probation board for northern ireland 2015. e-learning in pbni … our journey so far e-learning in...

PROBATION BOARD FOR

NORTHERN IRELA

ND

2 0 1 5

E-LEARNING IN PBNI …OUR JOURNEY SO FAR

PBNI BACKGROUND

• PBNI is a Non Departmental Public Body of the Department of Justice Northern Ireland.• The Board currently consists of a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and 11 Board Members• PBNI works at every stage of the criminal justice process from preparing pre sentence

reports to supervision in the community and working within prisons• Supervise over 4,400 offenders and annually prepare over 10,000 reports for Courts,

Parole Commissioners and others• Deliver behavioural change programmes for offenders in custody and in the community• 365 FTE members of staff – various grades across 27 locations• Social Workers in NI must register with NISCC – need to evidence training• CPD Framework – Professional in Practice

WHY E-LEARNING?

• 2011 – internal review of current and future training needs.

• Ready to embrace new learning technology• Financial pressures:

Reduction in training budget;

Reduction in staff travel budget;

Closure of L&D facility

HOW?

2011

• Working Group set up to research E-Learning

2011

• Began procurement of e-learning solution – ‘Moodle’ was selected as our new e-learning system

2012

• E-learning Project Team set up - staff from L&D and IT -Piloted e-learning with a Display Screen Equipment course

2013

• 2013 Elearning site was officially launched

WHAT HAS BEEN DELIVERED?

So far, 24 e-learning courses have been delivered including:• Data protection • General Health & Safety• Information Security Awareness• Responsible for Information• Equality & Diversity• Handling Complaints• Sick absence policy & procedures• Display Screen Equipment

Non Mandatory including:• Time Management • Touch typing• Cultural Awareness

Blended Approach:• Child Protection• Stress awareness• Personal Safety

BENEFITS

• Can be completed at a time and place convenient to user

• Reduction in travel time

• Reduction in time away from the workplace

• Consistency of message and learning opportunity

• Effective knowledge testing

• Return on investment

LESSONS LEARNED

• Subscription to E-learning Content providers

• Build e-learning into annual organisational Training Needs Analysis

• Commissioning process

• Not a panacea for all learning

• Approval Panel

CHALLENGES

• Concerns about reduction in quality of training or that e-learning would replace face-to face training

• Concerns about lack of IT skills

• General complaints about completion

• Managing expectations

• Not accessible to everyone

• Technology

SUCCESS DEPENDS ON:

• The right team • Getting buy in from senior managers• Communication• Evaluation• Approval panel/commissioning process

Lesley McAllister

Learning & Development Manager

Probation Board for Northern Ireland

Lesley.mcallister@pbni.gsi.gov.uk