International Study Visit Programme

20 February 2015

Rory McIntyreTraining Quality Assurance Co-Ordinator

Police Scotland College - Tulliallan

The College is set in 90 acres of parkland in the centre of Scotland. At the heart of the campus is Tulliallan Castle built in the early 19th Century. It is the only central Police College in the UK which provides all the training elements in one establishment.

I

.• Police Scotland College – Tulliallan is a centre of learning

excellence providing formally recognised learning programmes through:– Credit rated courses– Partner organisations

• Scottish Qualifications Authority • Universities • Professional bodies (accreditation)

Police Scotland College - Tulliallan

Prior to 2008• Very little formal recognition of learning

Now• Sole provider of training for all career courses:

– Crime – Leadership and Professional Development– Initial Training– Road Policing– Training of Trainers

• 2013/2014 – Over 7,000 students trained through Core Training Courses– In total over 100 courses delivered (including core and non-core)

• University Accredited Qualifications

• SQA Validated Qualifications

• PSC Credit Rated programmes– Some with articulation routes to University and

Professional bodies

• Non-accredited Training programmes

PSC’s Family of Qualifications/ProgrammesPSC’s Family of Qualifications/Programmes

Our Experience of Credit Rating

• 4 programmes credit rated by SQA in 2007 (levels 7-9)

• SCQF Pilot - 2 programmes and QA systems developed (2007-08)

• SCQF Pilot

– Development of processes and procedures

– Formalisation of management process

– Embedding knowledge of credit rating throughout PS

• Credit Rating Body status – December 2008

• To date: 15 programmes credit rated (levels 7/11)

• Third Party Status – September 2010

Being a Credit Rating Body• Only Police Credit Rating Body in UK• Allows us to credit rate programmes across Justice Sector• Standardise QA systems and programme development• Development of International Relations

– Abu Dhabi Police Crime Scene programmes – Exit Levels

• Partnership Working– SCQF authority to credit rate “Blue Light” provision (Emergency

services)

• Accreditation/articulation routes– Economic Crime Programme – recognised by Counter Fraud

Professional Accreditation Board at Portsmouth University

PSC Processes for credit rating

• Staff Development

• Programme design process

• Application process

• Credit Rating process

• QA Process– Documentation– Recording– Functions (IV/EV, Audit)

Staff Development/Training Solutions

Requirement for staff to be able to carry out credit rating related tasks

Programme design process

PSC Application for credit rating

Credit Rating Process

Credit Rating Team

Decision Making Group

CRT Leader attends to provide justification for credit rating decisions

Governance – Reporting structures

Quality Assurance (QA)

• Becoming a CRB helped develop/enhance the following:

– Standardised National QA process– National Framework of QA – ALL responsible– Trained Staff – Awareness sessions for staff– Standardised programme design– Review/re-write of all training policies and guidance

documents– Robust Programme Management system– External Governance structures

• QA Processes:

– Management Groups

• Strategic – Quality Assurance Committee (QAC)

• Decision Making Group (CR strategic group)

– Process map (how does your process work?)

– Guidance document for PSC (revised August 2012)

– Design Specification Document (revised December 2014)

• QA Processes:

– Credit Rating documentation

– Recording processes

– Staff training (credit rating, IV/EV & Internal Audit)

• New

• Continuation/standardisation

• Numbers

– Evaluation of the process and the programmes

Policies and guidance

• Over-arching “QA in Training” document– Supported by:

• Training and Development Policy• Copyright, Rights and permissions• Specific Learning Difficulties Policy• RPL Policy• Academic Standards Policy• Appeals process guidance• Training Design Guidance • TNA & Evaluation Guidance• Assessment Moderation Guidance• Assessor Handbook• QA Audit Guidance

Challenges we faced

Benefits of being a CRB

1. Devised system that worked for us

2. Allowed ongoing/continuous review = maintaining standards

3. Developed robust design process incorporating CR preparation

4. Amend process/documentation/training as and when required

5. Staff development opportunities

6. Identify areas of good practice

7. QA Awareness sessions

Lessons Learned

• Strategic level buy – in (e.g. Executive & Police Board)

• Maintain CR Staff numbers (cross section)– Who and how? (knowledge and skills of staff, training)

• Develop processes and subsequent paperwork (change it if necessary) – Continuous process

Lessons Learned

• Build credit rating into all programme development (ensures corporate knowledge of CR)

• Continuity of credit rating teams

• Credit Rating Guidance Document

Lessons Learned

• Identify Single Point Of Contact for each programme

• Identify progression routes

• Develop robust credit rating QA processes– Built in to design specification

• Market credit rating– Benefits to learners and organisation

Considerations for credit rating

• What will be your process for carrying out the credit rating function?– Think of the practicalities of carrying out the function…

• Credit rating team:– Roles and responsibilities/Staff numbers/Continuity of the process.

– Who will ratify the decision of the CRT?• Management process

– Who has final sign off of the decision?

– Who will be informed of the decision?• Submitting body

• Head of department

• SCQF

• Strategic Management Group

• What will your application process be?– Who will be responsible for receiving applications?

– What documents will be required?

– Where will applicants go for information?• How will they know this?

– Who will authorise credit rating?

– What happens after the application?

– What will be the possible outcomes of the credit rating?

Considerations for credit rating