15th June 2011, 02:11 PM
(This post was last modified: 15th June 2011, 02:14 PM by kevin wooldridge.)
I think maybe there should be a basic competence which perhaps could be 'signed off' by a responsible adult, but thereafter many of the criteria will be based upon experience and aptitude and probably at the end of the day would be self-assessed, which of course lays the scheme open to probably unfair criticism. I can see how the system would work if someone was in regular employment, but am not sure how it would work if someone mixed irregular employment with self-employment and/or career breaks for various reasons.
In many ways the Skills Passport would duplicate the IFA levels of competence (where the basic level would equate to PIFA and higher levels to AIFA and MIFA). I am guessing that anyone who had applied to and received peer recognition for their skills level through IFA membership would automatically gain a 'fully operative' Skills Passport.....otherwise it seems unlikely that the IFA would support the scheme...and then once again the scheme would be open to the criticism currently levelled at some IFA members (i.e they only attained their grading through colleagues, friends and relatives).... So to that extent it is a conundrum wrapped in a riddle etc etc
There could be one advantage over the IFA (which despite its calls for CPD appears to enshrine a grading once conferred ead infinitum). Maybe the Skills Passport could have cut-off points where skills have either to be 'renewed' or updated. I mean a project officer grade person who last dug 20 years back might be able to get someone to certify that they were once a competent excavator, planner or surveyor, but would those skills acquired then stand up to present-day scrutiny. Of course some would, but others might need a refresher course or even a 'physical' competance test....likewise in some sectors of our profession speed is everything, in others a more leisurely approach is possible. How does that get assessed? Not sure how enticing a prospect such cut-offs would make the scheme though.
A final point. There have been some mentions of databases available for skills updating, consultation by employers etc etc. That seems to me to involve expense. Would the Skills Passport be any cheaper to maintain than the current IFA membership scheme? Would there be a renewal or processing charge?....like the ill-fated NVQ scheme the costs of some of these things could be a big deterrent in attracting enough participants to make it effective....
In many ways the Skills Passport would duplicate the IFA levels of competence (where the basic level would equate to PIFA and higher levels to AIFA and MIFA). I am guessing that anyone who had applied to and received peer recognition for their skills level through IFA membership would automatically gain a 'fully operative' Skills Passport.....otherwise it seems unlikely that the IFA would support the scheme...and then once again the scheme would be open to the criticism currently levelled at some IFA members (i.e they only attained their grading through colleagues, friends and relatives).... So to that extent it is a conundrum wrapped in a riddle etc etc
There could be one advantage over the IFA (which despite its calls for CPD appears to enshrine a grading once conferred ead infinitum). Maybe the Skills Passport could have cut-off points where skills have either to be 'renewed' or updated. I mean a project officer grade person who last dug 20 years back might be able to get someone to certify that they were once a competent excavator, planner or surveyor, but would those skills acquired then stand up to present-day scrutiny. Of course some would, but others might need a refresher course or even a 'physical' competance test....likewise in some sectors of our profession speed is everything, in others a more leisurely approach is possible. How does that get assessed? Not sure how enticing a prospect such cut-offs would make the scheme though.
A final point. There have been some mentions of databases available for skills updating, consultation by employers etc etc. That seems to me to involve expense. Would the Skills Passport be any cheaper to maintain than the current IFA membership scheme? Would there be a renewal or processing charge?....like the ill-fated NVQ scheme the costs of some of these things could be a big deterrent in attracting enough participants to make it effective....
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...