Apprenticeship IQA (Residential Childcare)

Job Title: Apprenticeship IQA - CANDIDATES WILL NEED A RECOGNISED QUALIFICATION WITHIN RESIDENTIAL CHILDCARE Salary: £32,000–£34,000, depending on experience Location: Hybrid working, with travel to settings as required (Full driving licence and ongoing access to a car) Purpose of the role: As a Quality Assurance Officer (QAO), you will ensure learners and apprentices receive high-quality training, assessment and support. Through sampling, audits, observations, standardisation and learner and employer feedback, you will help coaches and tutors improve their practice and ensure learners make meaningful progress. The Quality Assurance Officer’s work will align with Ofsted’s renewed education inspection framework and focus on the impact of training, continuous improvement and positive learner outcomes.

Key responsibilities

1. Quality assurance and sampling

• Maintain risk-based sampling plans for qualifications and apprenticeship standards.
• Sample learner work, reviewing assessment decisions, feedback, evidence quality, referencing and the appropriate use of AI.
• Ensure sampling referrals are resolved and accurately recorded.
• Check learner progress, skills scans, off-the-job training hours, English and maths, KSBs and gateway readiness.

1. Audits and compliance

• Complete five-week audits for new starters, checking training plans, initial assessments, support needs and progress reviews.
• Conduct deep dives into at-risk learners, agreeing recovery plans with coaches.
• Monitor off-the-job training hours and additional learning support.
• Check progress reviews, careers guidance, safeguarding, Prevent, EDI, British values and sustainability.
• Ensure appropriate risk assessments and parental questionnaires are completed for learners aged 16–18.

1. Teaching, learning and assessment

• Plan and complete observations of teaching, learning and assessment (OTLAs), providing reports and developmental feedback within five working days.
• Evaluate curriculum delivery, learner progress, retention of knowledge and adaptations for additional needs.
• Conduct learning walks to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

1. Standardisation and staff development

• Deliver at least one standardisation session per standard or group of standards each month.
• Participate in quarterly moderation to ensure consistent assessment and quality assurance decisions.
• Provide constructive feedback, agree development actions and monitor coaches’ and tutors’ CPD.
• Support the review of learning resources, curriculum development and the development of trainee assessors and internal quality assurers.

1. Learner and employer engagement

• Conduct monthly learner and employer feedback calls covering progress, support, wellbeing, safeguarding and satisfaction.
• Record feedback, actions and outcomes using a “you said, we did” approach. Your work will support the key inspection areas of:
• Inclusion: Identifying barriers and ensuring appropriate support.
• Curriculum and teaching: Evaluating teaching, assessment and curriculum delivery.
• Achievement: Monitoring progress, qualifications and apprenticeship completion.
• Participation and development: Reviewing engagement, attendance and preparation for next steps.
• Leadership and governance: Providing accurate reports and ensuring improvement actions are completed.
• Safeguarding: Checking safeguarding arrangements and promptly escalating concerns. Qualifications and experience: Essential
• Level 4 Internal Quality Assurance qualification. Level 3 Assessor qualification, such as CAVA. Level 2 English and maths, or equivalent.
• At least three years’ experience delivering and quality assuring apprenticeships or related qualifications.
• Proven experience quality assuring accredited qualifications within your sector.
• Current safeguarding and Prevent training, or willingness to complete it.

Desirable

Level 3 teaching qualification, such as the Award in Education and Training. Additional requirements:

• Eligibility to live and work in the UK.
• Satisfactory DBS check and two verified written references before employment commences. Paul Feldman is the National Skills Agency Data Protection Officer. Your data will be stored until notice is given by you for it to be removed. Our Data Protection Policy will be forwarded to you on request. As we get a high number of applications we may be unable to give feedback to unsuccessful candidates. We will retain your details to keep you informed of other opportunities. National Skills Agency Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy and is an Equal Opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all backgrounds