Become a Leadership Provider

What the Role Entails

Become a Leadership Provider
As a member of our provider team, you will be responsible for faciltating leadership award training course’s and assessments.
You will be sharing your knowledge, skills and experience with paddlers.
Delivering  inspiring  trainings and assessments.
To become a Leadership Award provider you will need to not only understand leadership theories and how they relate to paddlesport, but be able to explain them in simple language to a range of paddlers to support their progression into into leadership, many taking this on to coaching in the future.
Providers often support paddlers outside of the formal courses, with informal support and mentoring.

The role of an assessor is supportive, supporting candidates through their leader Assessment.

You will work with the candidates before the assessment to ensure they have everything in place for their assessment. As well as making sure they know what is expected of them on the day. You will be expected to give suitable feedback throughout the course for each candidate. As well as a helpful action plan at the end of the course.

To become a leadership provider will take time and dedication. You will need to be committed to your personal development. However being a provider is hugely rewarding and satisfying.

Don’t take our word for it, click the video and hear from one of our leadership award Providers:

HOW DO I BECOME A Become a Leadership Provider?

Leadership Provider are a managed role.

Application window is open each year in April.

When applications open, you will then have around 4 weeks to submit your application.

• Applicants need to provide references, so please think carefully about who these should be.
• At least one reference should be from a person that holds the provider role you intend to gain.

If successful you will need to book on to an Orientation. During the Orientation you will be working alongside other aspirant providers and a National Trainer. Leadership orientations involve an orientation fee . It is possible to be come a full provider at Orientation however if you require a development phase to complete your action plan a National Trainer observed delivery will be required, costs of these sign offs can be varied but are based around a per day rate + expenses.

BEING A SUCCESSFUL PROVIDER WILL INVOLVE

• Being great at coaching rescue skills on a variety of crafts
• Having experience of the demands of leading
• Being able to deliver Personal Performance Awards in a range of craft
• Once qualified, supporting aspirant providers to progress with their action plans

MAINTAINING YOUR LEADER PROVIDER ROLE

When you become a coach award provider you will be expected to agree and follow the Provider Service Agreement. You will also need to meet the Update Scheme requirements. This includes up to date Paddle UK membership, First Aid and Safeguarding qualifications. As well as completing some form of continuous personal development every three years.

In addition to this, you will need to run or second-staff 2 of each course within a 3 year period. You will also be subject to internal verification and quality assurance checks on your courses and your course paperwork.

Every year there will be an expectation for assessors to attend standardisation sessions and in each 3 years all providers to attend a community learning event. These events provide great opportunities to  share best practice, standardise assessment practice and discuss any new developments within the award.

SPECIFIC GUIDANCE REGARDING SYLLABUS UNDERSTANDING

Your leadership courses will be practical and predominately aimed at developing leaders who lead in the paddlesport environment.

You will have a personal coaching and educational philosophy that is in keeping with the Paddle UK Awarding Body Educational Philosophy and you will understand the Paddle UK Awarding Body Leadership Model.

FIND OUT MORE

Under the minimum requirements and further instructions tabs you will find the full personal specification, more specific information on each role can be found on the following links.

Bell Boat Helm Provider

Paddlesport Leader Provider

Paddlesport Touring Leader Provider

Advanced Canoe Open Water Leader Provider

Advanced Canoe White Water Leader Provider

Advanced White Water Leader Provider

Advanced Surf Kayak Leader Provider

Advanced Sea Kayak Leader Provider

Canoe White Water Leader Provider

Canoe Open Water Leader Provider

Sea Kayak Leader Provider

Stadium White Water Leader Provider

Stadium Raft Guide Provider

Stand Up Paddleboard Inland Open Water Leader Provider

Stand Up Paddleboard Coastal Leader Provider

Stand Up Paddleboard White Water Leader Provider

Surf Kayak Leader Provider

Raft Guide Provider (Grade 2)

Raft Guide Provider (Grade 3)

Raft Guide Provider (Grade 4)

Raft Trip Leader Provider (Grade 3)

Raft Trip Leader Provider (Grade 4)

White Water Leader Provider

Minimum Requirements

Outline Role Description and Person Specification for Leadership Providers

Note: Please see role specific pages for role specific details.

Key Responsibilities

• To direct training/assessment associated with the relevant qualification as and when required to do so.
• To design, deliver and tailor programmes of training/assessment to meet candidates’ specific needs.
• To work with and support Paddle UK Awarding Body and the Delivery Centres in the delivery of leader education/assessment.
• To support, advise and mentor candidate leaders in their development through the leader pathway.
• To support, advise and mentor aspirant providers to support their development and ensure consistent application of best practice.
• To attend, and contribute to, training and standardisation meetings, workshops and other update events as required.
• To maintain robust and valid administrative practices and records for courses and candidates and maintain all relevant communications.
• To contribute to the development and updating of guidance and support materials for use with Paddle UK Awarding Body qualifications.

Qualifications

Essential

Discipline specific coaching qualification(s) appropriate to the discipline specific provider roles and environments. For example, Stand Up Paddleboard Inland Open Water Leader Provider would require: Essential

• Paddle UK Awarding Body Stand Up Paddleboard Sheltered Water Coach or equivalent
• Be a current PPA provider

Performance Coach or equivalent

Experience and Skills

At least five years’ active (and current) experience running progressive coaching sessions in the discipline specific environments. Verified leadership, personal skills and rescue competence in the relevant environments.

Tutoring and/or Assessing experience. Extensive coaching experience:

with a wide range of relevant user groups (age, ability, aspirations)
• running long-term coaching programmes
• coaching in a wide range of the relevant environments

Knowledge

Detailed knowledge and understanding of:

• The award syllabus
• The role and skills of the provider
• The performance requirements of the discipline

Commitment

• Evidence of commitment to personal professional development.
• Evidence of commitment to the professional development of others through appropriate mentoring and support.

Personal Profile

• Has a personal coaching and educational philosophy that is in keeping with the Paddle UK Awarding Body Educational Philosophy.
• Has competence in the subject matter of the qualification(s).
• Has strong interpersonal skills and the ability to operate as a team player.
• Is able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people.
• Is skilled in communicating through various media and has excellent presentation skills.
• Is competent in the language used for assessment (or has access to appropriate guidance and training).
• Is fair and equitable, ethical and honest.
• Treats people with respect, is candid, and protects confidential information.
• Adheres to Delivery Centre policies and demonstrates loyalty to Paddle UK Awarding Body/the Delivery Centres/the National Association and the team.
• Supports equality of opportunity.
• Is a clear thinker able to approach tasks in a systematic and logical manner.
• Has excellent problem solving and analytical skills.
• Is able and willing to take and offer advice. Is willing to learn, develop and grow.
• Has the ability to write and speak in plain English and to use language that is free from bias and appropriate to the qualification.
• Has competence in assessment and awarding systems and procedures (applicable to Assessor roles).
• Has excellent customer care skills.
• Has the ability to make accurate judgements about the standard of candidates’ coaching performance, knowledge and development needs.
• Has the ability to design, deliver and tailor a programme of training/assessment to meet candidates’ specific needs.
• Has the ability to deploy other tutors/assessors to plan and deliver aspects of the training/assessment programme.
• Has the ability to monitor and support deployed tutors’/assessors’ delivery to ensure all aspects of the learning/assessment programme are delivered appropriately.

ASSESSING QUALIFICATIONS

All providers/assessors require a nationally recognised Assessing Qualification that aligns to the relevant National Occupational Standards for Learning and Development (standard 9). We will accept applications from candidates who are working towards these qualifications. The following list of qualifications is not exhaustive, applicants who hold other qualifications for teaching/tutoring/assessing should list these in their application and they can be considered on an individual basis.

• Paddle UK Awarding Body Assessor Training
• Qualified Teacher Status
• Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocational Related Achievement (QCF)
• Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocational Achievement (QCF)
• Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment (QCF)
• Conduct the Assessment Process PDA (SCQF, L&D9)
• Assess Workplace Competence Using Direct Methods (SCQF, L&D9DI)
• Assess Workplace Competence Using Direct and Indirect Methods (SCQF,L&D9DI)
• NVQ A1 Assessor Award
• NVQ D32/D33 Assessor Award

TUTORING QUALIFICATIONS

All providers/assessors require a nationally recognised tutoring Qualification that aligns to the relevant National Occupational Standards for Learning and Development (standards 1 - 8). We will accept applications from candidates who are working towards these qualifications. The following list of qualifications is not exhaustive, applicants who hold other qualifications for teaching/tutoring/assessing should list these in their application and they can be considered on an individual basis.

• Paddle UK Awarding Body Tutor Training
• Qualified Teacher Status
• Level 3 Award Education and Training (QCF)
• Level 3 Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (QCF)

Further Instructions

Application Process

Applications open in April each year, an Apply now button will appear on all open roles. please read the instructions on the application for application deadlines and off line options.

Orientations will be agreed with successful applicants. Orientations are face to face, typically two days in duration. The up to date orientation fee can be found by looking at the available dates under booking now or by looking at the Paddles Up Training Delivery Centre Fees document Here . There may be additional costs in the case of a final sign off being required.

Development options

The following suggestions are activities that you can undertake at any point in the development process. However, if considered before or concurrently with the application/ orientation, your application/ orientation outcomes are likely to be better.

Understanding the pathway to becoming a provider

• Decide – do I want to be signed off at orientation or have a development plan and need a final assessed delivery?
• Mentor – who can help me? Who has recently become a provider who understands the journey?
• Read – The ‘Provider Requirements’ and the ‘Provider Development pathway’ and ensure you understand the process and standards.

Planning and organising a course

• Read - the most up to date Syllabus and Training notes, comparing them to when you undertook your training. What is different? What has changed?
• Observe – do you have access to local providers you can go and watch? Can you see more than one provider run a course? How do courses change when they are run in different places?
• Watch – any related videos on the Paddle UK Awarding Body Youtube channel?

What makes a good venue?

• Consider – where will you run your courses, how will you ensure you have all of the equipment to run a course? How will your courses be different depending on different candidates? Time of year? Temperature? How do we ensure we have the right kit to remain productive during a long cold day on/ in the water?
• Consider – where do you learn best? What locations have worked well in your experience? What locations have not worked and why?

Developing my personal skills and understanding

• Get involved – do I have access to groups that would enjoy learning different rescue techniques? Can I co deliver any courses?
• Get some personal coaching – who can help you develop your skills? Could you do a PPA in SUP, Race etc to develop understanding? Who do you know who would be willing to come out and practice with you?

Understanding National Association Policies and Procedures

• Read – the policies and procedure that effect your course.
• Discuss – different scenarios with your mentor or a National Association Trainer.
• Watch – how to videos for subjects like course authorisation and certification.