Autocare technician

Key information

Reference: ST0499
Date updated: 31/10/2022
Level: 2
Route: Engineering and manufacturing
Regulated occupation: No

Details of the occupational standard

Occupation summary

An Auto-care Technician carries out a range of services and repairs to cars, car derived vans and light goods vehicles, working in an Auto-care or “Fast-Fit” Centre, which may be part of a national chain or operated by a regional/local independent group/owner. An Auto-care Technician requires a unique combination of technical, retail and customer service skills. They will use a range of tools, measuring and diagnostic equipment to identify & repair simple system faults. The Auto-care Technician has to demonstrate expertise not only in the technical elements of their role and have a good grasp of the practical and theoretical aspects of the vehicle systems they service, but also needs to have excellent telephone, customer handling (including how to handle difficult customers and deal with customer disappointment) and effective sales skills, as well as strong problem solving and self-organisation skills. They must be able to work as part of a team but also operate independently, understand how their centre operates from a commercial perspective and how their actions contribute to business results, whilst maintaining a high standard of workmanship. Please Note: This Standard does not on its own qualify apprentices to work on air-conditioning systems. Employers who require apprentices to work on air-conditioning systems must also provide the F-Gas qualification

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: K1: Tyre legislation and technical information including EU Tyre labelling, Tyre Pressure Monitoring systems, sidewall markings, homologated fitments relating to cars, car derived vans and light goods vehicles. Back to Duty

K2: K2: Fundamentals of specific vehicle systems including steering & suspension, braking systems, battery & charging systems, exhaust systems and Air-Conditioning systems Back to Duty

K3: K3: Vehicle 4-wheel geometry principles Back to Duty

K4: K4: Basic consumer legislation relevant to the occupation Back to Duty

K5: K5: Appropriate Health & Safety legislation and requirements for the workplace Back to Duty

K6: K6: Hybrid/Electric Vehicle system and safe working procedures Back to Duty

K7: K7: Data protection requirements to protect customer and payment information Back to Duty

K8: K8: General sales principles including, identifying customer & vehicle needs, presenting solutions, closing the sale and dealing with buying resistance Back to Duty

K9: K9: How the business works and how you contribute to the overall results, demonstrating commercial awareness Back to Duty

K10: K10: How to carry out vehicle safety inspections and routine maintenance using manufacturers specifications or approved schedules, using vehicle specific data and meeting legal requirements Back to Duty

K11: K11: The importance of following work place procedures and the consequences of not doing so. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: S1: Contribute to maintaining a healthy and safe workplace, including the maintenance of key equipment and carrying out general housekeeping Back to Duty

S2: S2: Carry out stock procedures including dealing with routine stock deliveries, placing stock into storage, carrying out stock rotation duties and ordering parts for customers following company procedures Back to Duty

S3: S3: Carry out vehicle safety inspections and routine maintenance in line with manufactures specifications or approved schedules, company procedures and complete approved documentation. Back to Duty

S4: S4: Make recommendations to customers based on the results of inspections, ensuring that sales recommendations are accurate and fully costed, are ethical and in the best interests of the customer at all times, using language that is transparent and avoids jargon. Back to Duty

S5: S5: Carry out replacement/repair and balancing of a range of light vehicle tyres, including ultra-low profile, directional, asymmetric and run-flat tyres fitted to a range of wheel sizes and types Back to Duty

S6: S6: Carry out the replacement of components on a specific range of vehicle systems including Steering & Suspension, Braking systems, Battery & Charging systems, exhaust systems and Air-Conditioning systems Back to Duty

S7: S7: Carry out 4-wheel Geometry operations including adjustments on a range of vehicles with different suspension and steering systems Back to Duty

S8: S8: Use a range of specialist tools & equipment, mechanical & electrical measuring tools and diagnostic equipment to support fault identification and repair. Back to Duty

S9: S9: Identify & procure correct parts to meet specific customer requirements Back to Duty

S10: S10: Access vehicle technical data to inform inspections and make judgements on wear and serviceability. Back to Duty

S11: S11: Deal with and resolve low-level customer complaints Back to Duty

S12: S12: Communicate effectively with customers, suppliers and colleagues Back to Duty

S13: S13: Use specific company IT systems within the workplace, including Point-of-sale systems and hand-held devices. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: B1: Act in a manner that promotes the professional image of the automotive sector Back to Duty

B2: B2: Communicate effectively with colleagues and customers on a range of topics including drawing out information to support identification of customer and vehicle needs, making clear recommendations to customers and overcoming objections/concerns. Back to Duty

B3: B3: Behave in accordance with company values, industry codes of conduct and demonstrate respect for customers and colleagues. Be courteous at all times and respond quickly to requests/requirements using effective communication skills to win trust and ensure an excellent experience Back to Duty

B4: B4: Work as an effective team member taking responsibility for their own actions, being honest and accountable when issues arise and things don’t go as planned Back to Duty

B5: B5: Commit to learning to improve your own performance and that of the business. Work in an organised way to ensure work is carried out in an effective and efficient manner. Back to Duty

End-point assessment (EPA plan)

Rigorous robust and independent assessment undertaken by an apprentice at the end of training to test that the apprentice can perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the duties, and knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) set out in the occupational standard

End-point assessment organisation (EPAO)

An organisation approved to deliver end-point assessment for a particular apprenticeship standard. EPAOs must be on the register of end-point assessment organisations

Holistic or synoptic

Assessment of an apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours in an integrated way i.e. assessing several KSBs at the same time

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB)

What is needed to competently undertake the duties required for an occupational standard

Valid

Referred to in relation to assessment methods; fit for purpose

Change request policy

Most changes to an apprenticeship are made as a result of a holistic review of it. We prioritise the need for such reviews based on a range of factors. These include:

the time since the apprenticeship was developed or last reviewed (taking account of its typical duration)
the existence of any known problems with it (e.g. lower than expected starts, low achievement rate, high withdrawal rate, any issues with the availability of training or end-point assessment provision)
whether the apprenticeship is currently subject to a dispensation
the relative significance of the apprenticeship based on how many users it has

The availability of an employer group to support a review and its potential impact on any related technical education product also inform the timing of a review.

Details of apprenticeships that are currently being revised or adjusted are available in our revisions and adjustments status report.

Share this page

LinkedIn X Facebook Email

Crown copyright © 2024. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence