Learning and Skills Mentor Level 4 Apprenticeship

This occupation is found in the public, private and voluntary sectors in national and multinational organisations. The role of the learning and skills mentor can be found in all sectors where training and development is required. For example, but not limited to, healthcare, military, manufacturing, production, business and professional, education, leisure, construction, creative, technology.

The purpose of the learning and skills mentor occupation is to support individuals and groups with their learning and development towards agreed goals. They will do this by working within ethical and legal frameworks to ensure a high standard of mentoring practice. They will work collaboratively with stakeholders to inclusively meet the individual needs of the mentee. They will be committed to their own professional development and reflective practice as a mentor and within their sector.

They will typically work in an environment in their organisation where they are the knowledgeable other. They will work in a variety of locations and environments where mentoring activity may be undertaken face to face or remotely.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation may interact with other professionals at any level of seniority in the organisation and the sector, such as: supervisors, managers, trainees, other experienced practitioners and where necessary, internal/external professionals to support meeting the individual mentee needs.

The learning and skills mentor will be responsible for the mentor relationship with the mentee working within ethical and legal frameworks and organisational boundaries to support the progression of the mentee. They may work with a wide range of stakeholders to support the progression of the mentee and ensure best practice is developed and maintained. The mentor may be responsible for completing their own work to specification, with minimal supervision, ensuring they meet set deadlines.

Typical job titles include: Academic, Learning, Occupational, Vocational, Technical or Training Mentor.

A Learning and Skills Mentor must know and understand:

• The roles and responsibilities of a mentor, understanding the organisational and professional boundaries, legal and ethical requirements, including safeguarding
• How to establish and manage a mentoring contract
• How to plan for mentoring sessions and review and revise action plans
• Mentoring theory and models, including maintaining good practice and protocols within the mentoring relationship
• Organisational and legal requirements for recording, storing and sharing personal information
• Strategies to assess starting points of the mentee, including potential barriers to development
• Methods of communication to maintain the mentoring relationship and review progress towards agreed outcomes
• Questioning and listening techniques
• Methods for providing feedback to inform progression
• The impact of their own values, beliefs and behaviours on mentoring practice
• How to provide accurate and relevant vocational/pastoral advice and guidance to meet mentee needs, including points of referral to other professional services
• Theories and models of evaluation and reflection
• Approaches to sustainable mentoring practice
• Opportunities for continuing professional development
• The role of supervision in supporting the mentor
• Evidence-based practice informed by own research

A Learning and Skills Mentor must be able to:

The End Point Assessment (EPA) will only commence once the Employer, Apprentice and Smart Training Advisor are confident that the apprentice has developed all the knowledge, skills and behaviours defined in the apprenticeship standard and that these are evidenced through the progress review meetings and records. The independent end-point assessment ensures that all Apprentices consistently achieve the industry-set professional standard. The EPA can commence once the apprentice is competent and after the twelve-month minimum period of learning and development. Before independent end-point assessment, the apprenticeship’s functional skills in English and maths components must be successfully completed.

Observation with questions

You will be observed by an independent assessor completing your work. It will last at least 2 hours. They will ask you at least 5 questions.

Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence

You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 8 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a portfolio of evidence before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.

The EPAO will confirm where and when each assessment method will take place.