Train to Gain Funding Guide

We are able to deliver a number of Level 2 Qualifications through our 5 year ‘Train to Gain’ Contract with the Learning and Skills Council. This means that an employer or an individual, can receive training that will cost nothing.

We genuinely believe in offering added value and as such, we are very happy to provide you with further training as part of this funded package. For example, our Level 2 Waste Management Operations Qualification can be provided with IOSH Working Safely, Reversing Assistants and Manual Handling Training.

The rest of this page provides information on training through the Train to Gain package and of the steps followed to deliver a ful package of training to you.

The South West Regional Assessment Centre Limited (SWRAC) is an approved learning provider of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). We are able to provide training to your staff as part of the “Train to Gain” initiative of the LSC. The nature of the training to be provided is detailed further in this guide. This guide has been prepared to inform you of some of the “rules of the game” in terms of  training provision, eligibility and funding. It is hoped that through the provision of this document, you will understand some of the obligations we have to meet and what we seek from you in terms of providing information and assistance, so that the funding stream can be secured and continued.

“Train to Gain”funding is provided by the Government to open up learning opportunities to anyone in employment to enhance their ability to contribute positively to their employer. This means that people can receive funding for training at no cost to themselves or the Employer. Some of the information we will ask for is LSC requirement  to check that learners meet the eligibility criteria for funding.

Whilst staff will be receiving training at no cost to the organisation, this does not mean that the training is free of cost! The funding for the training is provided by the LSC in 5 or 6 tranches – firstly when learners commence their learning, throughout their learning and finally, when learners complete the identified qualification. In practice, this means that if candidates do not complete their qualification we, as learning providers, face fairly significant shortfalls in our funding and more importantly, it takes away funding opportunities for other potential learners with other employers. We accept that there will generally be a very small proportion of people who do not complete for various personal reasons but we raise this issue to seek your co-operation, as far as possible, in ensuring that every encouragement is given to learners to attend sessions and complete their qualification.  We will provide all the training, mentoring, assessment, verification and administrative support necessary to ensure that learners are given every opportunity to complete their qualification and to support any queries the employer may have during the period of the training.

THE PROCESS

We will agree with the employer a convenient date for the commencement of training. Once commenced, the process will be as follows:-

  • Employers Induction Meeting
  • Learners induction meeting
  • IOSH Working Safely qualification
  • Reversing Assistant Training
  • Manual Handling Training
  • Assessment for NVQ Level 2 qualification
  • Information and Guidance.

We will attempt to complete the Employers Induction Meeting prior to commencement of the other stages and will attempt to complete subsequent stages with all Learners prior to moving on to the next stage.

Employers Induction Meeting

This is usually an informal meeting with the employer. The aim of this meeting is to achieve the following:-

  • Explain the process
  • Complete a brief Health and Safety Audit
  • Detail required information
  • Arrange Employee Induction date(s)
  • Arrange IOSH Health and Safety Training
  • Arrange Manual Handling Training
  • Arrange Reversing Assistant Training
  • Provide our data gathering spreadsheet for employers to complete
  • To have some LSC documentation signed
  • Answer any questions

The Health and Safety Audit is undertaken in order to satisfy LSC and SWRAC that there is a safe working environment for learners and training/assessing staff.

As part of this health and safety audit, we are required to have sight of the following documentation:-

  • Health and Safety Policy
  • Risk Assessments or Codes of Safe Working for the relevant service area
  • Induction and Training Records
  • PPE Issue Records
  • Emergency Policies
  • Employers Liability Certificate

Learners Induction Meeting

This is an informal group meeting where we can discuss the learning process with learners. It is usually undertaken within a workplace location either before or after the normal working day. The aims of the meeting are to:-

  • Brief learners on the learning process
  • To remove the mystique of  NVQ’s
  • To provide learners with a diary of events
  • To explain the IOSH Working Safely Course
  • To explain Manual Handling & Reversing Assistant Sessions
  • To explain the importance of Health & Safety during training
  • To explain the importance of recognizing equality of opportunity
  • To explain the assessment process
  • To explain the Information and Guidance (IAG) opportunities
  • To have LSC documentation signed by individuals
  • To answer any questions or concerns learners may have

Wastes Management Awareness

Again, an informal and fun session. This is the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management  “Waste Awareness Course”,  providing a lighthearted background to wastes management – putting into context why people are working in the waste management industry and how they fit into the “bigger picture”. The topics are covered through presentation, discussion and fun exercises. Topics covered are:-

  • Waste in context
  • Why bother with wastes management
  • The waste hierarchy
  • Legislation and the implications on us as individuals
  • Political drivers for change
  • Different waste management options

IOSH Working Safely Qualification

This is a nationally recognised qualification offered by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and delivered by SWRAC as a registered IOSH centre.   This is the only “classroom” based activity of the whole learning process. It is a 1-day course which covers aspects of Health and Safety such as Hazard Identification, Risk Awareness, Motivations to Work Safely, etc.  The qualification is particularly valid in light of the waste industry accident record having fatal incidents at over 10 times the national average and accidents at 4 times the national average, primarily affecting workers in the  refuse and recycling collection activity.  The certificate is awarded where candidates have attended the 1-day course and completed a fairly simple multiple-choice questionnaire and a hazard-spotting exercise. Where learners have difficulties with reading and writing, members of our staff will assist in the completion of the test. We request that employers provide appropriate training room facilities and refreshments for the course. Each course will be run with 15 learners and we request that employers ensure that 15 learners attend on each day the course is scheduled. We will try to accommodate learners who do not attend their allocated training day for IOSH, but where we have to run additional courses to catch up on non-attendees we have to reserve the right to charge £150 per person. Successfully completing this course contributes to some of the units within the NVQ qualification.

Reversing Assistant and Manual Handling Training Sessions

A number of employers have already undertaken recent reversing assistant and manual handling training sessions and under these circumstances there is no need to repeat the training under this Train to Gain provision. However, it is nationally recognised that reversing operations and manual handling activities are a major contributing factor in the majority of industrial accidents and incidents within the waste management industry. Accordingly, where employees have not received very recent training in these areas we would strongly recommend that employers choose to take up the opportunity for this included training and make provision for learners to attend these sessions.

Assessment for NVQ Level 2 Qualification

The NVQ qualification is achieved through assessment of learners whilst “on the job” and learners have to satisfy one of our qualified Assessors of their competence to do their job and their knowledge against national standards in specific areas of their work function (called “Units”). Each Unit represents a different area of work activity such as Technical Knowledge, Health and Safety Awareness, Customer Care, Interpersonal Relationships, Emergency Procedures etc.

The Assessors will use various techniques to mentor and assess each learner against these Units. The qualifications are work based assessments and do not require the learner to write or undertake any formal examinations. The assessment process will take the following steps:-

  • Registration of candidates with the relevant Awarding Body
  • Preparation of portfolios by Assessors
  • Studying of previous training records and relevant employment documentation (please note  – we will request the support of the employer in terms of accessing and copying relevant employment records, copies of which will be entered within the learners portfolio) – a list of required documentation is shown below.
  • Work based assessments of individual learners – this will involve the Assessor “shadowing” learners for a period of time and recording their findings either by written records, video, photographs or audio-tape
  • Informal discussion with learners or groups of learners on topic areas which cannot be observed (i.e. emergency procedures and response etc)
  • Final compilation of the individual learners portfolio by the assessor
  • Verification of the portfolio and assessment process

Award of Certificate and portfolio to successful candidates. We will request that the Employer provide information appropriate to either individual learners or the organisation as a whole, which will contribute to the building up of an evidence portfolio for each candidate.   Examples of such documents could be:-

  • Round lists
  • Transfer notes
  • Vehicle checklist (completed)
  • Vehicle maintenance report
  • Missed bin or bin too heavy report
  • Record of H&S training
  • Induction training records
  • H&S Policy
  • Records of manual handling training
  • Job description
  • Family tree
  • H&S meeting minutes or notes
  • PPE issue records
  • Risk assessments or codes of working
  • Maps kept in vehicle
  • H&S leaflets or information provided to crew
  • Information leaflets carried by crew

Information and Guidance (IAG) Throughout the training process learners will be offered Information and Guidance (IAG) to help them consider future training and personal development opportunities. It is recognised that the provision of IAG has an important role in helping people understand the opportunities and support available to them. The IAG service will be available throughout each learners training period but will be in three fairly distinct categories:-

Pre-entry

This is  undertaken during the induction process and consists of a general information session where we offer the opportunity for  a one to one session with an IAG provider. Where individuals wish to take up this opportunity we will make direct contact with each learner and cover such items as:-

  • A look at individual training needs and identification of appropriate learning
  • A discussion of the benefits of learning
  • Provision of advice on any issues or concerns regarding the learning process
  • Informing the employer of potential next steps
  • Other support as required

On-going, midway support During their learning process we will write to all learners, reminding them of the IAG opportunities open to them and again inviting them to take up the offer. Where learners require on-going support we will contact them directly and the support will consist of:-

  • General learner support
  • Help to overcome any barriers to learning
  • Support which may encourage the learner not to “drop-out” of the learning process
  • Any other support required

Exit Stage  At completion of the learning process we will attempt to contact each candidate who have completed their learning and offer the final stages of IAG. This will probably  consist of :-

  • A review of their learning experience
  • A discussion as to how this may be of benefit in their current role
  • A completion of an evaluation of their learning
  • A consideration of other options for continuing their learning related to their current and future roles
  • Agree any next steps

We will provide each learner with a small information card (What, Where, Who) which will provide them with contact details of our Information and Guidance Service which they will be able to access throughout their period as a learner.