What the Role Entails
As an Open Water Canoe Coach Assessor, you will be supporting candidates through their Open Water Canoe Coach Assessment.
You will work with the candidates before the course to ensure they have everything in place for their assessment, making sure they know what is expected of them on the day. You will be give give suitable feedback throughout the course for each candidate, as well as a helpful action plan at the end of the course.
How do I become an Open Water Canoe Coach Assessor?
Coaching qualifications are a managed role, this means that applications are only taken when a needs analysis shows an area or discipline needs more Assessors.
At Paddles Up Training we look to recruit new Assessors once a year, usually in the Spring.
When applications open you will have around 4 weeks to apply. You need to provide referees so please make sure you think carefully about who these should be. If you are successful then you will complete the following steps:
Orientation Event
You will be asked to book on to an orientation event. To get the most out of the event please ensure that you complete any pre-reading sent to you. On this event you will cover what is expected of you as an Open Water Canoe Coach Assessor and the assessment criteria. This will help you identify if any extra learning is required for your action plan.
Aspirant Status
After orientation you will hold Aspirant Assessor status. This gives you the ability to second staff and support courses. During this time, you shall work with and learn from full Assessors of the awards. Once you feel confident and experienced enough to run a course on your own you will need to be signed off by a current Open Water Canoe Coach Assessor.
Recommendation
This takes place during a normal course; however, you take the lead of the course and manage the other staff, organisation and course administration. The Assessor plays an active role but you lead the course.
Assuming you have met the criteria required, they will make a recommendation to us and we will add the role to your record if your action plan is complete.
Maintaining Your Role
On becoming an Open Water Canoe Coach Assessor, you will be required to follow and agree to the Provider Service Agreement. This includes following the Update Scheme.
Other parts of the agreement will be checked by visits from Internal Verification Officers and through administration checks. You will also be expected to attend a moderation event every 3 years; this is to keep you up to date with, and to share best practice with, other Sheltered Water Assessors. You will also be expected to run a minimum of 1 course every 3 years to keep your role up to date.
Want to know more?
Read more about the Open Water Canoe Coach here.
Minimum Requirements
If you wish to become an Open Water Canoe Coach Assessor then you must hold relevant British Canoeing Awarding Body qualifications suitable to the sheltered water environment and that are in both Canoe and Kayak. Examples of these are:
- Level 3 Coach
- Performance Coach
- BCU Level 3 or above
- MWE or AWE Coach
You must also hold, or commit to achieving, an Assessing Qualification. A list of example qualifications can be found below:
- Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocational Related Achievement
- Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocational Achievement
- Level 3 Award in Assessing Competence in the Work Environment
- Conduct the Assessment Process PDA
- Assess Workplace competence Using Direct Methods
- Assess Workplace Competence Using Direct and Indirect Methods
- NVQ A1 Assessor Award
- NVQ D32/D33 Assessor Award
Personal Performance Award Provider
Applicants need to be able to demonstrate a broad understanding of paddlesport and our educational philosophy, a great way of doing this is by being a Personal Performance Award Provider and having experience of running awards in a variety of sheltered water environments with a range of different learners
Look at the Provider Requirements for more information.
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 schedule is set and you are required to attend the full orientation (all webinars and face to face days) See the schedule here: Coach Award Tutor Schedule , (Note: The orientation fee covers all Coach Award roles applied for and Is not per role)
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 British Canoeing 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 or discipline specific training 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.
What the Role Entails
As an Open Water Canoe Coach Assessor, you will be supporting candidates through their Open Water Canoe Coach Assessment.
You will work with the candidates before the course to ensure they have everything in place for their assessment, making sure they know what is expected of them on the day. You will be give give suitable feedback throughout the course for each candidate, as well as a helpful action plan at the end of the course.
How do I become an Open Water Canoe Coach Assessor?
Coaching qualifications are a managed role, this means that applications are only taken when a needs analysis shows an area or discipline needs more Assessors.
At Paddles Up Training we look to recruit new Assessors once a year, usually in the Spring.
When applications open you will have around 4 weeks to apply. You need to provide referees so please make sure you think carefully about who these should be. If you are successful then you will complete the following steps:
Orientation Event
You will be asked to book on to an orientation event. To get the most out of the event please ensure that you complete any pre-reading sent to you. On this event you will cover what is expected of you as an Open Water Canoe Coach Assessor and the assessment criteria. This will help you identify if any extra learning is required for your action plan.
Aspirant Status
After orientation you will hold Aspirant Assessor status. This gives you the ability to second staff and support courses. During this time, you shall work with and learn from full Assessors of the awards. Once you feel confident and experienced enough to run a course on your own you will need to be signed off by a current Open Water Canoe Coach Assessor.
Recommendation
This takes place during a normal course; however, you take the lead of the course and manage the other staff, organisation and course administration. The Assessor plays an active role but you lead the course.
Assuming you have met the criteria required, they will make a recommendation to us and we will add the role to your record if your action plan is complete.
Maintaining Your Role
On becoming an Open Water Canoe Coach Assessor, you will be required to follow and agree to the Provider Service Agreement. This includes following the Update Scheme.
Other parts of the agreement will be checked by visits from Internal Verification Officers and through administration checks. You will also be expected to attend a moderation event every 3 years; this is to keep you up to date with, and to share best practice with, other Sheltered Water Assessors. You will also be expected to run a minimum of 1 course every 3 years to keep your role up to date.
Want to know more?
Read more about the Open Water Canoe Coach here.