Field Assessments: Programme

NOTE:  Some of the Field Assessment locations require additional Personal Protective Equipment or certain clothing to be worn, and the Assessor will advise on this appropriately.

During a Field Assessment, you have the same responsibilities and duties of care as when you are conducting normal BSS Examinations.  In particular, you will be responsible for your own health and safety, and have a duty of care in respect of all other parties and materials, including the assessor and the assessment boat.

The Assessor will ask to see the Examination documentation and equipment you’ve brought to the assessment.  This is to help ensure you take the correct items to Examinations.

You will undertake a partial BSS Examination against three Core ECP Parts (which Parts will vary depending on the particulars of the Assessment boat).

The Assessor’s role is to watch you undertake the Examination.  They will assess your performance against the following key Examination and fieldcraft skill criteria:

1. whether you are suitably methodical and/or systematic in your examination of the boat and your application of the Checks

2. your knowledge of the ECP

3. whether you are suitably thorough with your application of the Checking actions

4. your ability to explain BSS Requirement non-compliances found during your Examination

5. your completion of the BSS Examination Record Form (Sections 1, 2 and 3).

The Assessor will endeavour not to interrupt your examination/concentration too much, but they will invite you to talk them through your actions and decisions as you undertake the Examination.

Once you have finished your Examination against the first ECP Part (e.g. ECP Part 2 – Permanently installed fuel systems and fixed engines) the Assessor will provide you with verbal feedback on your performance against the above listed criteria.  This initial feedback will either reinforce your confidence that your performance is as expected or give you pointers as to how to change and improve your practices for the remainder of the simulated Examination.  The Assessor may also provide some practical training.

At the end of the Examination (when you have completed your Examination against the three ECP Parts), the Assessor will give further verbal feedback, providing you with an overview of your performance against the above key Examination and fieldcraft skill criteria.  At this time, the Assessor will also take copies of your completed BSS Examination Record Form.

This will be an opportunity for you to discuss, informally or formally, any queries, concerns or other matters you would like to air or have answered by the assessor - you can raise any subject matter you like.  It can be about your own knowledge or skills, or it can be about more general matters.  Particularly welcome are constructive suggestions where you may have spotted a specific matter that the BSS Office Team can do better or differently that will have a positive impact on Examiner performance.

You will be provided with a personal feedback report, usually within 2 weeks of your Assessment.  The report will provide an overview of your performance and highlight areas of improvement that may be required, including any additional training that might be required.