Useful policy and other documents for reference
AUCSO Bookable Training Courses - members wishing to advertise their courses to other establishments should forward the details, in the format on the 'Bookable Training Courses' form, to b.schofield@bath.ac.uk
Training and Development
AUCSO has in place a sub-committee to review and research ways of promoting and developing training for security staff employed in Universities and Colleges.
Our aims for 2010 are:
1. Develop a career development framework for the HE security sector based on good practice elsewhere
2. Develop package of courses available via external training providers. Where gaps are identified, work with training providers to develop courses as appropriate and promote them to the membership
3. Encourage the take-up of the Skills for Security passport by member institutions to encourage accurate recording of formal and on-the-job training
4. Develop a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework to encourage security managers to demonstrate continued learning and to encourage attendance at AUCSO and other professional events as determined by AUCSO
5. Utilise the new AUCSO website to notify members of training courses taking place across the UK by region and course type
6. Develop a set of criteria for external training providers to promote them and their courses via the website for a fee to increase AUCSO income
7. Utilise the website to add useful documents/web links for members concerning key security issues, develop good practice guidance, legislation updates and useful recruitment information
8. Actively promote the Security Officer of the Year award and incorporate with the new Certificate of Appreciation scheme to recognise good, but not necessarily heroic work of officers and teams
9. Provide a framework for formal representation by members at third party stakeholder/consultation groups
The sub-committee is keen to develop and implement the above aims working closely with members in order to promote the highest standards of training and development within the security sector. It is also keen to provide – through this website – sources of information which may be of use to members in carrying out their complex and multi-various roles by learning about good practice from fellow practitioners.
The SIA The Private Security Industry Act 2001, the establishment of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and the launch of Skills for Security in 2006 (to replace SITO) radically altered the manner in which training is developed and delivered to the whole of the security business sector.
Whilst the Act, to date, specifically excludes the provision of in-house security from licensing requirements, there are certain elements of in-house security provision that may need to be licensed, e.g. door supervision or public space CCTV. A review in 2009 by the SIA specifically looked at whether there was a case to licence in-house staff. It’s conclusion was that the case wasn’t made, but the SIA suggested they may look at this issue again in the next few years.
It is incumbent upon HE institutions to carefully examine their security operations and decide, possibly with legal advice, on whether their staff need to be licensed. This decision will then dictate basic training provision, although AUCSO encourages members to provide training over and above this minimum level in order to provide the highest quality of security staff.
The SIA has recently published its new modular training requirements - please click here for more details.
For further information on Security staff training and licensing, members should follow the following links:
www.skillsforsecurity.org.uk
www.the-sia.org.uk
Members will note from the Skills for Security website that they no longer provide training for security staff, such as the BJT, but now provide training for trainers to enable organisations to deliver training themselves or buy in training from a local or national training provider.
The training courses available can be accessed via the Skills for Security website.
AUCSO supports the use of the Skills for Security training passport for keeping a record of security staff training and qualifications. Not only does it make it easy to keep all the information in one place, security staff can take it with them to future employers as part of a record of their own career development. The passports can be ordered direct with Skills for Security by completing the passport order form [add link to PDF order form here]. Prices are currently £2.65 per passport plus postage and packing.
Over the next few months, we hope to add to these web pages details of training courses being run at institutions around the country in order to share costs where possible. Further information to aid in the development of strategies and recruitment will also be added to this part of the website. Click here to see the 2010 updated list of AUCSO training courses.
AUCSO working with colleagues in the Higher Education Business Continuity Network (HEBCoN) and HEFCE have developed guidance for emergency management in higher education. Courses are regularly run through the Emergency Planning College
It is also recommended that members view the Train to Gain section at Skills for Security. Train to Gain has been developed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) as a service that can help businesses access the training they need to succeed.
Train to Gain offers advice and will match business needs with local training providers. It is flexible, responsive and is offered at a time and place to suit you and your business. Train to Gain is also funded by the Government through your local LSC – so training can be free or subject to partial funding.
The AUCSO Training Sub-committee will continue to review developments and keep you updated through this website. Please contact your nearest representative if you need further information:
Mr Jerry Woods jerry.woods@bristol.ac.uk (Chair)
Paul Markham-James paul.markham-james@roehampton.ac.uk
Terry Branch terry.branch@imperial.ac.uk
Tracey Knox t.v.knox@newcastle.ac.uk
Tracy Phipps t.phipps@warwick.ac.uk
Rob Powell robert.powell@newport.ac.uk
Brian Schofield b.schofield@bath.ac.uk
Andy Gordon-Platt a.t.gordon-platt@leeds.ac.uk
Tony Bannister a.bannister@surrey.ac.uk
Training surveys and questionnaires. Click here for information on recent surveys and here for questionnaires
The Training sub-committee also administers the Security Officer of the Year award which is open to applications from January of each year with the award ceremony taking place during the annual conference gala dinner. Click here for details on the award and an application form.
In order to recognise good work year round, security managers can submit a brief application form for individual security staff or teams who you would like AUCSO to recognise under their Certificate of Appreciation scheme. Individuals receive a certificate and AUCSO monogrammed pen. Full details of the scheme and an example of the certificate can be found here.
Information on career development and security officer training courses including degree coursesrecommended by AUCSO members can be found in the Library
