Our internal quality assurance (IQA) services are available for centres that are already registered with OFQUAL awarding bodies such as VTCT and Focus Awards or those who require guidance with the centre approval process. IQA visits ensure that assessment decisions are fair, consistent and in line with the awarding body requirements. A range of evidence from learner assessment is sampled at random and ideally, two or more visits should take place within each cohort of learners per qualification. IQA systems must monitor various aspects of assessing and teaching, from the beginning to the end of a learner’s journey including assessor performance.
Registered Centres
Centres that are registered with an awarding body require regular IQA visits prior to claiming a certificate. The learner evidence is sampled at random which includes practical and written assessments. The assessor performance is reviewed following which a discussion with the assessor takes place. An action plan or development plan may be recommended for the assessor or centre. Following the visit, the paperwork is provided to the centre which can be requested by the awarding body prior to issuing of certificates. This service incurs a charge of £35 per hour.
New Centres
The IQA service we offer provides new centres with paperwork to assist with the centre approval process. The includes IQA paperwork, centre policies and procedures, schemes of work (depending on qualifications) plus other evidence and documentation which assessors are required to keep. Although we offer guidance, support and advice to centres, which can include action plans, ultimately the centre approval lies with the awarding body. Prior to submitting an application to the awarding body we advise all centres to ensure they have assessors with the appropriate qualifications and experience in place. The requirements of the awarding bodies can vary and be subject to change, therefore the IQA support we provide is not a guarantee that centres will be registered. Following an initial centre approval visit, the awarding bodies can issue an action plan and make recommendations to the centre prior to centre approval. On some occasions these action plans may have a deadline, which if expired leads to additional fees being payable to the awarding body. It is the responsibility of the centre to ensure the actions from the plan are addressed and evidence is provided to the awarding body, not the IQA. It is also the responsibility of the centre to have staff and all documentation available for the IQA during the quality assurance visit. There is a set charge for new centre approvals. The cost of this service is between £650-£750.
The £650 option includes – meeting with staff (Head of Centre, Assessors &/or IQA’s), IQA paperwork, copy of policies & procedures and scheme of work.
The £750 option includes – meeting with staff (Head of Centre, Assessors &/or IQA’s), IQA paperwork, copy of policies & procedures, scheme of work and assessor paperwork.
For new centres invoices will be sent in advance with 50% payable to confirm the date and the remaining 50% payable on the date of the visit. Travel charges are payable 7 days prior to the centre site visit.
General Terms
All awarding bodies require centres to have a named IQA in place. As part of the service we provide, centres will receive a copy of the IQA’s CV and certificate. For new centres who are going through approval we provide template policies, procedures and documentation which can be amended to suit the centre requirements.
Travel charges of 0.75p per mile apply for centre visits, remote visits can be arranged which do not incur travel charges.
For centres that fall outside of a 15 mile radius from the LU2 postcode area, a minimum of 2 hours IQA will be billed.
For centres that fall outside of a 35 mile radius from the LU2 postcode area, a minimum of hours IQA will be billed.
Please note that we do not currently provide learning or assessment materials which include manuals, PowerPoint presentations or workbooks.
Cancellation
Once the invoice has been paid, centres are deemed to have entered a contract with SkinAstute Limited (SA).
You have the right to cancel this contract with us. The cancellation period will expire at the end of 14 days or the date of the visit (whichever falls sooner). The cancellation period expires if paperwork including any documentation produced by SA has been forwarded to the centre for visits taking place within 14 days.
After the cancellation period has expired consideration may be given, on a case by case basis, to requests to cancel where exceptional circumstances exist. A refund may be given, with a deduction of 50% administration fee for any refunds made outside of the 14-day cancellation period. Centres must be aware at the time of booking, that after the 14-day cancellation period, there is no automatic right to cancel.