arca competency scheme
A
Competency qualification has been in existence for asbestos operatives for over
10 years in the form of a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 qualification in the Handling of Hazardous and non Hazardous Waste. ARCA were involved at the inception of this
qualification and were instrumental in compiling the National Occupational Standards (NOS) on which this qualification for asbestos operatives was based. It soon became apparent that the NVQ system of assessment was not well suited to the asbestos industry and this was for a number of reasons. Firstly the assessment period is relatively long and the transient nature of employees within the asbestos industry meant that frequently operatives would move to another employer mid way through the qualification and not resume the qualification with the new employer. Secondly as the majority of the work carried out by an asbestos operative is in a hazardous environment it was difficult for an assessor to assess the work from a distance on site. As a result less than 10 individuals signed up to undertake the NVQ for asbestos operatives during the first few years of the qualifications
Competency AR Scheme
existence and even fewer actually achieved the CA
qualification. As there was no demand for the qualification Awarding Bodies ceased offering the qualification. Te situation began to change in 2008 when
the Government introduced the Train to Gain scheme, where funding was available to employers to put their employees through NVQ’s. A small demand for the NVQ qualification began to emerge from the asbestos removal industry and some awarding bodies began to offer the qualification to meet the small demand. Te Construction Skills Certification Scheme
(CSCS) became aware that a competency based assessment scheme was available within the asbestos removal industry and therefore informed the industry that the industry accreditation route would be ceasing from July 31st 2009. After this date all applicants for a CSCS card for an asbestos operative would either have to have completed the (NVQ) Level 2 qualification in the Handling of Hazardous and non Hazardous Waste or have signed up to complete it. Tose who had signed up to complete the qualification would only be issued with a one year trainee CSCS card valid
for one year, which would only be renewed if the qualification had been successfully completed. As CSCS cards are essential for many ARCA
members to gain access to sites it was essential that ARCA could offer its membership a route to gaining the qualifications necessary to obtain the CSCS card. When ARCA came to re examine the NVQ with a view to offering it to the membership ARCA felt it was evident that the qualification was still not well suited to our industry. As a result ARCA began to explore other options. Over the years ARCA has worked closely with the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), formerly the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, and developed qualifications with them. Te RSPH have developed competency qualifications for other industries and felt sure that they could produce competency qualifications for the asbestos industry in conjunction with ARCA. ARCA in partnership with RSPH have developed a competency scheme that will
enable individuals working within the asbestos removal industry to prove on-going competence. It should be noted that this scheme does not replace existing legislative training requirements for individuals working for HSE licensed asbestos removal companies. ARCA and the RSPH have currently developed a qualification for New Operatives, Operatives and Supervisors. Te qualifications are accredited to the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) and externally verified by the RSPH. ARCA are the approved assessment centre for the delivery of the ARCA Competency Scheme assessments. Tese assessments will be offered at one of four locations throughout the UK (Rayleigh, Oxford, Burton, Manchester and Glasgow). In addition to assessment at an assessment centre the supervisor qualification will also require an on site assessment.
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ARCA & ATAC NEWS
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