Focus On’s assessors visit their candidates in the workplace, but away from their workstation. These appointments take place 1:1 for 1.5 hours every 3 weeks within normal working hours. All work that is planned and agreed with the candidates is carried out by them in their own time. They assess evidence presented by the learner that aims to prove their competence in their job role. They sometimes carry out observations of the learner’s performance whilst they are doing their jobs and they give them feedback relating to both the performance and the work evidence presented.

An Internal Verifier will visit approximately every 3 months to work with the assessor and observe them working with their candidates.  They will also carry out confidential interviews with candidates on a 1:1 basis for 10 minutes after their appointment to ensure the learner is comfortable with the process, is getting on with their assessor and knows where they are in their qualification at that time.

Approximately twice a year, an External Verifier (from the Awarding Body e.g. OCR) will visit to sample portfolios to ensure they are of the right quality and will also interview candidates on a 1:1 basis to check on their experience to date.  The internal and external verification processes are part of the quality assurance of the programme.