Here you can read full versions of articles we published in our second Edition of the FutureQuals Newsletter 2019.
New starters at FutureQuals
We would like to introduce Angela Dennis, Jayne Humphries and Ruth Anderson andTracey Kinsley
Angela Dennis – Executive Assistant
Angela came to FutureQuals from the education sector, working in an administrative role supporting the Senior Leadership Team and Governing Body. Angela says “I am keen to embrace my new role and look forward to working with the FutureQuals team”.
Jayne Humphries – Customer Support Co-ordinator
Jayne joined FutureQuals in February 2019. Her previous role was working for Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service as a call operator. She has worked in Customer Service for around 15 years and has managed call centres as well as being a call agent. Jayne is looking forward to her new role in the Customer Support team and getting to know all of the centre staff as well as colleagues in the office.
Ruth Anderson – Quality Assurance Manager
Ruth’s last role was an Ofsted nominee and Apprenticeship Quality Manager for East Midlands Chamber. She has a 15 year career history of quality assurance for accredited qualifications. Outside of work Ruth plays and teaches saxophone. Ruth says “I’m really excited to learn about the Awarding Organisation side of quality assurance and getting to know the team.”
Tracey Kinsley – Head of End Point Assessment Operations
Tracey has worked within the Further Education sector for over 25 years and has a particular passion for apprenticeships and the advancement of workplace skills. Tracey’s previous posts included Vice Principal for Apprenticeships, Assistant Principal for Workforce Development, Quality Manager, Ofsted Inspector and Lecturer in Graphic Design.
Her interest in design continues, having recently converted her garage into a ceramics studio complete with kiln. Tracey is very much looking forward to working with all stakeholders in order to build on the outstanding reputation and work of the FutureQuals team.
Continuation of Qualification Review and Withdrawals
The Product Development team have been busy over the last few months reviewing all the qualifications in the FutureQuals portfolio to check that they are still fit-for-purpose and valid. This has been a big job, considering we have 136 live qualifications on the Ofqual register, as well as qualifications on the Qualification Wales register, the CCEA Regulation register in Northern Ireland and Scottish Qualification Authority register!
As a result of this review a number of qualifications are due to be withdrawn. These qualifications had no, or very low numbers of learners registered on them for the last two years. The Product Development team have already contacted centres who are affected to inform them of the withdrawal notification. Qualifications that are due to be withdrawn will close for new registrations in QMIS. These qualifications have been highlighted as closing for registration on the individual qualification pages on the web site. If you would like further information or have any questions, you can contact the Product Development team here.
National Apprenticeship Week
As you may be aware, the 4-8 March 2019 was the 12th annual National Apprenticeships Week. This annual celebration of apprenticeships helps to bring the whole apprenticeship community together to celebrate the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
Read more about how the week unfolded here.
First Aid Qualifications regulated in Northern Ireland
FutureQuals are pleased to confirm that both the Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work (L3AFAW) and the Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (L3AEFAW) have been through the regulation approval process and are now fully regulated by CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland and qualify for funding.
ID Requirements when Registering Learners (ID requirements)
It is a centre’s responsibility to confirm the identity and legal name of a learner as part of its registration process. A centre may do this by requesting sufficient personal data and a unique learner number (ULN) to ensure the learner can be clearly and uniquely identified. The use of a ULN is now a mandatory requirement for publicly funded education and when submitting Individualised Learner Record (ILR) returns.
A learner’s correct legal name is part of the requirement for Learning Record Service (LRS) which FutureQuals submits to them on a monthly basis. An incorrect name can lead to multiple entries and records for one learner on LRS.
Centres are responsible for checking and entering the correct legal name into QMIS during the registration process.
Some examples where checks should be carried out may include:
- Mike Smith – should the legal name be Michael?
- Sam Rogers – Should the legal name be Samantha or Samuel?
- Dave White – Should the legal name be David?
- Nicky Brown – Should the legal name be Nicola, Nicole or Nicholas?
Centres must have systems in place to ensure that an individual completing an assessment is the person he/she is claiming to be. Centres must check each learner’s identification and record the type of identification provided before assessments are undertaken. FutureQuals External Quality Assurers will check this record during quality assurance monitoring activities. The following would be permitted proof of a learner’s Identity:
- a valid passport (any nationality)
- a signed UK photo card driving licence
- valid warrant card issued by HM Forces or the Police
- other photographic ID card, e.g. employee ID card (must be current employer), student ID card, travel card
- UK biometric residence permit.
If an assessment is taking place in a learner’s place of work and a learner is unable to supply any of the above, authentication of a learner’s identity by a third-party representative, for example, his/her line manager or a member of his/her workplace Human Resources Team can be accepted.
Changes to Level 3 Award in Patient Care Services: Ambulance Driving (L3APCSAD) and Level 4 Diploma in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving Instruction (L4DERADI)
The Assessment Principles Appendices in the specifications for these two qualifications have been updated and are now live on the FutureQuals website. Please make sure you are using the most up-to-date version of the specification. You may need to press the Function and F5 keys on your keypad to get the specification to refresh and update.
Further Changes to the First Aid Evidence Log Books.
The new L3AEFAW and L3AFAW Evidence Logs, guidance and MCQ assessments have now been in circulation and use for a few months. We continue to receive positive feedback about their introduction, as well as feedback on continual improvements to make them even better and functional for centres. This feedback comes from both centres and EQAs who are conducting visits and are reviewing the implementation of the new materials on the ground.
As well as separating out the Evidence Logs for each qualification, we have provided in SharePoint, an additional separate MCQ assessment test sheet for those learners who need to resit the written assessment.
We have taken the decision to remove the Casualty Record Form from the Evidence Log, as it was felt that all the assessment criterion it was linked to, were already covered by the other activities undertaken during the First Aid course. We have also reviewed the requirements for the CPR assessment to bring them more closely in line with the Resuscitation Council (UK) guidelines.
Standard Signs for Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) – where members of the lay public deliver defibrillation to a cardiac arrest victim before the arrival of the emergency services – can lead to substantially improved survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
As a result of consultation, it was recognised that improved AED signage might encourage more people to use them. A new sign has been developed and accepted by the HSE and approved by the RC (UK) Executive Committee, and aims to ensure more people understand what they are used for and are encouraged to use them.
It is hoped that the new signage reinforces the following key messages about PAD and the use of an AED:
- Anyone can use an AED – you do not need prior medical or first-aid training
- It is easy to use – just follow its instructions
- It is for use on an unconscious person not breathing normally
For more information about the changes, centres should log on to the Resuscitation Council (UK) website to download and print copies of the updated signage for use and display in their centre with any PADs: https://www.resus.org.uk/defibrillators/standard-sign-for-aeds/