Business Plan 2007

1. Quality Assurance

(i) Monitor and maintain all processes and procedures contained within the ECITB Quality Assurance Procedures Manual ensuring that any revisions comply with the SVQ/NVQ Criteria and Guidance for Awarding Bodies.

(ii)
Implement the risk assessment procedure for all approved centres, which will identify low and high-risk centres, to enable targeted and focused external verification.

(iii)
Implement Continuous Professional Development for the External Verifiers through two formal Development days and on-going support and updating on developments from the regulatory authorities.

(iv)
Hold a series of Approved Centre Standardisation meetings across the UK, (One in Scotland) which will ensure consistency in the interpretation of the awarding body requirements for assessment and internal verification, which in turn will ensure consistency in assessment and verification practice.

(i)
This will be achieved through Lead Verifier and External Verifier visits to Approved Centres, Visit Reports and the monitoring by the Lead Verifier of the External Verifier’s performance, in accordance with the laid down procedures in the N/SVQ-QA Procedure Manual.
Update and reissue the QAPM in line with awarding body and regulatory authority requirements. Issue standards bulletins on an as and when basis.
Ensure both QCA and SQA audit arrangements for the AB are met and complied with.

Quarter 4- 2007.
Ongoing through 2007

(ii)
This will be achieved by using the self assessment records as completed by the approved centres. External verifiers will be given copies of the documents relating to their AC for agreement of assessment ratings as submitted to the awarding body by approved centres. EVs will monitor the high risk activities.
Quarter 1 and then ongoing through 2007.

(iii)
Meetings shall be held in January, May and December of 2007. A number of training and standardisation events need to be coordinated for EVs to continue to be effective in their role
Quarters 1, 2 and 4 /2007

(iv)
The meetings shall be conducted in line with awarding body developments throughout the 2007 period. It is anticipated that the meetings shall be held during quarter 4 2007.

(i)
Successful audits by QCA and SQA.
I.e. Reduction in the number of Accreditation Conditions applied 2006 audits.

Feedback from Customer Satisfaction Survey. High medium and Low – High required.

Reduction of Sanctions on ACs.

Implementation of AB management database.

(ii)
Audit of the management of High and Medium risk factors operating within ACs.
Measure - satisfactory audit reports, reduction in Sanction Levels.

(iii)
Increase for 2007 EV standards meetings.

Meetings require measured outcomes of EV understanding.

(iv)
Quarter 1 Training for all ACs on the AB management database use and implementation.

Standardisation meetings held in 4 quarter of the year to provide updates on the AB activities,

Measurement- customer satisfaction reports. Reduction in EV on site audits.

(i)
Audits uncover failings in AB systems and procedures. Accreditation Conditions increased – removal of ECITB AB status. Low risk. (see below IT)

Management IT database is not updated. Do not fulfil the QCA agreed ABRU action plan requirements.
Medium/high risk.

(ii)
Centres refuse to cooperate. Low risk.

High risk situations not being managed by ACs. Low risk.

Increased turnover of EVs. Low risk.

Increased workload from ECITB from other non EV duties. Medium risk.
Increased sanctions on ACs. Low risk.

(iii)
EVs being unable to attend all meetings = increase expenditure. Medium/low risk.

Increase in turnover of EVs. Low risk.

(iv)
Management database not implemented. Medium/high risk to operations.

Centres do not attend.
Low risk.

Increase in EV activity due to non conformance and sanctions on ACs. Low Risk.

Total estimated income from product range to non in scope companies

See below at each objective section for details.

2. Conflict of Interest

(i)
Maintain a framework of occupationally competent external verifiers, who are not employees of the ECITB, but who are individuals associated with the engineering construction industry, contracted to the Awarding Body to deliver independent and enhanced quality assurance under the guidance of the Head of Awarding Body Operations.

(ii)
Ensure that the assessment processes for trainees on the NASEC, NSDS and TECSkills schemes remove the potential for conflict of interest through the implementation of an assessment process independent from the training processes.

(i)
Recruit and replace EVs as and when necessary ensure that all EVs are working to contracted agreements and Role Profile arrangements and that a minimum of one joint audit meeting and associated documentation is completed by the LV.

Throughout 2007

(ii)
This will be achieved by audit and monitoring arrangements being completed by the EVs. Where needed sanctions shall be applied in line with regulatory authority guidelines.

Throughout 2007

(i)
Train external verifiers in new products.
Measurement- Assess EV understanding of training.

AC standardisation meetings during quarter 1 to provide training on the use and application of the AB IT management system.
Measurement – Customer Satisfaction reports.

(ii)
As number 1 above.

(i)
EVs unable to attend training and standardisation meetings. Low Risk.

New system not adopted or current system cannot be updated either within required time scales or to the spec required. Medium/high risk.

Increase in turnover of EVs. Low risk.

(ii)
Increase in EV non awarding body activities e.g. TECSkills. Medium/low risk.

Increase in TECSkills users and completions i.e. EVs not being able to cope with volume. Low/medium Risk.

Increased sanctions and EV audit requirements, Assessor IV refresher training. Low/Medium risk.

3. Promotion and Marketing

The following methods and media will be used to promote the qualifications, their use and benefits.
(i) ACE Bulletin, ACE Website

(ii)
ECITB Website

(iii)
New Awarding Body website

(iv)
ECITB Intranet for internal updates and information.

(v)
Service Bulletins to centres as and when required for information and changes to processes and procedures.

(vi)
Approved Centre Standardisation meetings

(vii)
ECITB Regional Reviews

(viii)
ECITB Regional Forums

This will be completed by ensuring

(i)
Are issued to all approved centres and EVs. Care shall be taken to ensure that messages sent out are from the ACE section of the department and not the awarding body.
The ACE website will be updated through discussions at the directorate meetings with the ACE Project Manager.

(ii)

Will be updated by the VQ administrator on an as and when basis. This site is likely to contain only a link for the new awarding body site.

(iii)
Will be updated on a regular basis and will contain various items of important news and issues relating to the operation of the awarding body.

(iv)
As for the ECITB web site a link shall exist for transferring to the AB site. Important news items shall be displayed for a minimum period before removal to the AB site.
(v)
Will be displayed on the AB web site and on the Intranet site for a short review period.

(vi)
Minutes shall be posted on the AB website and sent out to all approved centre named contacts and meeting attendees as per QAPM. Those lists shall also appear on the web site

(vii)
Where attended by the awarding body a set report format relating to issues raised at the meetings requiring AB comment or input shall be minuted and provided on the awarding body web site.

(viii)
Where attended by the awarding body a set report format relating to issues raised at the meetings requiring AB comment or input shall be minuted and provided on the awarding body web site.

All of the above activities shall be enforced and applied throughout 2007.

(i)

This shall be under the objectives of the VQ administrator to review and update on a regular basis. The VQA and ACE-PM produce an internal procedure for updating the ACE website. Quarter 1.
Measurement – customer satisfaction survey.

(ii)

The VQA will produce written procedure for operating and maintaining the site. Quarter 1.
Measurement – Hits on site.

(iii)
The VQA will produce a written procedure for operating and maintaining the site. Quarter 1.
Promote site.
Measurement – hits on site.

(iv)
The VQA will produce a written procedure for operating and maintaining the site. Quarter 1.

(v)
The VQA will produce a written procedure for operating and maintaining the site. Quarter 1.

(vi)
The VQA will produce a written procedure for operating and maintaining the site. Quarter 1.
Measurement Customer Satisfaction survey.

(vii)
The VQA will produce a written procedure for operating and maintaining the site. Quarter 1.
Measurement Customer Satisfaction survey.

(viii)
The VQA will produce with the assistance of the HOAB a written procedure for operating and maintaining the site. Quarter 1.

Measurement – close out issues raised at meetings. Post new information on web site.

(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii).
Procedures are written and not implemented. E.g.

Workload within the AB continues at current levels or increases during 2007 due to ACE, TECSkills, Eportfolio,

QCA, SQA increased requirements on the AB to retain AB status.
AB-IT management systems not being updated.

CCNSG workload and monitoring increases,

AB-Meeting attendance increases or cannot be met,

AB approved courses are not monitored and evaluated for effectiveness.

Customer satisfaction results fall.

Reduced effectiveness of the AB is
High/medium risk.

(i)
Out of scope companies expected income from ACE candidate registrations quarter 1 - 2007

(The CSSO l2 qualification uptake would benefit were a source of funding identified to assist candidates in recuperating costs of assessment.)

Pilot the portfolio functionality. Train users in the operation and application requirements.
Promote through existing staff and ECITB resources eportfolio cost benefits and user advantages.
Produce overseas operating policy and use document – protocols.

Ensure that the eportfolio is used and implemented as requested by QCA as part of the ABRU 2006 Action Plan.

Measurement -
Uptake – number of UK registrations
Numbers of foreign registrations for UK residents.
Number of registrations for foreign nationals in country of origin or employment.
Number of completions
Customer Satisfaction survey.

Complete ABRU action plan to the satisfaction of QCA.

AB staff recognises that without effective IT management systems the eportfolio will be rendered ineffective. QCA Action Plan conditions not met. High risk.

Operational restrictions, non approval imposed by QCA/SQA. Low risk.

Tutorials not available to train users. Low risk.

Cost of use is considered too high AB charges Hosting £60 + registration fee. Low risk.

National Occupational standards not approved within the timescales expected.

Changes to QCA.SQA submission procedures

Lack of support from the ECI. (minimal)

AB staff changes, leavers etc.