User
panel meetings attended
by ARIA representatives
Electronic Immigration Network (EIN)
Resources and Links to other sites
OISC Introduction of competency testing
OISC
Introduction of competency testing
|
Most Members will be aware of the imminent introduction of Competency Testing by the OISC. The aim is that as a part of the Quality Audit Scheme used by the OISC an assessment can be made of the ability of an adviser to provide good quality advice and services to clients. The OISC launched a ‘pilot’ of the proposed Competency Testing at the OISC Conference October 2003 and commenced this pilot during November and December of 2003 through to September 2004. The results of this have been used as a learning exercise for the OISC as to what they believe to be the best methods of assessing advisers at the different levels. The OISC encouraged advisers to take part in the ‘pilot’ assessment tests and as reported in the article on Page 2 of Issue 13 of OISC News 2004, a number of Registered and Exempt advisers had taken part. The intention was to introduce Competency Testing as a mandatory part of audit from January 2005. The rollout and structure of the Competency Testing was presented to ARIA at the last ARIA/OISC meeting on 23 February 2005, and is reproduced below for you to read. We understand this is to be reported in the next Issue of OISC News to be issued late March early April 2005. In our discussions with the OISC the Commissioner stated there would be some leeway in that those advisers where the results of any tests revealed to the OISC the adviser was not up to the standard, there would be, in the majority of cases, consideration given to a course of building the knowledge expected, rather than just removing the adviser’s ‘registration’ or ‘exemption’ thereby preventing them from practicing further. This ‘building’ of the knowledge would likely involve a programme of training, development and then further reassessment. In order to achieve this there needs to be facilities to offer suitable training to ALL advisers Registered and Exempt, since presently the OISC only provides access to their training to the Exempt sector. This training by the OISC is provided to the Exempt sector free! The Registered Sector is eliminated from this OISC training! (An issue raised by ARIA from the outset!). The OISC is conscious of the very high costs of training provided by many existing organisations that provide immigration training, also that the content of some training packages may not be up to date in view of the constant changes in immigration legislation over recent years. In view of the point that the Act detailing the setting up of the OISC states the OISC should ‘promote good practice’, and that the intention to raise the standard of those advisers who do not come up to the OISC standards having taken the Competency Test, it is now with interest that the OISC are now ‘keen’ to have training provided equally across both the Exempt Sector and the Registered Sector. With the introduction of Competency Testing and the shared need for this training by both ARIA and the OISC, ARIA is to immediately set up the ARIA training facility around the UK to provide training to the Members of ARIA and indeed all Registered and Exempt advisers, (and those outside of the OISC Regulation scheme). Clearly while the OISC are providing free training to the Exempt sector, it is unlikely the advisers in the Exempt sector will be showing interest in the training to be offered by ARIA since ARIA training will involve the payment of a fee for the course. ARIA will not be able to provide training free, however since the costs associated with good training is a concern voiced by many advisers (both Exempt and Registered) ARIA hope to provide the training at moderate fee rates, with the basic fee being available to Members of ARIA and a slightly higher fee to non-Members. The trainers to be used by ARIA are approved by the OISC. ARIA is in negotiation with OISC with a view that the OISC may provide some funds to ARIA to set up the training to be done by ARIA. Please see the details of the proposed rollout of Competency Testing by the OISC below you can refer to details of the training courses to be offered by ARIA by clicking this link to Training on this website. The training to be provided by ARIA is being developed now and it is expected this will be available from April 2005 to coincide with the rollout of the Competency Testing being carried out by the OISC from that date.
|
|
Introduction
Following the pilot scheme October 2003 - September 2004, OISC produced a report (available on OISC website) and proposed a way forward of written competence assessment. This was detailed at the five conferences in November/December. Further comment was available through the OISC website until 4 January 2005. Following that consultation period, we now intend to implement the assessment programme for both new and existing OISC advisers with effect from April 2005. This includes all advisers who may have taken a written competence assessment prior to 31 March 2005. We aim to complete assessment of all registered advisers by 31 December 2006, with all remaining OISC advisers, by 31 March 2007. The following represents our current thinking as to how the assessments will work. Level 1 assessments All advisers, irrespective of their level must complete the general level 1 assessment, to ensure a foundation knowledge base across all level 1 categories. Level 2/3 advisers will then go on to take further assessment at the higher levels. Level 1 assessment will primarily be completed through an Internet connection (our research informs us that 92% of OISC advisers are `on line'). For new applicants, the assessment will be during the application process. Following receipt of an application the OISC will provide the potential advisers with an `adviser number' through which they can access the OISC website and take the level 1 multiplechoice assessment. Existing advisers will access the website the same way once they have been informed that the facility is open to them, probably on a programmed basis. Advisers will be given a time period during which they will be expected to take the assessment (likely to be around four weeks). During that period, the adviser will have access to the assessment of 30 questions to be answered within one hour. A clock on the website allows the adviser to know how much time is left for the test. The adviser is allowed to use books or the Internet to look up information. The OISC wishes to ensure that the knowledge is available to be used rather than a memory test. Advisers may review their answers, if they have the time, and on completion, the assessment will be sent to the adviser's OISC caseworker electronically. The caseworker will review the assessment with input from management as appropriate to ensure consistency. While there is no specific pass mark, a judgement will be made as to whether the adviser has met a satisfactory standard of competence. Where an adviser has not met the competence requirements, the caseworker will inform the adviser as to where improvement needs to be made. While the OISC is not being prescriptive about how an adviser chooses to improve his competence, training courses will be available.
For a new applicant, providing the adviser passes the assessment the application will continue. If the adviser fails to meet the requirements, the adviser will be expected to take action to improve and be given the opportunity to take the assessment again at a later date following discussion with the caseworker. However, that will depend on other factors considered during the application process. Failure to take the assessment or meet the requirements may result in an application being refused. For existing advisers, while an adviser may satisfy the assessment, the caseworker may alert the adviser to areas of knowledge that could be improved. If advisers fail to meet a satisfactory standard, they may be given the opportunity to improve their competence and re-take the assessment following discussion with their caseworker. The adviser will be expected to take action to improve and failure to do so or to take the assessment may result in the adviser being de-regulated by the OISC. While new advisers may apply to the OISC any time, we wish to programme the assessment of existing advisers to meet the timescales detailed in the introduction above. We expect to begin in April by assessing level 3 advisers at the foundation level 1 standard. This will be followed by level 2 advisers and finally level 1. Assessments at level 2 and 3 competence are unlikely to be carried out in any great numbers before July 2005. We must recognise that the sector is dynamic and there may well be the need to move outside these arrangements if there is a need. By programming the assessments this way, advisers get the maximum time opportunity to fill any knowledge gaps they are currently aware of that need addressing before being tested at the level they are currently approved to work at. Level 2/3 Assessments These will take the form of scenario questions and require a narrative answer. Advisers will be expected to answer questions appropriate to the categories they are currently approved to work at or is applying to work at. At level 2, two different scenarios will be provided; each scenario will have questions that need to be answered within 30 minutes. For those at level 3, a further question per scenario will be provided that is specific to advocacy (15 minutes each set of questions). Many assessments for existing advisers will be taken during the regular audit of the premises. However, this may not always be possible, and to meet the timescales above, a further opportunity for advisers to sit the assessment will be made available. This may be at the OISC's offices or at assessment centres (some of these will be regional where there is sufficient demand). New applicants may be expected to travel to an assessment centre if they wish to expedite their application. We are working on advisers being able to type their answers onto a computer but answers in the early days are likely to be handwritten. The answers will be considered by the caseworker, usually back at OISC offices, before feedback is given to the adviser.
Again, there is no specific pass mark but advisers will be expected to display a level of knowledge conducive to the level and areas of work they have been approved at or are applying for approval at. Summary It is worthwhile keeping in mind that the competence assessment is only part of the quality audit scheme to assess advisers and their organisations as to whether they are fit and competent. Completion of the assessment programme will enable the OISC to implement a more informed risk assessed approach to auditing that will be reflected in the amount of audit required and the fees paid by the adviser. The assessment timescale is a challenging one for advisers and OISC alike, but one that we believe is achievable.
Stephen Seymour Director of Operations 23 February 2005
|
||||||||||||
