Skills for Justice ensures that apprentices and employers get the very best out of apprenticeships by working closely with the employers of the UK Justice, Community Safety, Legal Services and HM Forces to develop the framework for them.

And the phrase “practice what you preach” is ringing true for Skills for Justice, which has taken on 18-year-old Kirsten Leslie as an apprentice.

Kirsten has been placed at the organisation’s head office in Sheffield while working towards a Level Two Apprenticeship in Business Administration, delivered by South Yorkshire-based education and training consultants Future-Wize.

She said: “This is the best thing I have ever done.”

Kirsten, who is also a Doncaster Police Cadet, first began considering apprenticeships after leaving school. She said: “I had never considered an apprenticeship before.

“After leaving school, I went to sixth form, where university was seen as the route that everyone went down. However, I knew from an early age that university was not for me.

“My aunt works for the National Apprenticeship Service and she was the one who told me about apprenticeships. Through the Apprenticeship Service, I started applying for jobs in the areas of work I have always been interested in, including police and emergency services.

“This was how I found the vacancy at Skills for Justice.”

Kirsten’s apprenticeship involves studying towards a Level 2 NVQ in Business Administration. She explained: “I work towards a set of units, that each count towards my qualification.

“My assessor at Future-Wize emails me regularly to ensure I am able to complete the tasks that have been set and, if ever I need any help, I can contact her too.”

As well as written assessments, the work that Kirsten carries out at Skills for Justice also counts towards her qualification. She said: “I am currently taking a unit on minute-taking and am taking tasks from work as evidence of my work towards the unit.

“I have also been getting involved in organising Skills for Justice events as well as collecting data to support major bids for funding.”
Kirsten’s assessor, training coordinator Kelly Parkinson, said: “She is absolutely fantastic.

“Our experience of working with Skills for Justice has always been a positive one. Her manager is very supportive of her and of our work, so we have a very positive relationship.

Skills for Justice Policy and Governance Manager Fiona Donovan, said: “Kirsten is very bright and doesn’t need to be told anything twice – she picks things up straight away. She shows that young people can be very positive and have a lot to offer.”

Fiona added that it was important that Skills for Justice was able to support her, as much as Kirsten’s work supports the organisation. “We help Kirsten to achieve the balance between her work here and her assessments so she has enough time for both.

“We’re helping her to understand the world of work, as well as developing her communication skills with her colleagues. She is meeting a lot of important senior people and interacting with them really well.”

Fiona believes that employers can benefit greatly from taking on an apprentice. She said: “Kirsten is not just another pair of hands. She offers a fresh perspective into our organisation and asks really interesting questions which make us think about the work we do. She is technically gifted and this knowledge is a real asset to us. 

Kirsten also believes her apprenticeship allows her to further her education while gaining work experience and skills. She said: “All my friends have university debts and have said they are going to university to get a degree, but in three years’ time, I will have three years’ work experience which will be very valuable.

“All my family and friends say I seem so much happier since starting my apprenticeship. My friends are at university but one of them is considering an apprenticeship now that she has seen how happy I am. I always talk about it and I don’t regret taking it up at all.”

Also taking place during National Apprenticeship Week is a Force Briefing Event, where Skills for Justice will present its findings on the demand for apprenticeship frameworks for policing across England. This event will take place in Coventry on February 8th.

Across the Justice, Community Safety, Legal Services, Local Government and Armed Forces sectors, hundreds of people have successfully completed apprenticeships.

A recent survey conducted by Skills for Justice revealed that 72 per cent of employers in the sectors it covers are positive about apprenticeships as a route to gaining the qualifications and skills required for their business.

Some employers consider apprenticeships as a crucial tactic for improving the age mix of members of staff.

Universal Skills Ltd, a Joint Venture Company made up of Skills for Justice, Skills for Health and the Financial Skills Partnership, will cover a combined workforce of more than 4.3 million employees across the UK, almost one in seven of the total UK workforce.

Universal Skills Ltd will maintain and deliver National Occupational Standards (NOS), apprenticeship frameworks and qualification-related activities across their sectors.

The contract to deliver this set of core services, known as Universal Services, has been awarded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, and will run from April 2012 to March 2015.

The chief executives of the three partner organisations have worked closely together on the new partnership.

Alan Wood OBE, Chief Executive of Skills for Justice, said: “We are delighted with this announcement.

“The work of Universal Skills will allow us to work in collaboration with employers to deliver NOS and apprenticeships in a way that will make the best possible use of public funding. The alignment of resource and skills will mean better quality services and we will see savings resulting from shared technologies and best practice.”

 John Rogers, Chief Executive of Skills for Health said: “We know that employers across our sectors share common skills issues in relation to workforce need and we are uniquely placed to understand and respond effectively to this. This partnership will enable us to maximise the skills and expertise across our three organisations.”

Liz Field, Chief Executive of the Financial Skills Partnership, said: “Our aim has always been to work in partnership with other stakeholders to enhance skills and job prospects in our sector. Our work under Universal Skills over the next three years will enable us to use our existing industry relationships to extend our reach and ultimately provide benefits to the economy and the British workforce.”

Universal Skills will also work in collaboration with Skills -Third Sector, the registered charity working to make it easier for people who work and volunteer in charities and social enterprises to have the right skills to make a difference to people and their communities,  to deliver Universal Services to their employers. This will improve the quality of these services and provide full coverage of third sector employers in a consistent and cost effective way.

The bid by Universal Skills to become a selected provider was supported by employers across the UK. It was put together following extensive research into the needs of workforces in all the sectors covered by the partnership.

The Springboard Women's Development Programme, the highly successful, award-winning development course for women, is available to female employees in the Justice, Community Safety, Legal, Armed Forces and Local Government sectors.

The programme, developed by training experts The Springboard Consultancy, enables women to identify the clear, practical and realistic steps that they want to take and to develop the skills and confidence to take them.

Springboard will build on the foundation of the successful Women and Work: Sector Pathways Initiative, previously offered by Skills for Justice, which established the organisation as a champion of women’s development.  It will complement its equality and diversity programme, Valuing and Managing Difference (VMD).

Since it was developed more than 20 years ago, Springboard courses have been offered with great success to more than 210,000 women worldwide. The women who participate in Springboard courses all over the world often report that it has been life changing.

Samantha Crate, from Hampshire Constabulary, said: “I feel the Springboard course has been particularly beneficial to me. It has made me think about all areas of my life and has increased my confidence, which in turn has widened my network of support within the organisation. The trainers have been excellent and delivered the course perfectly. I am aiming to keep in touch with them for continued support. I now feel I have obtained the confidence and self belief to move up within the organisation, and have therefore achieved my objective.”

The programme has also seen great success for employers who have placed female staff on the programme. Calum Bell, Head of Staff Development at Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The impact has been an enhanced feeling of being a valued member of staff, measurable commitment to their development and increased exposure to a diverse environment which enriches their experience and enhances our organisational capability.”

To find out more about our offer, including prices for the course, check out our Springboard page or if you would like to talk to someone about it please contact Charlotte Powell or Jacquie Bown or call 0114 231 7392.

A group of 10 firefighters with the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has completed an apprenticeship, with another 11 due to finish in March 2012.

The framework for the apprenticeship in Emergency Fire Service Operations was developed by Skills for Justice, which has worked in partnership with the service to support an ongoing drive to recruit and develop the skills of its teams.

Andrew Pughsley, People and Organisational Development for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Long may our partnership continue!”

And Andrew can already see the benefits that apprentices can offer to employers. He said: “In those people who have come through apprenticeships, we see a distinct strength. They have a better awareness of what is expected in their behaviours as well as their knowledge.”

The service has around 1,500 operational and essential support staff. They are a combination of whole time, day crewed and retained staff and volunteers.

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service covers around 4,500 square miles and makes up almost two thirds of the landmass of Wales. Their operational area covers an area ranging from the petro-chemical industries in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire and Neath to heavily populated conurbations such as Swansea, Port Talbot and Llanelli. There is an extensive farming community and many other light industries throughout the area. These, together with an extensive coastline and inland waterways, present firefighters with specific challenges which require specialist skills.  Andrew believes it is vitally important that firefighters have the best training possible to be able to deal with the risks presented by the area.

Andrew became a staff development officer for the service in 2008. He said: “When I began my role, there was a feeling within the sector that it was not just the technical knowledge of firefighters but also their behaviours that were important to the future growth in terms of professionalism and attitudes to a dynamically changing environment within the sector.”

It was also highly important to Andrew that part-time firefighters would be given the same opportunities to develop their skills as their full-time colleagues.

He met with experts from Skills for Justice, the Sector Skills Council for Justice, Community Safety and Legal Services, to discuss what they could offer.

Skills for Justice worked with the service to review the framework for their apprenticeships.   Andrew said: “They were able to offer a more robust structure to our apprenticeship. Together, we looked at the framework for the apprenticeships we offered and reshaped it to suit the needs of our service.”

As part of his new role, Andrew also began to research ways of ensuring that the qualifications offered within the Mid and West Wales service matched those offered by other services in England and Wales and worked with Skills for Justice to review the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for firefighters.

NOS help employers to understand what good looks like in a range of job roles. They are the building blocks to a competence based approach to all aspects of people management and development.

Skills for Justice Workforce Development Advisor, Christine Castle has also worked closely with the service to help them to build relationships with other organisations. Her work with the service also included researching ways of helping them to secure financial support for apprenticeships, such as funding through the Welsh Assembly Government.

In addition, Skills for Justice carries research into key trends in the fire and rescue sector, including the skills needs of employers. Andrew said: “Their research has always been very useful.

“Through our links to Skills for Justice, we have kept abreast of all the new developments in developing qualifications and skills across the sector.

“We hope to continue that success in our ongoing relationship.” 
Visit the apprenticeships section on our website for more information about how Skills for Justice can help support and develop the skills of people working in the Justice, Community Safety and Legal Services sectors.

The Restorative Justice Council is hosting a conference in London on March 29th for anyone delivering restorative practice/restorative justice in schools, care homes, local authorities, police, prisons, probation, youth offending teams, workplaces and community based agencies.

The council is delighted to announce their keynote speaker, Dr Brian Steels, visiting lecturer at the Crime Research Centre at the University of Western Australia, Research Fellow at Curtin University’s Centre for Aboriginal Studies, and an international expert on restorative practice. Dr Steels is also Director of the Asia Pacific Forum for Restorative Justice, and leads the Institute for Restorative Justice and Penal Reform, Australia. He is a facilitator and trainer of RJ Practices, experienced in facilitating various culturally appropriate restorative processes from small conferences to large healing circles.

Alongside Brian, the council will also welcome experienced practitioners and partners, including Alexandra Ankrah (the Tutu Foundation), Bonita Holland (former Director, Ark Plus), Dave Mahon (The Communication Trust), Luke Roberts (Anti-Bullying Alliance), Jenny Talbot (Prison Reform Trust), Peter Wallis (Oxfordshire Youth Offending Service) and Jo Brown (Oxfordshire Anti-bullying Co-ordinator) to provide their practice-based expertise.

Together, agencies can ensure restorative processes are accessible to all by addressing potential barriers to participation – cultural difference, power imbalances, speech, language and communication difficulties and special needs/learning disabilities.  This practical conference will help to ensure – through assessing and meeting the needs of those agencies work with – that restorative practice is accessible to all.

For Accredited Practitioners registered with the Restorative Justice Council, this conference will contribute to evidencing their Continuing Professional Development, and the council’s member events discount applies.

RJC Members £75
Guests £99

To find out more about this event and download the full agenda with timings for the day visit the RJC website.

You can also book a place on their event page.

This includes the Level 3 Diploma in Probation Practice and Level 5 Diploma in Probation Practice.  To help us capture this important information please complete the Probation Qualifications Framework Survey.
 
Please note Section A of the survey is designed for Assessment Centre Managers and Probation Trust L&D Managers and HR Managers and Section B for Candidates to complete.  Please only complete the section relevant to your role.

The deadline for completing this survey is Monday February 27th.

If you have any queries regarding the survey please contact Fay Nicholls by email or call 0114 231 7371.

Coventry University has achieved Skillsmark endorsement for four of its courses: BSc (Hons) Forensic Investigations, BA Criminology, BA Criminology and Law, BA Criminology and Psychology, all of which are three-year honours programmes with an option for a sandwich year.

Coventry University is an evolving and innovative university with a growing reputation for excellence in education and was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Entrepreneurial University of the Year category at the Times Higher Awards in 2008.

The BSc (Hons) Forensic Investigations course teaches learners how to apply scientific and investigative principles to the explanation and solution of criminal or civil cases. With a focus on investigative approaches and techniques over practical laboratory-based analysis methods, this course provides learners with the practical skills required to interpret and present analytical evidence associated with the explanation and solution of criminal and civil cases.

How can crime be prevented? Do prisons work? What are the alternatives? Is sentencing fair? These are the cutting-edge questions posed by criminologists today and ones which are covered in detail on the BA (Hons) Criminology course which aims to equip learners with a critical perspective on a wide variety of phenomena associated with crime and criminal justice, with a focus on its causes and the various means by which society and social groups attempt to deal with it.

The BA (Hons) Criminology and Law course draws on theory and practice from a wide range of disciplines associated with crime and criminal justice to equip learners with a detailed understanding of the social, psychological, philosophical and legal aspects of criminology, all of which are complemented by ongoing study of constitutional, administrative and criminal law.

The BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology course provides comprehensive coverage of issues surrounding crime, society and their associated psychological aspects. Learners will gain a thorough practical and theoretical knowledge needed for a broad understanding of the role of crime and its control in society, focusing on areas such as applied psychology, forensic investigations, crime and social diversity, victimology, community safety, policing and different aspects of punishment. Psychology is one of the founding disciplines behind the development of criminology. These two strands of study complement each other to help learners understand how and why people think in different ways in the context of crime.

The Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Department has recently established a Partnership Working Group, a body that comprises local, regional and national employer representation as well as University staff and students. This has the express function of channelling informed external views into course development and also provides a very useful vehicle for identifying and exploiting placement and work experience opportunities. Employer representation is strong and their input extremely useful. Employers are also involved in a number of useful initiatives with the University in respect of ‘employability activity’, where they participate in events such as the volunteering fair, offer careers talks and consider students for internships.

Helen Poole, Associate Head of Department, said she had received an email about Skills for Justice generally and on looking further at Skillsmark, saw it was a form of accreditation which other universities had already achieved. Helen said: “It was something to show students that we have strong links with employers.”

As a university, employer engagement is a major priority for Coventry. Helen said: “We are trying to further develop links with both public and private sector employers. Our links have traditionally been public sector but we recognise it has to go wider than that.”

Although in separate disciplines, these courses have some shared modules, so it made sense for them all to go forward together. Helen said: “The Skillsmark process has been invaluable in keeping the courses current and competitive”, adding that they “didn’t want to get left behind.”

For more information on any of these courses contact Helen Poole on 02476 887024 or email hsx510@coventry.ac.uk.

For more information on Skillsmark and details of how we have helped other organisations to achieve this mark of excellence, take a look at our website, call us on 0114 231 7376 or email Skillsmark@skillsforjustice.com

This course, which is of particular benefit to those new-in-post or who have been working in the role for less than 18 months, also benefits people aspiring to become training coordinators, providing a substantial professional development opportunity.

This three-day, seven-module course is delivered by the NOMS College Quality Team to members of staff working in prison establishments throughout England and Wales and is accredited by Staffordshire University. On successful completion, learners are awarded a Level 4 Certificate in ‘Developing Training Effectively in Her Majesty’s Prison Service’, securing 15 credit points.

The seven modules are sequenced throughout the three days, taking a simple to complex approach to introduce learners to their role and then to move on to more complex areas of coordinating training. Learners are provided with a comprehensive Handbook by the University that provides information about the course, the content and assessment requirements.

Trainers perform a dual function in the delivery of the course in that they act as both trainers and mentors, with each learner allocated a mentor to provide guidance, advice and assistance. Learners meet their respective mentor during the first day of the course and are able to continue working with that mentor until they have submitted their assignment for final assessment. Feedback from learners indicates a high satisfaction with trainers’ support, the equality of opportunity to take part in the course, and to achieve the qualification.

NOMS College recently made a very successful application for this course to become Skillsmark endorsed. Dr Sanjay Bhasin from the College said that the application for Skillsmark was prompted by an identified business need. With so many training managers in establishments changing roles, they introduced this course to prepare those thinking of entering a training role in a prison establishment. Cultural change was needed as the course is delivered by the Quality Team of the College rather than College trainers.

Sanjay tells us that the College had to make some improvements to their existing systems and processes and says of Skillsmark: “We now use it as a benchmark.”

Furthermore, Sanjay says the most important contribution that Skillsmark has made is that it has facilitated improvements in how learners are assessed and how National Occupational Standards are used in course design. He said: “We need to get away from attendance-only courses and the requirements of Skillsmark have added weight to that.”

The College’s Academic Improvement Group has recently agreed that assessment of learning should be strengthened as it permits the measurement of the contribution training is making to their business.

Sanjay added: “The understanding of Skillsmark, its requirements and its benefits has improved as a result of the success of this course being endorsed”.

For more information on this course contact Dr Bhasin on 01788 804147 or email sanjay.bhasin@noms.gsi.gov.uk

For more information on Skillsmark and details of how we have helped other organisations to achieve this mark of excellence, take a look at our website, call us on 0114 231 7376 or email Skillsmark@skillsforjustice.com

In 2005, the Time Out Assessment Centre  then known as the Regional Assessment Centre for Justice Sector Awards (RACJSA) was invited to work with a range of community, voluntary and statutory providers to explore options for implementing work-based assessment and the attainment of qualifications based upon National Occupational Standards (National Vocational Qualifications-NVQs). 

As of January, the Time-Out Assessment Centre has supported 384 staff (paid and volunteer) to achieve formal recognition of their competence in work.

The model offered by Time-Out Assessment Centre is based upon a number of key strategies:

• The NVQ Assessment Centre facilitates the training and support of assessors to attain their assessor awards and to competently assess their staff in daily work practice.
• Holistic assessment is advocated to reduce paper-work and to increase the relevance of the assessment process for candidates and assessors.
• NVQ Centre staff provide on-site support days on a monthly basis for assessors and candidates to enable the completion of documentation and the collation of evidence within portfolios.

The model demonstrated its success through different factors:

• The NVQ Awards – Level 3 and Level 4 – confirm individual worker competence in practice.
• As individual staff succeed and achieve their certification, other staff are motivated to participate and complete.
• The NVQ Awards are recognised and required by the professional registration and governance bodies for staff in some statutory agencies. 
• Managers often complete their Assessor and Management Award through the same model of work-based assessment with the Centre.
• Candidates and assessors do not complete excessive written work, rather there are clear links promoted between NVQ work, supervision and annual professional development plans / appraisal. 
• The support and quality assurance offered by the NVQ Assessment Centre facilitates flexibility in line with operational demands of the work environment.

Skills for Justice is continuing to support the Time-Out Assessment Centre with the implementation of these awards throughout the Justice sector in Northern Ireland.

Find out more about how Skills for Justice supports employers with developing qualifications and National Occupational Standards on our website.

Since December, the organisation has been supporting Victim Support Northern Ireland in reviewing their existing job descriptions, linking each role to key National Occupational Standards. 
The objectives of the work are to:

• Complete a full NOS Mapping review for each role within Victim Support Northern Ireland, identifying the key seven or eight NOS which best describe the role functions;
• Review the key behaviours and skills required to fulfil each role;
• Identify how this process can help shape a more efficient and coherent HR cycle within Victim Support Northern Ireland.

There are real benefits for Victim Support in this approach.  These include:

• The foundation for the development of a full, accountable HR cycle, which is both modern, and easy to use.
• The foundation for a performance management process that nurtures staff performance in a way designed to meet the needs of your customers.
• The interactive process we propose, which will encourage staff engagement and buy-in to the whole HR process.

The ultimate aim is to develop job descriptions ensuring that the correct people with the right skillsets and behaviours are recruited into the organisation.

The process, involving individual meetings and group workshops with staff, has ensured the full engagement of the entire Victim Support Northern Ireland organisation.  This has ensured the development of job descriptions which fully reflect the needs of the roles.

So far, the review process is running smoothly, with full staff engagement into the process.  The project is on target to be completed within the agreed timeframe, with further support planned in integrating the NOS throughout the whole Victim Support HR cycle.
For more information on the project, email Gary Ormsby or call 07827243996.

People from across the sector are asked to provide us with feedback on a Vocational Qualification for Breathing Apparatus (BA) Instructors, a qualification we have been asked to develop by the Fire and Rescue Service Occupational Committee (FRSOC) and the NOS and Qualifications Workstream Group.

Since July we have been working with the sector to develop a set of Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) units. These units would form the basis of the qualification.

The qualification would be available to both full-time and retained fire fighters and is a method of achieving specific knowledge and skills that demonstrate competence in this area.

The consultation can be found here. It will run until February 10.

For further information on this project please email project manager Andrea Brookes or call her on 0114 231 7381.

New codes of practice have now been developed for high speed driving and high speed driver training in the sector. In light of this, Skills for Justice has been asked to review the FF9 National Occupational Standard (NOS) from the Operations in the Community suite to ensure that it remains fit for purpose. 

A working group took place with members of the Task and Finish Group involved in the development of the codes of practice to review and amend the NOS content where necessary.  This was followed by further consultation with the remainder of the group.

The revised NOS is now ready to go out to wider consultation with the rest of the sector.  The draft FF9 NOS and a short consultation questionnaire is available for your feedback. The consultation will remain open until March 11th.

For further information on this project please email the Project Manager Andrea Brookes or call 0114 231 7381.

A recent film shows how the development of skills and qualifications help the different agencies to work collaboratively and efficiently in challenging environments, from the scene of a road traffic accident all the way through to sentencing. 

”It Doesn’t Happen by Accident”  highlights the role of the emergency services and the importance of remaining calm under pressure, responding to an incident with speed, care and professionalism as they rescue casualties, allowing paramedics to offer life-saving care at the scene of the accident.

Of course the consequences of the incident continue long after the accident itself has been cleared away. The impact on the lives of victims, witnesses and the defendant continue to be at the centre of the work our sector is involved in. Victim Support, courts, tribunals and prosecution, probation and offender management services are all vital in supporting families and assessing the offender to ensure they receive the most appropriate sentence.

The film can be viewed here.

During the past 12 months the UK Commission for Employment and Skills has been working with Sector Skills Councils to transfer all UK NOS into a universal template.  The NOS content remains the same – the only thing that has been changed is the format. 

Now that this process is complete we are loading all the NOS in the new template onto the NOS Finder.  We ask for your patience over the next few weeks as we complete the update. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Andrea Brookes or call 0114 231 7381.