S P O T L GI H T ENFORCEMENT SPECIAL
Gaining qualifications should help all bailiffs to do their jobs better
Qualified for the job B
TRACY RIVERS MAKES THE CASE FOR BAILIFFS TO UNDERTAKE ACCREDITED TRAINING
ailiffs are never going to be the most popular figures with the public, which makes the profession a challenging one. It is, nonetheless, an essential service, with bailiffs playing a key role in a
necessary process for recovering unpaid monies. As with any other job, ensuring that individuals
carry out their work professionally and efficiently starts with thorough training. However, there are currently very few training courses for bailiffs. Given their powers and responsibilities, this is a situation that should be urgently remedied, with formal training and achievement of appropriate diplomas an essential requirement for those in the sector. In addition to ensuring professional standards, diplomas provide organisations wishing to appoint bailiffs with a solid assurance of competence.
Recognised award A diploma needs to be issued by a recognised awarding body such as City and Guilds, with organisations that provide the training similarly accredited. Training must equip individuals to undertake the work of a first call bailiff competently and professionally, with an advanced diploma enabling bailiffs to progress to certification stage and undertake the full range of enforcement work. Raising awareness of the growing number of bailiffs who are well-trained and highly professional includes making communication and negotiating skills part and parcel of foundation and advanced diplomas. I believe that bailiffs showing debtors respect and understanding, and communicating
38 AUGUST 2010
of doorstep protocol and legal procedures for removing goods, and clamping and confiscating
Bailiffs showing debtors respect gain an improved reputation in the community
vehicles. Inevitably, bailiffs will be challenged, therefore training should also encompass issues such as health and safety, risk assessment, conflict management and personal safety.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tracy Rivers is managing director of Philips Collection
Services. Ms Rivers has 25 years experience in the sector, including 16 years working in local government revenue and recovery departments.
Timescales I envisage a diploma taking up to six months to complete, with training comprising classroom learning, supervised fieldwork and assessment, home study and an examination. Te diploma would be awarded once all the
modules were completed, all field observations carried out, and the trainee could demonstrate knowledge and understanding that met all assessment criteria. Te bailiff industry is heading towards greater
regulation and tighter control. By making bailiff training compulsory, we’ll ensure higher standards and a respectable and reputable profession that is currently sorely undervalued.
www.britishparking.co.uk
with them well, not only achieve better collection outcomes, but also gain an improved reputation in the community as well as greater job satisfaction. A high standard of knowledge is vital, and issues
such as working within the law, the laws of distress, types of debt, data protection, race relations and human rights should be integral to the training course. Trainees should also be expected to be familiar with the ESA Code of Practice and the National Standards for Enforcement Agents and know how to work within their guidelines. Equally important is thorough knowledge
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