module and before the AEI’s examination board.

The apprentice must have achieved English and maths qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.

The EPA period is expected to last a maximum of 1 month beginning when the apprentice has passed the EPA gateway.

The EPA will determine the overall apprenticeship standard and grades of:
- fail
- pass
This apprenticeship has a statutory integrated EPA. The EPA will use the assessment arrangements in use for other entry routes into this occupation and will be completed simultaneously, as outlined in this end-point assessment plan. Alignment of the integrated EPA is permitted because the following criteria are met:
1. Parliament has prescribed that the occupation (profession) must be regulated and a statutory regulator has undisputed control of access to the occupation.
2. The statutory integrated EPA meets the requirements of an apprenticeship.

EPA Summary Table

On-programme (typically 24 months)	Training to develop the occupation standards knowledge, skills and behaviours (aligned to the NMC standards of proficiency for community nursing specialist practice qualifications (2022)
End-point assessment gateway	Apprentice has met the knowledge, skills and behaviours Employer and NMC Approved Education Institution (AEI) are satisfied the apprentice has consistently demonstrated they meet the KSBs of the occupational standard The apprentice must have achieved English and maths qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules. Achieved all required modules, taking into account any recognition of prior learning (RPL) of the following approved qualification: NMC approved community nurse specialist practice qualification at level 7 but before the training provider’s examination board Practice Assessment Document (PAD) completed and signed-off by their practice and academic assessor.
End-point assessment (which would typically take place within 1 month)	The EPA starts with the examination board and finishes when the AEI makes the required declarations to the NMC. The apprentice is not required to carry out any additional assessments Consideration by the examination board and notice of the decision of the examination board
Professional recognition	Record achievement of the community nurse specialist practitioner qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Gateway
The EPA period should only start once the employer and the NMC Approved Education Institution are satisfied that the apprentice is consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard.

The EPA starts with exam board and finishes when the AEI:
- uploads the apprentice’s course and personal details to the NMC database
- sends the NMC a declaration of the apprentice’s good health and character
The apprentice must have completed the following gateway requirements prior to beginning their EPA:
- The apprentice must have achieved English and maths qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.
Apprentices must complete all required modules, taking into account any recognised prior learning (RPL) of the following approved qualifications as mandated in the occupational standard:
- NMC approved community nurse specialist practice qualification at level 7
The apprentice will also have successfully completed a Practice Assessment Document (PAD) and this will have been signed-off by their practice and academic assessor.
EPA
The EPA is:

Examination board

The examination board will be constituted in line with the NMC Approved Education Institution’s academic assessment regulations and must have an external examiner present when considering achievement of the NMC approved qualification.

Independence of the EPA will be assured through:
- the examination board, which will include the external examiner, being responsible for the final decision on the award of the qualification that confirms the apprentice has met the education outcomes required to record the qualification with the NMC.
- the end-point assessment organisation (NMC Approved Education Institution) will conduct the EPA.

Grading

Name of grade	Grade descriptor
Pass	Has met the NMC Standards of proficiency for community nursing specialist practice qualifications (2022)
Fail	Does not meet the NMC Standards of proficiency for community nursing specialist practice qualifications (2022)

Roles and responsibilities

Role	Responsibility
Apprentice	As a minimum, the apprentice should: complete the constituent parts of the programme successfully meet all apprenticeship gateway requirements understand the structure and requirements of the apprenticeship
Employer	As a minimum, the employer should: support the apprentice to achieve the KSBs outlined in the occupational standard determine when the apprentice is working at or above the level of occupational competence outlined in the occupational standard and has met all apprenticeship gateway requirements, taking account of the advice of the NMC Approved Education Institution
The EPAO (NMC Approved Education Institution)	As a minimum the EPAO (NMC Approved Education Institution) should: be an NMC Approved Education Institution for the Community nurse specialist practitioner apprenticeship be on the Register of end-point assessment organisations (RoEPAO) work with the employer to ensure that the apprentice is given opportunities to develop the KSBs outlined in the occupational standard and monitor their progress during the on-programme period confirm to the employer that gateway requirements have been met appoint an external examiner use appropriate recording documentation to ensure a clear and auditable mechanism for recording the decision of the examination board maintain robust internal quality assurance (IQA) procedures and processes, and conduct these on a regular basis submit required documentation to the NMC conform to the requirements of the nominated external quality assurance body conduct standardisation events and activities in accordance with NMC and external quality assurance (EQA) provider’s requirements have, and operate, an appeals process arrange for apprenticeship certification
External examiner/ Independent Assessor	There will be one individual with the following responsibilities: External Examiner in line with QAA Guidance on External Examiners/ Expertise for HE programmes Independent Assessor who as a minimum should: understand the occupational standard and end-point assessment plan be a Registered nurse with the appropriate specialist practice qualification comply to the requirements of the EPAO (NMC Approved Education Institution) be independent of the apprentice, and the employing organisation who are involved in delivering the apprenticeship not have been involved in the teaching or on-programme assessment of the apprentice other than in their role under point 1 above 3. External Examiner for the End Point Assessment who will carry out required activities on behalf of the EQA provider

Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)
Internal quality assurance refers to the requirements that EPAO’s must have in place to ensure consistent (reliable) and accurate (valid) assessment decisions. EPAO’s for this EPA must:
- appoint external examiners who:
  - meet QAA Guidance on External Examiners/ Expertise for HE programmes
  - meet the EQA provider’s recommendations for external examiners
  - meet the Approved Education Institution’s requirements as set out in their ‘Assessment, Progression and Awarding’ or similar guidance
Re-sits and re-takes

In line with the EPAO’s (NMC Approved Education Institution) procedures.
Professional body recognition

This standard aligns with the Nursing and Midwifery Council for Level 1 Registered Nurse.
Reasonable adjustments

The EPAO (NMC Approved Education Institution) must have in place clear and fair arrangements for making reasonable adjustments for this apprenticeship standard. This should include how an apprentice qualifies for reasonable adjustments and what reasonable adjustments will be made. The adjustments must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the assessment decisions outlined in this EPA plan.