International Study Visit
Programme
20 February 2015
Rory McIntyre
Training 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.
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• 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)
PSC’s Family of Qualifications/Programmes
• University Accredited Qualifications
• SQA Validated Qualifications
• PSC Credit Rated programmes
– Some with articulation routes to University and
Professional bodies
• Non-accredited Training 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 (200708)
• 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
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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
Assessment
Quality
Assurance
Credit Rating
function
On-going
staff
development
Programme design process
Business approval
Standardised
design
specification
document
Consider:
Learning outcomes
Assessment
QA requirements
Link to SCQF
Level Descriptors
Submitting body
contact CRB
QA Sign Off
(Approval)
(Design Spec check list)
PSC Application for credit rating
Initial Contact
Programme
submission
Credit Rating
information
issued
SB formal
request for CR
QA visit
Liaison
between PSC
QA and SB
Credit Rating Process
Programme design
QA Approval
Formal Submission
Credit Rating - CRT
Decision Making - DMG
Credit Rating Team
CR Team Leader
(Experience of
CR Process)
•Subject Expert
(Where possible)
•Credit Rater
•Credit Rater
•Credit Rater
Decision Making Group
Chair:
Quality Assurance
Manager
Qualifications
Manager
Team Quality
Assurance CoOrdinator (Support)
Training Quality
Assurance CoOrdinator (Systems)
CRT Leader attends to provide justification for credit rating decisions
Governance – Reporting structures
Credit Rating
reporting lines
Credit Rating Team
Decision Making
Group
Quality Assurance
Committee
(External Representation )
QA Reporting:
QA Officer – QA Coordinator
Quality Assurance
Committee
Tactical Tasking and
Co-ordinating Group
People and
Development Board
Quality Assurance (QA)
• Becoming a CRB helped develop/enhance the following:
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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:
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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
Buy-In at all levels
Staff to carry out QA function change of role for staff
Implementation of internal QA
Maintaining staff
numbers/skills
Third Party Credit
Rating
• Consultation – benefits of credit rating –
• Executive level recognition of benefits
• Managing expectations of SB
• Initial training through external organisations
• Development of own training
• Meetings/awareness sessions
• Attendance at SCQF workshops
• QA Audit
• On-going staff development opportunities
• Recognition opportunities
• Dealing with external organisations
• Standard process and documentation
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?
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Submitting body
Head of department
SCQF
Strategic Management Group
Considerations for credit rating
• 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?