Continuing Professional Development and the ARA Jane Brown IRMS Scotland, CPD in Information and Records Management Friday 28th October 2016

The new ARA CPD offer Foundation level Qualification Registration Re-validation and ongoing CPD Fellowship The CPD offer which I’m going to outline is available to all members of the Archives and Records Association (ARA) The new CPD offer is intended to begin pre qualification, including those who work as archive assistants or volunteers, or those on the course (FT or DL). Competency based instead of activity based – designed to be more flexible over a longer career and more in line with current job market eg competency based recruitment and selection processes Registration is now designed for 5-10 years post qualification, and leads into middle and later career CPD with the opportunity to apply for Fellowship level for senior level professionals after a further 10-15 years. There will be compulsory re-validation of registered status within a 5 year cycle for all Registered members of ARA.

What? Competency based 3 work areas in 39+ competencies A framework of competencies to outline the broad spectrum of skills and knowledge required by anyone working in the sector at any stage of their career: Competency based 3 work areas in 39+ competencies 5 levels of criteria (‘novice’ to ‘expert’) 3 types of CPD achievement: Foundation Registration Fellowship So what will the CPD offer look like in detail? It will be based around a framework of competencies (currently c39) grouped into three areas: organisation, process, user. Each competency will have 5 levels within it representing the career development path from Foundation to Fellowship At each of the three points of external validation, candidates will have to demonstrate that they have achieved a set number of competencies at the appropriate level. So for Registration for example, candidates will have to submit evidence of completion and a description of the learning outcomes of 12 competencies (at least 8 at level 3, no more than 4 at level 2)

Competencies Competency Framework A. Organisational: governance and planning; monitoring and evaluation; personal development B. Process: processing/managing current and semi-current records; processing/managing archival records; conserving archives C. User/stakeholder: understanding users and stakeholders; delivering a service to users; engaging users Designed to cover all aspects of archive work, and allied professions (eg libraries, museums). Flexible, currently being piloted with new competencies added where necessary. See competency framework handout v.7 (also available on ARA website, CPD page under Training) – has 39 competencies

Levels 1. NOVICE: routine, supervised, short-term view, little initiative, follows instructions 2. BEGINNER: routine, mid-term goals, some independent tasks, some initiative 3. COMPETENT: supervises, manages, analyses, mid-long term goals, contributes to profession 4. PROFICIENT: long-term goals, major professional contribution, expert knowledge, initiates and manages, policy development 5. EXPERT/AUTHORITATIVE: horizon-scanning, (inter)national professional impact, leading, mission/goal-focus, advocates, benchmarks See handout of Description of Levels version 7

Foundation Starts October 2018 Levels 1 & 2 8 competencies in total 4 competencies at level 2 No more than 4 competencies at level 1 Two competencies in each of 3 areas Assessment by Foundation Level assessor Evidence; CV; mentor reference Re-validation every 5 years Competencies valid for 5 years Optional Learning Log Must have one year of professional or work experience prior to starting programme Mentor as for Registration Scheme Assessor – must be Registered or have 5 years’ post-qualification experience

Registration Last submission old Scheme Oct 2017 Starts October 2018 for new candidates Levels 2 & 3 5 years after qualification (min 3 yrs FTE) Experience route also possible 12 competencies at minimum levels 2 & 3 8 competencies at minimum level 3 No more than 4 competencies at level 2 Two competencies in each of 3 areas Evidence; CV; mentor reference Re-validation every 5 years Registration – first round of new assessment will start Oct 2018. Old scheme final round will be Oct 2017, with scope for possible re-submission of failed portfolios during 2018 (approx 70 portfolios to go through in Oct 2017, Apr 2018 and Oct 2018 assessment rounds). 5 years of professional experience. Mentor needed as for current scheme (registered member) Shape of portfolio depends on type of membership being applied for ie number of competencies across how many work areas at what level. This criteria is still being finalised with the CPD Pilot Group. This has a wide membership, which helps to ensure that as many career paths and types of experience at different stages are incorporated into the Framework and the Programme requirements Number of competencies under review – may change to 8 instead Candidates who have been on the current Scheme for more than 10 years will need to re-enrol. Those who have enrolled within 10 years will be automatically transferred to the new Programme. Competencies and evidence are valid for 5 years (may change > 10 years?) Assessment fee payable on application, with 6 months’ notice to Programme Manager

Fellowship Starts 2019 Min. 10 years’ registered status + 1 round of registration re-validation 8 competency write-ups, min. levels 4 & 5 Minimum 4 competencies at level 5 Competencies across all 3 areas Proof of 3+ years’ contribution to profession Evidence; CV Statement from third party professional One hour viva/Panel Review Re-validation required every 5 years Fellowship Sub-Group First assessments 2019. New programme timescale means that applicants will need to revalidate their registered status first during 2018. Possible fast track in order to get numbers up (for assessment purposes) – can apply within 1 year of revalidating registered status, instead of waiting 5 year cycle. Failure = registration revalidation instead. A substantial level of Contribution to the Profession (CtP) is required over at least a 3 year period – can be quantified in competency write-ups or in separate statement. Probable buddying/peer-to-peer mentoring arrangements (TBC) Life-span of a competency likely to be 10 years in length Assessment fee paid when applying; 6 months’ notice needed to Programme Manager Fellowship Sub-Group being established Oct/Nov 2016 in order to review criteria – probable that current draft requirements will be changed. The number of competency write-ups may well be reduced, and additional more qualitative types of assessment may be introduced which are more reflective of a longer career path where new learning does not necessarily occur as intensively as earlier on eg foundation/registration

Re-validation Pilot Group trial during summer 2017 Starts autumn 2018 for existing Registered members Summary of CPD in 12 or 8 (TBC) competencies over last 5 years 3 full competency write-ups Two competencies in each of 3 areas Evidence; CV; CPD statement Statement from third party professional Loss of status if not re-validated Revalidation – for all existing registered members, regardless of route to registration (experience route prior to 1996; current scheme post 1996). 5 year cycle. Pilot group to trial re-validation during summer 2017. Mentor will be assigned if portfolio fails to help with re-submission. Shape of portfolio depends on type of membership being applied for ie number of competencies across how many work areas at what level (ie 12 for Registration may change to lower figure). Re-validation also at Foundation level. This criteria is still being finalised with the CPD Pilot Group. This has a wide membership, which helps to ensure that as many career paths and types of experience at different stages are incorporated into the Framework and the Programme requirements Assessment fee payable on application. Random sample of those up for re-validation will talk through full competency write-ups at a teleconference 12 months for first and second re-submissions each; 3rd failure results in loss of status (failure of Fellowship re-validation counts as Registration re-validation)

Further information ARA website > Training > CPD page: Overall competency framework (ie list of competencies) Description of 5 levels Function and competency requirements FAQs ARC ARA Today ARA Comms’ Strategy 2017 Registration Scheme Committee e-zine ARA email: cpd@archives.org.uk CPD webpages to be developed during autumn/winter 2016/17 as Programme is firmed up and templates etc become finalised by the Steering and Pilot Groups

Any questions?