Training issues

Report: 08
Date: 4 September 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides information on current training issues and considerations.

A. Recommendations

That

1. Members note the contents of this report; and
2. Members acknowledge the proposed Annual Training Plan

B. Supporting information

Strategy

1. The Directorate of Training and Development (DTD) is being re-professionalised to align training to national occupational standards. It is our goal to maximise training outputs within the available budget. Furthermore, it is our aim to improve the accessibility of training by re-sourcing a South London site, to deliver training closer to the workplace and to introduce greater flexibility to cater for part time staff or those with carer responsibilities. We are exploring greater use of civil staff and of external lecturers and contractors to deliver more courses within our budget. DTD has been run as a traditional police command, however, the Best Value Review recommended a ‘business model’ approach which is detailed in a separate paper also tabled for this meeting.

2. The MPS has a statutory obligation to produce an Annual Training Plan, which has been made available separately to Members and is available upon request. However, a summarised version is attached at Appendix 1. This will be analysed by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (Personnel and Training), (HMIC (P&T)). The format is laid down in Home Office Circular No: 18 of 2002, and the plan is costed using the National Costing Model for Training. HMIC (P&T) has recognised that many forces have experienced difficulty in meeting the deadlines. Publication of the MPS plan and implementation of the planned training has not been possible until after the start of this financial year. For this reason, we request that the Committee formally acknowledges the proposed plan and that discussion is based around the overall size and shape of MPS training, rather than specific, course by course, detail.

National Probationer Development Programme

3. As a consequence of HMIC report into probationer training, a fundamental review was undertaken which has received Ministerial approval. Progress is being made in developing a new national Probationer Training Programme (PTP) and implementation will begin nationally on 1 April 2004. Training will be carried out in three phases with the completion of each phase being measured by the competence rather than by time.

• Phase One - Will be delivered by a number of providers against a variable timescale and will include community-based experiences
• Phase Two - Concentrates on operational skills using a tutor unit with the emphasis on experiential learning
• Phase Three - Will be used to develop specialist skills and define career pathways

4. The aim of the PTP is to place emphasis on officers achieving formally assessed key competencies recognised via a national qualification. The PTP will be centrally co-ordinated but places responsibility for delivery with the forces, who retain the flexibility/option to contract out training to a third party. The nationally agreed syllabus must be delivered but additional modules may be added according to need. Prior learning will be accredited, and pre-joining courses encouraged. The new process will be piloted in the MPS at a South London site when this becomes operational for probationer training later in the year.

5. In order to reduce the overall delay between selection and deployment, delivery will rely on protected workplace learning assisted by tutor units. The proposed training pattern is:

• The acquisition of basic policing skills and knowledge at training school
• Attestation
• Transfer to tutor unit for operational training and assessment as fit for independent patrol

6. Consequently, to enable PTP, training staff will be required to re-skill in order to manage the more complex programme and be able to adapt to the more formal training approach.

7. We are in regular contact with the Home Office to ensure that the needs and concerns of the MPS are represented. However, a fuller picture of the proposed programme will emerge when the Learning Requirement is published at the end of August 2003. This is an ongoing and dynamic project and a verbal update will be given at the meeting.

Proposed review of Intranet functions

8. Training is normally proposed when there is a need to communicate new or revised policy; or when there is a change to the law. The principal method of internal communication within the MPS is by way of Police Notices, which has remained unchanged since Lord Imbert’s review when Commissioner. The present format used is merely an IT version of that review.

9. The current format of Notices and many related remote access presentations are considered passive, insofar as the audience has discretion, whether to read it and how they interpret it. It is suggested that new information can be targeted to rank, band or role by e-mail, with one simple database archiving information. The present system requires the reader to have an understanding of the organisational structure in order to better access information.

10. Policy departments could, with the Centre for Applied Learning Technologies assistance, devise interactive products including self-assessments. The organisation could then be assured that relevant staff have received and digested mandatory changes.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The South London Site will encourage ‘South London’ staff with care responsibilities not to de-select themselves from training and developmental opportunities.

D. Financial implications

1. The cost of the South London site is being revised for September’s RAC meeting. A verbal update will be provided at the meeting.

2. The increase in funds for staff may amount to 15% over the next three years. This forms the DTD bid for the Medium Term Financial Plan.

E. Background papers

• Home Office Circular No: 18 of 2002 – “Promoting Effective Performance Through the Training Plan”.

F. Contact details

Report author: Commander Shabir Hussain, Director, Training and Development, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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