QPA Assessor Guide WELCOME TO THE QUALIFICATION IN PENSIONS ADMINISTRATION (QPA)

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1 WELCOME TO THE QUALIFICATION IN PENSIONS ADMINISTRATION (QPA) Author: Carol Smalley 1 of 5 29 March 2006

2 1 Introduction This pack provides you supporting documentation to help you as a QPA assessor. QPA is a Level 4 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) for administrators of occupational pension schemes. The level reflects the complex technical issues with which pension administrators have to deal. The Qualification enables candidates to demonstrate competence while working on money purchase (defined contribution) and salary related (defined benefit) schemes. The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) is the awarding body for the qualification. Candidates may be allowed some time during the working week to help them achieve the qualification. The Training and Development site on CHIP provides information about the standard approach to study time. Any additional time allowance must be agreed between the candidate and their line manager. However you must stress to the candidate that they must be prepared to dedicate their own time to complete most of their studies if they are going to complete the qualification successfully. 2 Assessment Process As a QPA Assessor will carry out assessments in line with the current A1 standards. You will be able to do this by ensuring that you: Agree assessment plans with your candidate; Carry out regular reviews of their progress against the plans; Carry out a final assessment; Make and retain a record of all the meetings and the feedback given to the candidate; Contribute to the internal quality assurance process through attendance at meetings, implementing any agreed changes to the assessment process and taking part in standardisation exercises. 3 The Qualification Structure The qualification contains eight units. All units are mandatory. Unit 1 Pension scheme - member administration Element 1.1 Process individual member details Element 1.2 Process individual member benefits Element 1.3 Provide information on request from a member (or member s representative) Author: Carol Smalley 2 of 5 29 March 2006

3 Unit 2 Pension scheme - scheme administration Element 2.1 Maintain scheme records using periodic updating processes Element 2.2 Provide periodical updated scheme information to relevant parties Element 2.3 Respond to enquiries (other than from members or members representatives) Unit 3 Pension scheme administration management Element 3.1 Prioritise and organise own work activities Element 3.2 Maintain a safe and secure working environment Element 3.3 Develop yourself and support colleagues Unit 4 Contribute to change in your workplace Element 4.1 Identify and recommend a potential improvement Element 4.2 Implement an essential change Unit 5 Determine pension scheme leavers benefits Element 5.1 Calculate leavers benefits for members Element 5.2 Quote leavers benefits to the member, sponsor or Unit 6 Determine pension scheme transfers in and transfers out Element 6.1 Calculate transfers in and transfers out Element 6.2 Quote transfer benefits to the member, sponsor or Unit 7 Determine pension scheme retirement benefits Element 7.1 Calculate retirement benefits for members Element 7.2 Quote retirement benefits to the member, sponsor or Unit 8 Determine pension scheme death benefits Element 8.1 Calculate death benefits for members Element 8.2 Quote death benefits to the beneficiary, sponsor or Each of the eight units is broken down as follows: A unit introduction describing what the unit covers and giving guidance for the assessor and candidates on type of evidence required. Each element of the unit identifies the criteria for assessing competence. A competent pension administrator must meet all of the performance criteria and scope requirements detailed in each element. The knowledge and understanding which the pension administrator must have in order to demonstrate competence in the each unit Author: Carol Smalley 3 of 5 29 March 2006

4 4 Work-based Unit Assessment Candidates will be allocated an assessor to work with and support them through the work-based units of the qualification. These are units 1, 2, 3 and 4 and are assessed in the workplace during the course of normal work. Before the candidate starts collecting evidence you will meet with them to complete an overall plan setting out the timetable for completing the whole of the qualification. You will also complete a detailed plan for each work-based unit detailing the evidence the candidate will need to collect and the assessment method. We have a standard approach for assessment plans and the evidence expected to be collected and included in candidate portfolios. 4.1 Assessment Methods You will be expected to use a variety of assessment methods to ensure your candidate covers all the performance criteria, scope and knowledge and understanding. The assessment methods you will use include: Analysis of work from natural performance. This is work that the candidate has produced as part of their day to day work activities. Normally it will be in paper format, e.g. copies of casework and will probably form the majority of their evidence and is therefore particularly valuable evidence; Observation of performance. Whilst this can be a reliable method of assessment, there is little opportunity to use this method within QPA but if it is used it needs to be unobtrusive; Simulation of performance. There may be tasks defined in the standards that happen very rarely. Therefore simulation can provide the necessary performance evidence; Projects or assignments. Candidates will need this activity for unit 4; Oral or written questioning. This is often used in conjunction with other assessment methods to check candidates knowledge and understanding and to fill gaps in their evidence, so you must make a written record of the Q&As for the candidate to include in their portfolio; Personal statements from the candidate or witness statements from others such as managers, colleagues or clients. These must relate to the units and usually supplement other evidence. Author: Carol Smalley 4 of 5 29 March 2006

5 5 The case study examinations Units 5, 6, 7 and 8 are assessed by centrally devised assessments, i.e. case study exams set and marked by the PMI. Candidates must demonstrate their competence to deal with money purchase (defined contribution) schemes and salary related (defined benefit) schemes and with schemes that are contracted in and contracted out. Exams are held twice a year in May and November and are usually held in the work place. You must ensure that suitable accommodation is available for the exams to be held. Because the case study examinations are intended to simulate the normal working environment, candidates are allowed to have with them any reference material that they need, i.e. they are open book exams. The exams assess the candidates ability to carry out manual calculations for members of three different pension schemes and to communicate with the member or client. The three pension schemes are examples of different types of scheme: OPQ Scheme is money purchase with the option to contract out; XYZ Scheme is final salary contracted out; RST Scheme is career average revalued earnings, not contracted out. Candidates are given several case studies to cover all three schemes and the range of member events defined in the units. They also have to write letters to members or clients explaining the benefits payable and requesting whatever information is required before the scheme can pay the benefits. The case study examinations for units 5, 7 & 8 are in two parts. Part 1 contains case studies where the member has the schemes core entitlements only. The case studies in Part 2 are for members who have the supplementary or discretionary benefits listed in the units. The key to success in these examined units is practice. Candidates can use past papers to help them understand the schemes and the type of questions set. Completing the past exams and comparing their answers with the actual answers will help them to identify areas in their knowledge they may need to work on. It is also advisable to take sample letters into the exam with them. This saves time and ensures that they don t miss any key areas of information that should be included. 6 Resources There is an on-line learning facility available for this unit which provides a complete learning process including practising on old examination papers. There is a facility for feedback and progress can be monitored. There is a demonstration of this facility on Author: Carol Smalley 5 of 5 29 March 2006