nus apprentice extra card - web viewdocument name. document ... your employer and skills coach will...

Learner Handbook

Learner Name: ________________________________________

Course Details: ________________________________________

Start Date ________________ End Date____________________

1Document Name Document Location Authorised By Owned By Issue

No.Issue Date Review Date Page(s)

Learner Handbook Intranet R Palmer H Carter 1 27/9/17 26/9/18 1

Important Contact Details




Skills Coach name:

_________________________________________________________

Skills Coach mobile telephone:

_________________________________________________________

Skills Coach email address:

_________________________________________________________

College Tutor name:

_________________________________________________________

College Tutor email address:

_________________________________________________________

College address:

_________________________________________________________

ContentsWelcome to Skillnet 4

Our Values 4

Skills Minister Welcome Letter 5

Your Support Team 6

Programme Induction 7I. How will my programme work for me?

II. Sickness or injury

III. Unauthorised absence

IV. Discipline

V. Initial Assessment / diagnostics

VI. Your individual learning plan

VII. Review of progress

Apprenticeships Explained 9

The Assessment Process 9

My Certificates 11

Career Progression 12

Information Advice and Guidance 13

Study Skills Advice 13

Plagiarism 14

Spelling Punctuation and Grammar 15

Qualification Appeals Procedure 19

Behaviour, Ethics and British Values 21

Anti-Bullying and Harassment 22

NUS Apprentice Extra Card 23

Confidentiality, Complaints and Compliments 24

Health and Safety 25

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 25

Safeguarding and PREVENT 26

Supporting Disability 26




Welcome to SkillnetWelcome to your programme. You have joined one of the most successful programmes in the UK. Skillnet will be your training provider.

Skillnet was established in 1999 and was one of the first training providers to achieve the prestigious ‘Training Quality Standard’ award in 2008.

We operate nationally and can offer a full range of training services to employers and employees. Each year we manage the training for more than 2500 people. We now deliver quality provision nationally across a range of disciplines and to a range of different employers. Each year we get more than 20,000 applications from people looking for an Apprenticeship – one of them is now you!

This handbook forms a vital part of your Apprenticeship and provides a record of your understanding of the programme of training undertaken under the guidance of Skillnet. Whilst on the programme, you will learn skills which are essential to any organisation. The success of every business relies on the skills of its employees. The experiences you will gain from this programme will also help you to succeed in your future working career, wherever that takes you. We hope it will be useful for you to refer to as your programme progresses.

Your employer and Skills Coach will carry out your induction programme and they will explain the requirements of the programme to you. Included in your training is other vital information such as Health and Safety, Data Protection and Discrimination. The induction is an important part of your training as it informs you about your




Our values demonstrate

our commitment

to our customers in

our work

We do what we say we are

going to do, when we say we are going

to do it

We strive to give

exceptional service to our

customers

We provide outstanding support for

the industries we work with

We value our learners

rights and responsibilities and those of your employer and also trains you for making valuable contributions to becoming part of your organisation.

Dear Learner

‘Get In. Go Far’. That’s the message you may have seen in adverts across the country to boost high-quality apprenticeships. And now, you have decided to join this growing movement of people who want to get the skills they need to get on in life. From Harlow to Hartlepool, from Blackburn to Bodmin, huge numbers of people are following their career dreams by starting an apprenticeship.

With an apprenticeship, you will gain the knowledge, the skills, and crucially, the industry experience necessary for a successful career. And even if you later decide to do a totally different job, the skills you have gained will give you a huge advantage.

Every apprentice counts. No matter who you are, or where you are from, or whatever you want to do, an apprenticeship will open up doors for you. And not just at work.

Apprenticeships are an opportunity to acquire skills and professional experience, but they have a much wider impact. You will gain confidence in your talents, approach new situations outside your comfort zone and, maybe, even unlock new dreams and aspirations.

When hiring an apprentice, an employer expects significant benefits for the business: fresh talent, increased productivity, a better-prepared workforce. But you should have high expectations, too, and make sure you get the best deal out of your apprenticeship.




Our Values

You are entitled to an apprentice minimum wage (starting at £3.40 per hour, if you’re under19 or in your first year, in your second year this increases to; £5.55 if you’re aged 19 to 20,£6.95 if you’re 21 to 24 and in line with the national living wage of £7.20 if you’re over 25), a number of learning hours that should be agreed with the employer before starting, andregular assessments of your progress.

You can access all details about pay and much more in this link:

https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates

I recently heard from Anna Schlautmann, an apprentice in Greater Manchester. She said: “I knew there were many benefits to gain from an apprenticeship despite some of my peers and teachers discouraging my choice. Although now they have seen the amount that I have achieved - meeting the Prime Minister at Downing Street, speaking in Parliament, contributing to business objectives and working abroad. I now get invited to my old college to promote apprenticeships to the students. Many of my peers wish they had done an apprenticeship.”

It all shows that with an apprenticeship, you can truly do anything you want.

Thank you for your commitment to apprenticeships. Now – climb that ladder of opportunity!

Yours sincerely,

Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP

Your Support Team Your employer and Skillnet will make sure that you have the support you need to achieve your chosen qualification. Our job is to ensure that your training programme fits yours and your employer’s requirements, offers the skills required for your job role and also meets national standards.

Upon successful enrolment, you will be allocated a dedicated learning team which consists of a number of individuals, each bringing expertise, information and guidance to your learning.

Recruitment Consultant: The role of this person is support your enrolment onto the Apprenticeship programme, help your induction, into your workplace, look after your welfare and ensure your Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities requirements are met. They will also explain to you and your employer the role of Skillnet and the training process.

Skills Coach: They will guide you through your qualification and work with you to generate evidence for your qualification and provide you with information, knowledge and feedback to help you achieve. Your Skills Coach will arrange to visit you within the work place at least every eight weeks.

Tutor: The role of the tutor is to provide you with teaching and learning in a one to one or a classroom setting. They will work with you to make sure that you have all of the underpinning knowledge you need to competently use equipment safely in the work place and to pass your assessments at college. Your Skills Coach and Tutor may be the same person.





Regional Skills Manager: The Regional Skills Manager is part of the Skillnet management team. They are responsible for ensuring that all Skills Coaches within their region are delivering the highest possible standards of training and development as possible. Regional Skills Managers are also responsible for checking the quality of the work that you produce with your Skills Coach and check that your assessments are consistent and reliable.

Programme Support Team: Our programme support team has a wealth of experience and knowledge. They can issue you with joining instructions, arrange travel and hotel accommodation for block training where necessary, apply for certification, and are keen to help in any way they can.

Internal Quality Assurer: The Internal Quality Assurer will assess the quality of yours and your assessor’s work whilst on the programme. They are employed by Skillnet to ensure that all learner work meets required quality standards before your certificates are claimed.

External Quality Assurer: The External Quality Assurer does not work for Skillnet; they work directly for the awarding organisations who issue the final certificates when you complete your programme. Their job involves monitoring Skillnet on a regular basis to ensure that we are providing a quality service. They also provide us with advice and guidance on how we can continually improve our training programmes.

Funding Agencies: The scheme is run with financial support from one of four Government agencies the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) in England, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) In Scotland, Quality Skills Alliance (QSA) in Wales and the Department of Education and Learning (DEL) in Northern Ireland

Programme InductionHow will my programme work for me?

You are employed by your company. This means that you have a job, but your employer has asked Skillnet to support, organise and supervise your training programme, leading to a nationally recognised qualification. The following terms and conditions apply to the training programme only and in no way affect your rights and responsibilities under your contract of employment. Your agreed rates of pay, holidays, sick pay etc, are not affected by the programme, but Skillnet can advise you if you have any difficulties with these matters.

Sickness or injury

If you are off work with sickness or injury, be sure you or someone else tell your employer and if you are due to see your Skills Coach or attend college on the day you are ill, be sure to let Skillnet know as early as possible on the first day of absence. You can find contact details at the front of this booklet.

Unauthorised Absence:




Your employer will be informed if you are absent from college or any other off site training without permission, or are late for teaching sessions. If such conduct persists, you may be dismissed from the training programme.

Discipline:

Discipline is vital to good training and you are expected to behave in a professional manner at all times. Your supervisor and your Skills Coach will talk to you about any lapses and they will help you to develop professional behaviours throughout the duration of the programme. Persistent misconduct (such as lateness, absences, rudeness, disobedience, etc) may lead to a verbal warning, followed if necessary by a written warning and finally by dismissal from the programme. If you want to appeal, you can ask the help of the Careers Services, Trade Union representative or any person in whom you have confidence. If at the end you still feel you have been unfairly treated, you can appeal to the funding organisation responsible for your training.

Initial Assessment / Diagnostics

As part of your training you will be required to complete initial assessments and diagnostic assessment to assess your working levels of English, maths and ICT. It is essential that you complete these assessments when your Skills Coach requests them. These assessments form an integral part of your skills development throughout your apprenticeship programme.

Your Individual Learning Plan

Your Individual Learning Plan (ILP) will be agreed as part of your induction. A copy will be retained at the Skillnet office, returning the original to your for review at every visit by your Skills Coach.

Your Skills Coach at Skillnet is named on page 2. Skills Coaches can be reached by telephoning their mobile telephone number. This information is also documented within your individual learning plan. You are expected to attend work and any off job training (college etc), regularly, act safely and generally follow the rules and participate in all aspects with enthusiasm. If you have any problems, be sure to discuss them with your supervisor or with your Skills Coach.

Disclosure and Authorisation

In order to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 Skillnet will be passing on the personal details that you have provided to the Awarding Body for your qualification and the Government Funding Agency responsible for your area. A copy of our full data protection policy is available on the Skillnet website – www.skillnet.org.uk

Review of Progress

Throughout your time on the programme, your Skills Coach will review your progress at regular intervals. They will discuss your progress with you and you should bring to their attention any problems you may have. Any personal matters you may wish to discuss with your Skills Coach will be treated in the strictest confidence. You will be set targets regularly and these are important to your development and growth on the programme.

Transfer




http://www.skillnet.org.uk/

If you lose your job, Skillnet may be able to help you to find employment with a different employer, please contact your Skills Coach as soon as possible for support and information on what steps you need to take. Alternatively if you change jobs you may be able to continue your training programme with your new employer as long as the programme requirements are suitable to your new job.

You will not receive any additional allowances or expenses from Skillnet.

Apprenticeships Explained

The Benefits

Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to work for a real employer, earn a real salary and gain a real qualification whilst gaining valuable workplace skills and experience.

Earn while you learnAll apprentices must receive the appropriate national minimum wage. Information on the most up to date minimum wage values can be found at https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates Apprenticeship National Minimum Wage rate does not apply to Higher Apprenticeships.

A real qualification





Quality is key to Apprenticeships. All Apprenticeships must be at least 12 months and 1 day long and lead to a national qualification that is respected by employers around the world.

A real futureAfter finishing, the majority of apprentices (85%) will stay in employment, with two-thirds (64%) staying with the same employer. A third (32%) of all former apprentices had received a promotion within 12 months of finishing, and of those in work, three quarters (75%) reported taking on more responsibility in their job. Employers think that qualified apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications.

What types of Apprenticeship are there?There are three types of Apprenticeship you can apply for depending on your current skills and qualifications:

1 - Intermediate Level Apprenticeships 2 - Advanced Level Apprenticeships 3 - Higher Apprenticeships

The Assessment ProcessApprenticeships

The Apprenticeship consists of 5 components:

Employment Rights and Responsibilities National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) / Vocational Competence Qualification (VCQ) (SVQ’s IN

Scotland) Technical Certificate or Knowledge qualification / Vocational Related Qualification (VRQ) Functional Skills (England) / Essential Skills (Wales) Core Skills (Scotland) These are usually Maths,

English and ICT Personal Learning and Thinking Skills

Employment rights and responsibilities

Employee Rights and Responsibilities (ERR) are a compulsory part of all Apprenticeship programmes that show that the apprentice has had a full induction to the employing company and training programme, and is aware of the essential workplace rights and responsibilities. Whether you are your first job or experienced in your role or industry, you will need to cover the knowledge required. This is completed by working through this folder which will guide you through various areas of your employment and training.

National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) / Vocational Competence Qualification (VCQ)




This is assessed in your workplace and covers areas of your vocation according to the standards laid down by the Sector Skills Council. You will be required to collect evidence of the work carried and your Skills Coach will advise you upon its suitability and test your knowledge and understanding of the processes involved. Your Skills Coach will come to your place of work to deliver new learning as well as assess your competence.

NVQ/ VCQ Portfolio

As part of your framework you will build a ‘portfolio’ of evidence to show that you can carry out your work to the required standards that have been set by the awarding organisation and industry.

Evidence Collection

You must provide suitable evidence to meet the following units of assessment:

Knowledge Skills Competence, typical types of evidence will consist of:- Job cards Photographs Video clips Technical Specification Data (if relevant to your Industry) Witness Testimonies Skills Coach Observations

In order to select the appropriate units to meet the rules of combination which have been set by the awarding organisation and to ensure your chosen units meet the needs of your employer, your Skills Coach will discuss the most appropriate options.

Technical Certificate or Knowledge qualification / Vocational Related Qualification (VRQ)The Technical Certificate or VRQ is often delivered away from the workplace on a day or block release basis at college or a training facility. It will involve theory based written projects, practical assessments and on line testing.




Functional Skills (England) / Essential Skills (Wales) Core Skills (Scotland) – Maths, English and ICT

Functional Skills are a suite of qualifications suitable for anyone wanting to develop their English, mathematics or ICT skills in order to succeed in all aspects of life, work and other learning.

Available from Entry 1 through to Level 2, these qualifications cover everything from the very basics to more advanced skills. They are supported by a variety of assessment options depending on the specific qualification taken and are designed to reflect the various needs of learners.

Maths: This skill will allow you to develop and demonstrate your skills in interpreting information involving numbers, carrying out calculations, interpreting results and presenting findings.

English: This skill will allow you to develop and demonstrate your skills in speaking, reading and writing for different purposes.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT): Using ICT systems you will be able to demonstrate that you can find, select and exchange information. You will be able to develop and present information.

Functional Skills are a mandatory component of all Apprenticeship frameworks in England. You will be expected to achieve up to a level 2 in all of these subjects throughout the duration of your Apprenticeship. If you already have GCSEs in these subjects at grades A*-C or 4-9 (under the new grading structure), you may be exempt from completing them.

My CertificatesYour apprenticeship contains a number of individual qualifications which all meet the apprenticeship framework requirements. You will receive a certificate for each of the following apprenticeship components:

1.Functional Skills*, Maths, English and ICT (where ICT is part of the framework)2.VCQ/NVQ/Diploma3.VRQ or Technical Certificate4.Apprenticeship Framework certificate

Upon successful completion of your Apprenticeship, your certificates will be sent to your home address by Royal Mail recorded delivery. Please ensure that you update your contact details with Skillnet if they change.

If you do not receive your certificates please contact the Programme Support team who will be able to provide you with the date they were sent to you and the tracking details.

If you require copies of your certificates please contact the Programme Support team who will provide you with photocopies for your records. Should you require original certificates as copies a cost will be charged by the awarding organisation.

* if you have produced exemption certificates for English, maths or ICT, you will not have to complete the Functional Skills part of your Apprenticeships and will not receive certificates for Functional Skills.




Completion and Progression

On completion of your Apprenticeship, your Skills Coach will discuss with you your opportunities for progression. Where suitable, we encourage all our Apprentices who complete an Intermediate Apprenticeship level 2 to progress to an Advanced Apprenticeship level 3. You will be able to plan your progression at various stages of your Apprenticeship; don’t miss out on the opportunity to progress!

Did you know that completion of a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship is the equivalent of 5 GCSEs? A level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship is the equivalent of 2 A Levels!

Career ProgressionCareer progression is often excellent for apprentices, and over the course of their careers, those with an Apprenticeship earn, on average, £100,000 more than those without. [A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Apprenticeships and Other Vocational Qualifications, University of Sheffield, 2007]

Some Apprenticeships already attract UCAS points or allow you to study for a Technical Certificate. Once the Apprenticeship has finished there’s the opportunity to carry on working, maybe get promoted or go on to higher education in a college or university.

Apprenticeships facilitate the process of career progression which is defined as “an individual ability to navigate the career decision-making process and the world of work by adjusting to changes or barriers in one’s career”. This is becoming increasingly important as technological advances, changing customer demands and the current economic climate drive the need for new skills.

Career progression as a result of apprenticeships can take a number of forms, including:

A promotion An increase in salary Taking on more responsibility Undertaking further professional development, education or training

All of Skillnet’s Apprenticeship programmes are tailored to support our learner’s career progression no matter what sector your work in. Your Skills Coach will tailor your career pathway through the completion of your Individual Learning Plan.

Growth Mindset:

Growth mindset is the theory that intelligence can be developed. The brain can be strengthened and grown, just like a muscle and can be trained. Your programme will enable you to develop a growth mindset so that you can develop mastery skills and knowledge. It is important to take on any feedback so that you can continuously improve.

“Just because some people can do something with little or no training, it doesn’t mean that others can’t do it (and sometimes do it even better) with training”. – Carol Dweck




Information Advice and GuidanceAs the Apprentice, you have the right to access a broad range of information, advice and guidance, before, during and after your learning journey. You will receive this support at three different points in your programme. This will be documented within your Individual Learning Plan.

1. Getting in 2. Getting on 3. Moving onEnrolment Session Reviews, assessments Final reviews

As well as at these key stages, Skillnet offers you confidential support at all times. If you wish to discuss your options further please speak to your Skills Coach or contact the Skillnet team on 01923 630800 or in writing: Skillnet, Unit 4, Woodshots Meadow, Croxley Green Business Park, Watford, WD18 8YS. Email: [email protected]

Study Skills AdviceThe Apprenticeship programme you are enrolled on may be the first learning programme in which you have to balance the responsibility of study, work and family commitments. Below are a few pieces of information, advice and guidance intended to help you plan your studies and achieve success.

To avoid last minute stress and panic, PLAN and PRIORITISE your workload.

Make the most of the time available to you. There will be opportunities throughout the programme to work independently through your portfolio – make the most of these opportunities.

Always attend your training sessions prepared. You should have a pen, pencil, ruler and paper as a bare minimum. Other equipment may be required depending on what you are learning during your session.

Take notes in your session so you can refer back to them at a later date, for example using them as revision support prior to an exam.

Organise your work – if you organise your portfolio you will be able to find what you are looking for much quicker. This is the same with your IT files. Choose and use appropriate file names and use folders to organise your files. You may need to purchase a memory stick for your course.

Do written work to the best of your ability. Make sure it can be read by the Skills Coach or Tutor and take care with your spelling, punctuation and grammar.




mailto:[email protected]

Ensure handwritten assignments, tests and drawings are as neat as you can make them so that the meaning is clear and you can be allocated marks accordingly.

Proof read your work before you hand it in. If you have used a computer to produce your work always use a spelling and grammar check, you should not rely on the check to find all of your errors.

When you are given a deadline to submit your work, ensure that you meet the deadline.

Let us know if you need additional learning support. Don’t struggle on your own.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when an individual attempts to present as original, existing or unacknowledged material or ideas from another person, source or (in the case of self plagiarism) their own work. www.plagiarismadvice.org

It is acknowledged that plagiarism is not always intentional; it may be the result of a misunderstanding rather than a direct intention.

Examples of plagiarism include:

Buying a paper from an internet source and submitting it as your own. Getting someone else to do the work for you. Giving false information about the source of information used in work. Copying sections of work from a friend. Copying / pasting information from textbooks / the internet without citing the source. Omitting quotation marks from quotations. Incorrect referencing.

You should not:

Let others see your coursework as this can amount to collusion.

You should:

Ensure your coursework is written in your own words unless quoting a reference. Understand that using essay banks, essay writing services and sharing work on social networking sites is

not acceptable.




http://www.plagiarismadvice.org/

Understand that when you sign coursework to authenticate it, you are confirming that this is your own work.

Consult your Skills Coach if you are unclear.

Your Skills Coach / Tutor:

Will ensure that all learners are aware of the plagiarism policy. Will encourage awareness and use of the plagiarism guides. Will use available technology to check for suspected plagiarism. Will deal with any plagiarism appropriately, which may result in disqualification from the affected unit or

entire qualification.

DO NOT plagiarise. Plagiarism is cheating and is taken very seriously. A copy of the complete Skillnet plagiarism policy is available from your Skills Coach. If you are unsure as to what constitutes plagiarism please talk to your Skills Coach/ Tutor.

Spelling , Punctuation and Grammar

Below are some examples of grammatical and spelling errors that your spell-check may miss. Use this guide to check you have the right spelling. For all others, use a dictionary to check you have the correct spelling.

You’re You are Your Belonging to you They’re They are Their Belonging to them There A place We’re We are Were Past tense of are Where A place Then A point in time Than A method of comparison Two The number 2 To Indicates motion Too Also or excessively It’s It is or it has Its Shows possession Loose Not fixed in place Lose Cease to keep Affect An action Effect A result Whole The complete thing Hole A hollow in a solid Weather Wind, rain, sun, snow etc Whether Expressing doubt No The opposite of yes




Know From knowledge

It may be a good idea to produce a glossary of terms during your course as you will be learning lots of new terminology

Punctuation Advice

Punctuation is used to make sense of what we read and to express our meaning clearly when we are writing. Here is a brief guide to various types of punctuation and their use:

Apostrophe (‘)

Used when two words have been joined into one. An apostrophe is placed where the letters have been dropped.

For example: do not = don’t

Used to show possession by one person or thing.

For example: Jason’s car. This is the car belonging to Jason.Note: The apostrophe goes after the owner ‘Jason’

Used to show possession by more than one person or thing

For example: The soldiers’ tank. This is the tank belonging to the soldiers. Note: The apostrophe goes after the owners, ‘the soldiers’.

DO NOT use an apostrophe to make up a plural.

For example: I would like to order two pizzas (no apostrophe required),

however:

The pizza’s toppings were delicious (apostrophe required because the toppings ‘belong’ to the pizza).

Comma (,)

Used to separate items in a list.

For example: You will need a hammer, screwdriver and pliers.

Used immediately before direct speech.

For example: The instructor called to the student, “Take care using that!”

Used to separate clauses from each other.

For example: Although he had finished the task, he stayed to help the others.




Used to enclose phrases which give additional information.

For example: Ahmed, from Liverpool, was a huge motor racing fan.

Exclamation Mark (!)

Used at the end of sentences to show great emotion such as surprise, fear, anger or to emphasise something.

For example: Don’t do that!

Full Stop (.)

Used to end a sentence.

Speech Marks (“)

Used to indicate the actual words spoken by someone.

For example: Vanessa said “if the fire alarm rings, please leave by the nearest exit.”

Question Mark (?)

Used at the end of a sentence to indicate a question.

For example: Are you going to the canteen?

Semi-Colon (;)

Used to separate two statements of equal weight. It is stronger than a comma but not as strong as a full stop.

For example: He liked to holiday in Greece; his partner preferred Spain.Capital Letters

Used for starting a sentence. Used for people’s names and titles: Peter, Ms Green, Dr Medway. Used for place names: High Street, Newton Aycliffe, England. Used for abbreviations and postcodes: P.T.O, DL56AT. Used for days and months: Wednesday, September. Used for religions and religious festivals: Islam, Buddhism, Easter. Used for ‘I’ when writing about yourself; The manager told me I was doing well.

Paragraphs

Used for a change in time, place, topic or speaker.

Grammar Advice:

Grammar can sometimes be a bit tricky. When we communicate in writing (especially when relating to work or study) our language usually needs to be more formal than our spoken words. It is useful to know the terms used to describe grammar:




Noun: A noun is a word used to name a person, animal, place, thing or abstract idea. Verb: A verb is a doing, having or being word. Pronoun: Can replace nouns previously referred to in a sentence (he, she, it, they). Adjective: An adjective describes a noun. Adverb: An adverb gives information about the verb in a sentence.




Skills Coach / Tutor Feedback

During your learning programme, your Skills Coach / Tutor will provide you with feedback on your work. This feedback will not only contain your technical ability feedback but will also contain feedback on your English punctuation, grammar and spelling. Where applicable, feedback on your maths and ICT skills may also be provided.

The following marking codes will be used by your Skills Coach / Tutor when providing feedback on spelling, punctuation and grammar:

^ Missing wordSp Spelling errorP Punctuation errorGr Grammar errorT Tense error? Meaning unclear// Start a new paragraph here

Remember:

All the work that you produce must be produced to the highest standard possible. This includes written work as well as practical.

Please remember to use your English study guide, dictionaries and ForSkills resources. Using these resources will help develop your study and English skills. Always proof-read your work before you hand it in.




NUS Apprentice Extra Card

The NUS Apprentice extra discount card has been developed by the National Union of Students and will offer apprentices many of the same discounts and benefits as other students.

NUS Apprentice extra provides discounts in-store and online at your favourite brands to help your hard earned cash go a little further. They are run by the National Union of Students, (NUS) and so the money they raise selling the discount card helps to fund a new National Society for Apprentices, which will serve to represent your needs and those of all vocational learners.

For just £11 for 12 months, you get discounts with the likes of:

And many more.......

To apply for your NUS Apprentice extra discount card simply visit http://www.apprenticeextra.co.uk/




http://www.apprenticeextra.co.uk/

Qualification Appeals Procedure for Learners

Introduction

If you are dissatisfied with an assessment outcome, you have the right to appeal. There are five stages in the appeals procedure and each stage must be exhausted before proceeding to the next one. You are advised to keep your own copies of all the documents used in the appeals procedure.

As part of the awarding organisation requirements, learners should have access to fair and reliable assessment in which they play an active part. Learners therefore have a right to appeal against assessment decisions which are unclear or seem unfair.

The main reasons for appeal are likely to be:

You do not understand why you are not regarded as competent, due to lack of or unclear feedback, from the Skills Coach / Tutor.

You believe you are competent and that the Skills Coach / Tutor have misjudged you, or has failed to use some vital evidence.

What to do if you have an appeal

Should you feel that an assessment decision is incorrect, or have any other complaint about the way in which Skillnet is dealing with your qualification, then you should follow the process detailed below. All appeals should be submitted in writing using the Disputes and Appeals Form, a copy of this can be obtained through your Skills Coach or by contacting the Skillnet on 01923 630800.




Stage 1If you receive a decision that you are unsatisfied with, you have the right to appeal directly to the Tutor or Skills Coach who carried out the assessment. The appeal must be put in writing using the disputes and appeals form within 7 working days and clearly indicate the point of disagreement and the evidence in that you believe meets the evidence requirements.

Stage 2If you are not satisfied with the outcome at Stage 1 of your appeal, you can appeal to the Regional Skills Manager (RSM). This appeal must be in writing using the disputes and appeals form within 5 working days, but you need not repeat the detail provided at Stage 1 as all documentation used at Stage 1 will be passed onto the RSM. You will receive a response within 7 working days.

Stage 3If you are not satisfied with the outcome at Stage 2 of your appeal, please refer the matter to the Director of Quality in writing using the stage 3 disputes and appeals form within 7 working days. After receiving a complaint the Director of Quality will convene a panel which will consist of a Chairperson (Director of Quality) and two other suitably qualified members of staff who are independent from the original complaint. The Chairperson will have the casting vote if the panel cannot reach agreement. This panel will be held within 10 working days of receiving the written complaint and you will be informed of the outcome in writing within 7 working days after the date of the panel.

Stage 4If you feel the complaint is still unresolved at this stage, you have the right of appeal. You should Contact the Director of Quality in writing using the stage 4 disputes and appeals form within 7 days, stating that you wish to appeal the decision of the panel. The Director of Quality will then refer the matter to the appropriate awarding organisation to form a judgment. You will be notified of the decision of the awarding body in writing within 14 working days.

Stage 5If you still feel the complaint is unresolved you have one further right of appeal to the regulatory body for qualifications in England – OFQUAL. You should contact the Director of Quality in writing within 7 days stating that you wish to appeal the decision of the awarding organisation. Director of Quality will refer the matter to OFQUAL on your behalf to allow OFQUAL to form a judgment. You will be notified of the decision of OFQUAL in writing within 28 working days. The decision of the relevant regulatory body is final and may not be appealed.

Appeals Process




Behaviour and EthicsAt Skillnet we make every effort to ensure that the training and learning process is as enjoyable and effectives as possible for everyone. However, this is a two way process. By enrolling on any of our training courses all parties agree to respect each other:

By actively listening By actively exploring each other’s ideas By contributing our ideas By challenging issues not people By taking confidentiality seriously By respecting our time keeping By being supportive of each other By using inclusive language

We recognise that we are all unique. There is nobody like you in the world and there will be nobody like you ever again. You have a wealth of skills, experiences, resources and strengths at your disposal. You have a contribution to make to the training and learning programme that no one else can make.

British ValuesBritish values are an important part of your programme. Skillnet will promote the basic core principles that will help to support you in the development of your social and moral responsibilities. These values are things like: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs.

Exclusion from TrainingSkillnet reserves the right to exclude you from any training and learning programme for any of the following reasons:

Your attendance is poor Your assignments are not adequately completed Your behaviour is not considered to be acceptable – particularly if it adversely affects the learning

experience of other learners.25

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Your work has been found to have plagiarised content

Note: If you are being considered for exclusion, Skillnet will have adhered to the Skillnet learner disciplinary policy and procedure – a copy of this policy can be requested directly from your Skills Coach.

Anti-bullying and Harassment PolicyAll staff, learners and employers have a responsibility to recognise bullying and harassment and take the appropriate action in accordance with this policy immediately they become aware of any such behaviour. A list of examples and definitions of what may be considered bullying & harassment are listed below for guidance and practical purposes. Skillnet will conduct an investigation into any claim of unfair treatment reported by staff members or learners.

Recognising Bullying and Harassment

Bullying may appear as:

Offensive, intimidating, malicious or offensive behaviour. Abuse, or misuse of power which is meant to humiliate, undermine, degrade or injure the victim.

Harassment may appear as:

Unwanted conduct, affecting the dignity of anyone in the workplace in relation to: Race, age, sex, disability, religion, nationality or personal characteristics.

The person on the receiving end of such actions or comments may report them as degrading or unacceptable.

Skillnet regards the following behaviours as totally unacceptable:

Spreading malicious rumours or insulting staff/learners Sending / copying memos or any other form of communication that are critical of a person Ridiculing or demeaning someone Picking on an individual or setting them up to fail Excluding an individual / group Treating an individual less favourably than another Overbearing supervision or misuse of power Unwelcome advances of a sexual nature – touching, standing too close Deliberately overloading competent workers and constantly criticising them Blocking promotion and training opportunities Online bullying via social media sites




Reporting Bullying and Harassment

Any incident of bullying and harassment that is reported by a Skillnet member of staff or learner will be treated with the strictest confidence. Staff dealing with these matters will show empathy and respect and not be judgmental.

Skillnet will take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the victim. Witnesses will also be treated fairly and respectfully and protected from victimisation. If you feel that you are being bullied or harassed in your workplace please report it immediately to your Skills Coach.

Confidentiality and Information SharingHere are Skillnet’s guidelines on confidentiality and information sharing:

No personal or confidential information about our learners will be conveyed to anyone outside of Skillnet without the express permission of the individual concerned. The exception is the relevant approval, accreditation, funding and auditing bodies as well as safeguarding agencies.

The full requirements of the Data Protection Act, and any other relevant legal requirements, will be followed at all times.

The privacy of individuals, for which personal data is held, will be respected. If an individual requests it, a copy of the data held on them by Skillnet will be provided to them. Personal data must be checked to verify its accuracy and that it is up to date. Security precautions must be taken to prevent any unauthorised access to, alteration of, disclosure of,

destruction or loss of sensitive information contained in password protected computers and locked filing cabinets.

The destruction of records when they are no longer required shall be done in a way that ensures they are no longer legible.

Only relevant data will be held by Skillnet, and it will not be held longer than for the specified or intended purpose.

Complaints and Compliments ProcedureSkillnet are fully committed to providing a productive and enjoyable learning experience for all learners. Should there be anything that you are not happy with, or if you feel the training programme is not meeting your needs, please raise this immediately with your Skills Coach or Tutor. Compliments and feedback can also be provided to your Skills Coach. A copy of the full Skillnet complaints and compliments policy is available upon request to your Skills Coach / Tutor or by calling 01923 630800.

Our Commitment to YouSkillnet takes your views and opinions seriously. If we receive a complaint we take immediate and decisive action to resolve the issue. This includes:




Handling complaints promptly and discreetly with the best interest of the learner always taking precedence.

Undertaking a full review to try to resolve the cause of the complaint. This may require us to make direct contact with you to review in more detail the nature of your complaint and the circumstances which may have led to it.

Escalating the complaint resolving procedure within Skillnet to Director level if necessary, should there not be a resolution that you are totally satisfied with.

Providing formal feedback to you on both the progress and the final outcome of how your complaint is being handled.

We will welcome feedback from all Complainants on the quality of service that they receive in relation to complaints and use this feedback to improve our service.

Health & SafetySkillnet adheres to the Health and Safety at Work legislation.

You are required to:

Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of other people who may be affected by your actions.

Co-operate with Skillnet on all health, safety and welfare. Complete an accident report if you sustain and injury or have an accident at any time whilst you are on

your training programme.

A copy of the full Skillnet Health and Safety policy is available on request from your Skills Coach / Tutor or by contacting 01923 630800

Equality, Diversity & InclusionEQUALITY AND DIVERSITY POLICY AIMS

Skillnet want to create and maintain an inclusive working and learning environment that respects and celebrates difference. Everyone has the right to participate fully, give their best and achieve their full potential in a climate free from discrimination or harassment.

It’s about inclusiveness – providing an atmosphere where everyone feels valued and empowered to perform at peak level, regardless of the many ways people are different, including race, disability, gender, gender reassignment, age, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, or socio-economic background or class.

This vision of diversity and inclusiveness encompasses all of our people, our businesses, our learners, and how we learn, share, perform and grow together. We believe that this vision of equality, diversity and inclusion brings tangible benefits for our learners, and for the employers that we work with. For our learners, this includes a training environment taking into account their individual requirements in an environment free from discrimination or harassment.




Equality and Diversity areas will be discussed with you during your ongoing teaching, learning, development and progress reviews.

A copy of the full Skillnet Equality and Diversity policy is available on request from your Skills Coach / Tutor or by contacting 01923 630800

SafeguardingSkillnet is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all learners including young people and vulnerable adults, in line with ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance (2017). We also recognise that we have a duty to help employers, staff and learners to identify their responsibilities. We do this by offering guidance, support and training.

If you're having trouble at work, at home, during your time training with Skillnet, or anywhere else, don't hesitate to get in touch, in confidence with our safeguarding specialist by emailing [email protected] or calling 01923 630800

Prevent Duty

The Prevent strategy, published by the Government in 2011, is part of the overall counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. The aim of the Prevent strategy is to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. In the Act this has simply been expressed as the need to “prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This became law in 2015.

Skillnet consider Prevent to be one of the foremost important challenges we experience in training and education. We expect our learners to engage fully and actively with this strategy and in return we will provide training to help them to develop the skills and knowledge they need.

Supporting Disability At Skillnet, we want individuals to be successful. Sometimes industries are more dangerous and complex than others, but this should not deter you from being successful. Skillnet welcomes learners with disabilities and this statement shows how we aim to help.




mailto:[email protected]

Skillnet will provide a range of activities available to people with disabilities, including those with a temporary incapacity. Skillnet has set the following objectives in order to develop its access and meet the needs of staff, learners and visitors:

To provide a positive welcome to all staff and users with disabilities To try to make all services and premises accessible wherever possible and/or practicable To provide clear signage on buildings, and provision of personal support where necessary To develop the understanding and skills of staff to help them manage and provide services to those with

disabilities Counselling and advice will be given as to suitable courses including referral to other providers where

necessary




Contact Points

If, during your programme, you feel that you have some special requirements that have not been identified, please contact your Skills Coach in the first instance who will then discuss your needs with the relevant teams.

The following department is responsible for disability enquiries:

DEPARTMENT TEL: EMAILHR and Quality 01923 630800 [email protected]

The following department is responsible for information about enrolment onto training programmes:

DEPARTMENT TEL: EMAILRecruitment 01923 216165 [email protected]

After your application to Skillnet, you will be invited to complete an initial assessment. It is during this process, we will identify your learning programme. Please inform us at this stage of any disabilities/special requirements you have so that we may provide the help and support needed to enable you to successfully complete your training.

Useful ContactsWe aim to support our learners in the workplace with a range of services.

Education GuidanceInformation, Advice and Guidance on all aspects of career choice, education, employment and training.Welfare RightsAdvice on benefits, tax credits and financial help.Counselling ServiceWe aim to assist you in finding effective services and ways in which you can cope with any personal issues that may be causing a problem in your life.We have detailed below a number of contact details for support services that may be able to assist you with this.

If you would like to brush up on Literacy, Numeracy or English for Speakers of another Language or know more about what we can offer to support you with, for example dyslexia, adapting learning materials or specific help for a physical or learning difficulty, please talk to your nominated Skills Coach




Useful external contacts:

What can they help with?

National Organisation Telephone Website

Education Learn Direct 0800 100 900 www.learndirect.co.uk

Racial Equality, Disability Rights, Equal Opportunities

Equality & Human Rights Commission

0845 604 66100845 604 6620

www.equalityhumanrights.com

Dyslexia British Dyslexia Association 0845 251 9002 www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

Health & Safety HSE 0845 3450 055 www.hse.gov.uk

Citizens’ Advice Citizens Advice Bureau 08444 111 444 www.adviceguide.org.uk

Employment rights ACAS 0300 123 1100 www.acas.org.uk

English Government Funding

Skills Funding Agency 0845 377 5000 www.skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk

Careers Advice National Careers Service 0800 100 900 https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

Victims of Crime Victim Support 0845 3030 900 www.victimsupport.org

NHS Direct NHS Direct 0845 4647 www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Drug related matters National Drugs Helpline 0800 776 600 www.talktofrank.com

Smoking NHS Smoking Helpline 0800 169 0169 www.smokefree.nhs.uk

Emotional Support Samaritans 0845 790 9090 www.samaritans.org

Alcohol abuse Drink Line 0800 917 8282 www.drinkaware.co.uk

Rape Victims Rape Crisis 0800 783 6294 www.rapecrisis.org.uk

Sexual Health Department of Health/NHS 0800 567 123 www.condomessentialwear.co.uk

Institute of Management

Chartered Management Institute

01536 204 222 www.managers.org.uk

Anti-Terrorism Hotline Gov.uk 0800 789321 www.gov.uk/report-terrorism

Child Protection Concerns

Childline 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk

Online Safety Concerns Child Exploitation Online Protection (CEOP)

0800 1111 (Childline)

www.CEOP.police.uk

Concerns for children (under 18)

NSPCC 0808 8005000 www.NSPCC.org.uk




http://www.victimsupport.org/

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