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Summary

Role Profile
Fire, Emergency and Security Systems Technicians design, install, commission and maintain electronic systems in and outside simple and complex premises to protect individuals, homes and properties from risk and danger.

Systems include fire, security and emergency systems to detect intrusion, provide surveillance, monitor and control access to buildings, properties and sites or to detect fire and emergencies.

Skills include interconnection of equipment, programming, verifying performance/fault finding and testing and maintaining. Technicians will carry out planned jobs to install new systems, modify and maintain existing systems as well as respond to call-outs to repair faulty systems where they will utilise their problem solving skills.

A professional approach to customer service skills will be required which includes being presentable, tidy and respectful to a wide range of customers.

Typical Job Roles
Alarm/Fire/Emergency/Security Systems: Installer/Maintainer/Engineer/Technician

Duration:
36 months

Programme Delivery:
SGS has elected to deliver the on-programme learning using the combination listed below. This must be completed before the end point assessment can take place. There are 11 core units plus apprentices will be required to complete the Access, Intruder and CCTV units within the Security Pathway.

The standard is assessed by a range of methods to meet the knowledge, skills and behaviours. Evidence will be collated within a portfolio of evidence. To achieve the full Level 3 all units of the syllabus must be passed, meeting the full assessment criteria. College attendance for the delivery of the syllabus is mandatory for all apprentices.

Resources:
Resources will be available through Microsoft TEAMS and Smart Assessor, the e-portfolio platform used by the college for apprentices.

Maths & English:
This apprenticeship requires learners to achieve maths and English at Level 2. Typically, it is realistic for learners to progress up one level during the apprenticeship. At interview, we will carry out an assessment to determine current literacy and numeracy levels. We will take account of any support needs in determining the suitability of learners for this apprenticeship.

On Programme Assessment
Apprentices will be required to attend a block release programme at SGS College, where they will demonstrate their knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs), plus complete underpinning knowledge and practical assessments towards the End Point Assessment. Apprentices will follow a course syllabus and be required to complete a portfolio linked to their on-site workplace.

End Point Assessment
There are two on-programme pre-requisites that allow candidates to progress to the end point assessment gateway.

Completion of the ECS Health & Safety Assessment Test.
Completion of the Self-Assessment Checklist
For EPA, the apprentice will be required to complete the following;

1, Knowledge Test (90 minutes)

This on-line examination will require the apprentice to answer 60 multiple choice questions, based on the core units and pathway studied within the apprenticeship programme.

The grading is as follows; 0-39 Fail, 40-49 Pass, 50+ Distinction.

2, Practical Skills Assessment (taken over 2 days)

Day 1 is focused around Core and Day 2 focused around your chosen pathway.

The assessment will assess a wide range of skills in a safe and highly controlled environment to allow standardised practice, ensuring safety and an opportunity to clearly demonstrate competence.

It must be noted that unsatisfactory performance in either of the two safety critical areas will result in a mandatory fail and immediate termination of the assessment. The two areas are; isolation of mains electricity when undertaking an activity and the identification of, and working with, a viable loop circuit.

3, Professional Discussion (45 minutes)

A professional discussion with be undertaken with an independent assessor. The interview will be no more than 45 minutes duration. Candidates can only apply to undertake the interview component once the multiple-choice assessment has been achieved. The interview will draw questions from the completed Self-Assessment checklist, plus include scenario-based questions to test the candidates ability to link knowledge, skills and behaviours.

Core Knowledge and Skills Requirements
A Standard contains a list of the skills, knowledge and behaviours an apprentice will need to have learned by the end of their apprenticeship. A portfolio will be compiled throughout the apprenticeship to reflect this.

Core Knowledge and Skills

• Health and Safety
• Electrical and electronic principles
• Practices and procedures
• Core Systems
• System technologies
• Environmental principles
• Customer service
• Communication
• Commercial awareness
• Skills
  
• Working safely
• Core systems techniques
• System technologies
• Supervisory
• Behaviours
  
• Honesty and Integrity
• Dependable and responsible
• Positive can-do attitude
• Openness to learning
• Work with others
• Safe and Sustainable working
• Security Pathway

Knowledge
Understand: the requirement and implementation of security risk assessments, the principles, functions and operation for design criteria. The planning and project management for system installation, commissioning and handover. The preventative and corrective maintenance of intruder and hold up alarms. Access control, video surveillance (CCTV) and other electronic security systems and components.

Skills
Apply and implement system design, planning, installation, testing, commissioning and handover. Carry our preventative and corrective maintenance, diagnosis and repair faults, of intruder and holdup alarms, Access Control, video surveillance (CCTV) and other electronic security systems and components

20% Off-the-Job Training
Off the job training is a statutory requirement for an apprenticeship. It is training which is received by the apprentice, during the apprentices normal working hours, for the purpose of achieving the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprenticeship.

In addition, there will be relevant activities in the workplace which will be discussed and planned with the assessor which will count towards the total hours required. Examples include;

• Workplace inductions
• New site inductions
• Tool box talks
• Manufacturer training
• Performance reviews
• ECS Card Test