Oil & Gas Qualifications Centre Support Day Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre Wednesday 5 March 2008

Registration and coffee Introduction and welcome (Drew) Oil & Gas Project Team (David & Drew) Break Standardisation (Ron) Lunch Evidence portfolio workshop (Gareth & Ron) Feedback (Gareth & Ron) Plenary (All) Agenda

David Adcock SQA Oil & Gas Business Development Project Manager

David Adcock Business Development Project Manager SQA Oil & Gas Workforce Competence Building Capacity; Assuring Capability The Role of SQA Oil & Gas

SQA Oil & Gas: The Team David Adcock Drew McNeice Diane Anderson Alison Spice Hamish Brad Gareth Cooke Ron Gray

SQAs Oil & Gas strategic objective To develop and maintain an internationally recognised framework of competence requirements and accredited qualifications together with quality assured services to support the business needs of the oil and gas sector.

Oil & Gas industry challenges/needs In relation to workforce development: Higher level of technology skills Upskilling within the sector Succession planning – retirements/promotions Improve retention Increase recruitment Safety critical environment Improve the perception of the industry

How can SQA support these needs? Accredits Qualifications Approves education and training centres Qualification development Provides qualification support Assists with the assessment process Quality Assurance and Control Certificates candidates Consultancy Services CPD activities Project Management

Key drivers SQA supporting Government strategy National Skills Development Agendas Industry requirements Occupational Standards of Competence Internationalisation Benchmarking against SCQF Partnership working SQA products and services

Partnerships Scottish Government Sector Skills Councils Standards Setting Bodies Industry Industry associations and forums SQA approved centres and training providers

SQA products and services Supporting competence development Competence and qualification framework Client certification matching tool E-competence: energy candidate portfolio Supporting materials for Assessors/Verifiers E-assessments Supporting materials for candidates Qualification registration and certification Supporting the assessment process Qualification support networks

Competence and qualification framework Covers all relevant vocational areas: Occupational standards Individual Units and Group Awards (NPA, NQ, PDA, HNC/D, SVQ, IVA and Customised Awards) Basic level to full competence Mapped to SCQF levels Rigorously quality assured Electronically supported Linked to certification matching tool

Framework in practice Comprehensive coverage of relevant occupational standards Easily accessible Adaptable to company needs Flexible qualification tariff National/International recognition

Client competence certification matching tool Linked to qualification framework Basic input data job competencies needed Electronically searches framework for matches Stores results for new qualification Automatic levelling on SCQF benchmark

e-competence: energy screen

Importance of working with the industry and SQA centres Help us to help you Let us know your needs Work in partnership with us Summarising

Visit our website on: Contact us:

Drew McNeice SQA Oil & Gas Business Development Project Officer

SVQs who does what Awarding bodies undertake: the approval of centres the production of SVQ specific guidance material external verification certification of candidates the preparation of a submission to the accrediting body for approval of each individual SVQ Standard-setting bodies are funded through a UK mechanism to set: national occupational standards structures for SVQs assessment strategies Accrediting body accredits: awarding bodies to offer specific SVQ arrangements against specified criteria and annually audits them to ensure consistency the specific SVQ arrangements in relation to assessment, quality assurance,verification, marketing and support

How does an SVQ become an SVQ All SVQs are based on National Occupational Standards (NOS) Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are responsible for producing NOS for their sector SSCs submit a request to develop standards to NOS Board The development programme of NOS, Qualification Structure and assessment strategy presented to UK Co-ordinating Group Awarding bodies prepare submission against Criteria for SVQs

Criteria for SVQs Awarding body quality assurance arrangements Assessment methodology Assessment guidance material Marketing information Submission made to: SQA accreditation unit Accreditation Co-ordination group (ACG)

Any questions?

Ron Gray SQA Oil & Gas External Verifier

Process Operations: Hydrocarbons SVQ Overview of assessment requirements for Process Operations: Hydrocarbons SVQ level 3

Process Operations: Hydrocarbons SVQ Candidates for the level 3 must prove generic competence by achieving all non-technical units (C2, C5 and C7) prove technical competence by achieving the 4 technical units: Level 3 (Outside Technician) PT3.1, PT3.2, PT3.3 and PT3.4 Level 3 (Control Room) PTC3.1, PTC3.2, PTC3.3 and PTC3.4

Process Operations: Hydrocarbons SVQ Technical Units must be achieved by satisfying the requirements of four out of seven scope items. To ensure the requisite amount of competence in working with Hydrocarbons candidates must demonstrate their competence in at least two of the following three scope items: 2 (Oil Storage/Discharge Process) 3 (Gas Process) 4 (Oil & Gas Process and Export)

Process Engineering Maintenance SVQ Experienced technician An experienced practitioner candidate would: typically be a maintenance technician who has been employed for a minimum of three years in their current location/organisation have access to maintenance history records to use as evidence

Process Engineering Maintenance SVQ Trainee or less experienced technician Trainee technician who has completed a college course and is now working as a trainee technician on a two-year work placement A relatively inexperienced technician who has come from another industry and is new to the oil and gas extraction industry An inexperienced technician who is new to the installation/plant and has no historical evidence or record as such with his current employer A technician who has been involved in construction and commissioning work with very little exposure to carrying out complex maintenance activities

Process Engineering Maintenance SVQ Experienced Practitioner Evidence requirements that assessors should look for Accredited prior learning and proven knowledge and skills as evidence of his competence in the form of: detailed CV incorporating areas of experience with appropriate dates and locations copies of apprentice papers (indentures or similar) copies of formal qualifications (relevant NC/HNC/HND/City & Guilds etc) details of relevant training courses, preferably with a competence-assessed outcome vendor training/specialist maintenance techniques/specific training required to comply with industry guidance or regulatory requirements other relevant in-house technical skills and aptitudes and/or qualifications that would also provide evidence to be assessed

Process Engineering Maintenance SVQ Experienced Practitioner A more holistic approach to assessments thereby effectively reducing the number of assessment observation occasions Provide evidence for each Unit from at least one maintenance task/activity. This would inevitably require evidence to be collected from two or three different tasks over a period of time to ensure that all Units were covered Evidence from one complex task would likely cover several Units, eg: Evidence of jobs including work permits, risk assessments, job cards/work orders, handover notes, written reports, logs, etc A brief front sheet for each job containing a bullet point outline of the task Signature on front sheet from candidate confirming that it is his own work and all evidence was generated by himself Signature on front sheet from candidates team leader/supervisor or assessor confirming authenticity of his evidence and that the work was carried out satisfactorily

Process Engineering Maintenance SVQ Experienced Practitioner Further supporting evidence Candidates could also provide their assessors with a detailed report/checklist on the different types of equipment and systems that they have experience of carrying out maintenance activities on Assessors can then if necessary access maintenance records to confirm that candidates have sufficient and appropriate maintenance experience across a range of equipment An example checklist format that could be used to record the range of different equipment that maintenance work has been carried out on

Trainee or less experienced technician It would be expected that the evidence would consist of the following: Sufficient Job packs covering each technical Unit to satisfy assessor that competence is demonstrated. (Notionally 3) Job packs should incorporate appropriate detailed observation/activity reports and supporting documents. One job pack could cover several Units depending on the type and range of maintenance activity carried out. A checklist of other equipment and systems that the candidate claims he has experience of carrying out maintenance activities on over his two-year work placement. Copies of maintenance and training records to support candidates claims. Copies of any other relevant skills and aptitudes and/or qualifications that the candidate has would also be useful. Witness testimonies to support candidates claims. (These would be used to support maintenance and training records if the assessor deemed that these were insufficient on their own.)

Standardisation The challenges we face in complying with awarding body requirement for standardisation can be summarised as follows: Onshore standardisation meetings are a logistical challenge due to: Remote work locations of assessors and verifiers Offshore assessors/verifiers live in areas spread across the UK and further Offshore standardisation meetings difficult with assessors working on different installations

Standardisation Options to consider: Assessors/Verifiers on the same installation (site) hold regular meetings and record minutes (Frequency dictated by assessment activity levels) SQA Co-ordinators are copied on minutes which are then distributed to assessor/verifiers on other installations (sites) SQA Co-ordinators copy all assessor/verifiers on any SQA/OPITO information or guidance received Assessors/Verifiers formally record receipt of any information sent from SQA Co-ordinator

Continuing Professional Development Similar challenges in complying with requirement for Assessors/Verifiers to maintain CPD. Similar options to standardisation apply such as: SQA Co-ordinators copy all assessor/verifiers on any SQA/OPITO information or guidance received Assessors/Verifiers formally record receipt of any information sent from SQA Co-ordinator Attend any SQA workshops or events similar to this one Attend any Assessor/Verifier refresher training offered by the centre or other bodies Demonstrate awareness of new standards, guidance, etc by reading material posted on appropriate web sites such as SQA and OPITO

Gareth Cooke SQA Oil & Gas Senior External Verifier

Portfolio evidence workshop All comments are genuine. Honest!! Documents relate to the Deck Operations SVQ and comprise: Assessment Plan Assessment Logbook for one Unit Index of Evidence referred to Knowledge evidence record

From the perspective of the Candidate, Assessor and Verifier please review: the suitability of the Unit the comments made any quality issues Please be ready to feedback your comments