External verifier
External Verifiers undertake a similar role to an Internal Verifier (IV) but at a national level and report directly to the Trading Standards Institute.
TSI splits the country in line with government office regions. Each region has its own regional EV who supports the region on queries about the portfolio, interpretation of criteria and the EV is required to hold two regional meetings annually for internal assessors and internal verifiers to help with standardisation and update training.
As an external verifier you are responsible for:
- verifying the quality of the verification decisions made by the Internal Verifier
- reviewing a sample of each IVs work and each internal assessor's (IA) work to ensure IAs and IVs are using performance standards appropriately and consistently
- facilitating standardisation processes to ensure candidates, assessors and verifiers are working, assessing and verifying to consistent standards.
As part of the submission process the EV will ask the Internal Verifier for the following documentation:
- copy of the portfolio submission form
- all assessment plans and action plans (form assess 1)
- subject assessment summary forms (form assess 2)
- all observation reports (form assess 4)
- candidate assessment feedback forms (form assess 5)
- witness statement list
- all internal verification documentation
When the external verification has been completed feedback with be sent to:
- TSI
- Lead Verifier
- Internal Verifier
- Chief of candidate's authority
If the portfolio is the final element for the completion of an award the outcome of the verification needs to be formally ratified by the awarding body.
