SubscribeAs door staff, vehicle immobilisers, CCTV operators and security guards look to buy their second or even third SIA licence, talk in training circles is focusing on continuing professional development (CPD).
The SIA has published a competency renewal strategy outlining plans for reviewing competency requirements for licensing. Good practice dictates that continuing to up-skill, and in many cases broaden and multi-skill, security personnel makes commercial sense. As a leading awarding body, Edexcel would also counsel that obtaining auditable evidence of learning is vital in securing this goal. Critically, the assessment of that learning and external measurement of achievement adds credibility in the eyes of the staff being trained, the organisation and their inspectors.
The SIA continues its mission of industry transformation and has taken a pragmatic view towards competency renewal. It has published plans to undertake a review of this area from October 2008. Edexcel predicts that we will see CPD as an integral part of the mix, whether that be for the individual renewing their licence or the organisation awaiting an inspection for the Approved Contractor Scheme.
So what can training professionals in both security companies and training providers do now so that training spend has this validity built in? How can you 'future-proof'training and make sure that staff possess evidence of training that will be relevant today and acceptable for the future? Accredited training provides longevity and stands up to scrutiny. Training can be accredited by awarding bodies and higher education establishments. However, this training must be relevant to the learner and their job role now and to the organisation's stated objectives; be that growth, consolidation or refocusing on core activity.
There are two areas of training that are universally valued by security practitioners working on the front line; first aid and conflict management.The latter forms a considerable part of most of the licence to practice
qualifications, but it only goes some way in equipping the door staff or guards with the requisite skills. If you are the first person on the scene of an accident or dealing with an incident of heightened tension, then going into that situation equipped with training that has been subject to rigorous review can make all the difference.
First aid training is not for everyone, nor is training in physical intervention skills.The challenge for employers lies in making provision for training that is both relevant to the job role and that may in the future be recognised by the authorities as legitimate and making a valid contribution to CPD.
Furthermore, employees looking to progress in their organisation value training that enables them to make that step up - perhaps going on to mobile patrol, working as a key holder or in alarm response. Training as a key holder may not be mandatory, but there are qualifications on the market that enable an employee to not only hold a licence, but to also prove that they have training relevant to their job role.
It is important that training for the licence to practice qualifications is pitched at entry level. It is a first step that has already been taken by 326,000 security operatives working in licensable roles. Forward thinking, proactive companies will recognise that for the industry to sustain its meteoric growth and to become attractive to recruits of all ages and walks of life, a framework for progression underpinned with accredited training is paramount.The training of team leaders, first line managers and senior managers, and in particular those dealing with risk assessment and strategic management, is a must.
Training professionals must press forward the message, value and actively seek out CPD, and record it in such a way that it has validity and credibility. It is our conviction that accredited learning and qualifications is the only way forward to achieve this goal.
