Attached is a Briefing that has been issued both by the NPS and CRCs to bring members up to date with developments in Community Justice Learning - the replacement for PQF.
Also, please note, the Probation Qualifications Regulatory Framework has been updated to include eligibility for Probation Officer roles and expectations for progression. This can be found on the skills for justice website (http://www.sfjuk.com/community-justice-learning/. Further updates will occur relating to the new Community Justice in the near future. In the meantime this Regulatory Framework applies to learners on the PQF.
Vocational Qualifications Review.
The Occupational Standards (NOS) Review is now complete andare now in the public domain on http://nos.ukces.org.uk/Pages/index.aspx.Skills for Justice Awards and Sector Skills Council are both commissioned to review thecurrent level 5 vocational qualification, which will be part of the Professional Qualification in Probation. The key principles of the CJL model run through the proposals for the vocational qualification for qualifying Probation Officers with the outcome that they are:
• Robust in their assessment of required competence to be achieved by day one as a qualified Probation Officer
• Relevant in terms of new NOS requirements of changing roles
• Responsive to the needs of NPS, CRCs and Prisons.
PQF & Equalities
There has been a review of PQF Recruitment identifying:
• A higher proportion of women than men
• A higher proportion of recruitment from younger applicants
• A representative recruitment of BAME candidates
• A low number of candidates declaring a disability
Procurement for the new qualification
Procurement of Higher Education Providers has commenced. Invitations to Tender have been issued, with a return date of 19th November and commencement of contracts in April 2016. It is anticipated that the level 4 and 5 qualifications will be available at this points. The level 6, Professional Qualification in Probation will be available later in the year.