3.1 Guidance for TP on Accred Process Version 1

7/27/2019 3.1 Guidance for TP on Accred Process Version 1

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3.1 Guidance for TP on accred process Version 1

Guidance for training providers on the accreditation process

In 2010 TSI introduced a new TSQF accreditation standard. The standard can be found

on the website www.tradingstandards.gov.uk. Other documentation which you may

find useful is also available at:

www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/qualifications/trainingproviders. This guidance

document has been developed to help you understand the process that your

organisation will go through in order to gain accreditation from TSI. The new standard

has been developed in consultation with the existing providers, and we are confident

that the new standard is robust and fit for purpose for all the different types of training

provider whether a University offering a degree course, or a distance learning provider

with no direct contact with their students.

If you already have accreditation then TSI will contact you when you are due for a re-

accreditation audit. If you are new to this process then you will need to contact the

Education and Training Team at TSI, either by email [email protected],

telephone: 0845 608 9500 or by writing to her at TSI, 1 Sylvan Court, Sylvan Way,

Southfields Business Park, Basildon, Essex SS15 6TH.

The team is your main point of contact and will organise a date for your audit and send

you the relevant documentation to help you prepare. Once the audit has been

completed and the report submitted, you will be sent a letter and a copy of the reportand if accreditation has been approved then you will also be given a certificate detailing

the accreditation of courses and how long it will last.
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/qualifications/trainingprovidershttp://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/qualifications/trainingprovidersmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/qualifications/trainingproviders


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The process:

Route to TSI accreditation under TSQF

Training Providerapplication received

at TSI

Existing Trainingprovider re-accredit

date

TSI to contactauditor

TSI to arrange date,

venue and otherdetails of audit

20 days prior toaudit TSI requestspre-auditinformation &

reviews

Auditor receives andreviews pre-auditinformation

Auditor outline plan,pre-audit informationand any otherpracticalities (via

phone/email)

AUDIT

Open meeting

Tour of site

Meetings withkey personnel

Auditor briefingand findings

Close meeting

Audit report written

and sent to TSI.

Recommendationsand report

to TSI

TSI to send report

and outcome witha letter confirmingAccreditation /

Conditional

accreditation /Failure

TSI to sendguidance leaflet toTraining Providerand Costs

TSI responsibilities

Auditor


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You will be sent a request for information before the audit commences. This information should

be sent to the co-ordinator at TSI.

General information about the provider eg what you would send to students looking toattend your course(s).

The course programme including all the modules offered and how the content has beenlinked to the TSQF.

Short description of the learning environment.

A policy document or evidence of support for students.

Short description of teaching methods employed.

Short description of resources available, eg funding, number of teaching staff, etc.

CVs and CPD (continuous professional development) record of your teaching staff.

Evidence of the internal development of the course eg minutes of meetings, panel decisionsetc.

Evidence of the number of students currently on the course and those registered to attendthe following academic year.

Documents which support your relationship with the external examiner/contentdeveloper/consultant.

Any material which demonstrates the marketing and promotion of the course.

Any action or improvement plans in operation as a result of student/staff feedback.

A copy of the student questionnaire issued.

Any policy documents which cover equal opportunities, disability and special learning needs,complaints, learner feedback and fees/grants.

Once all this information has been received, it will be passed to the nominated auditor who will

carry out a thorough review of the material. The auditor will put together a programme for the

audit and detailing who they wish to talk to, what facilities they would like to view and what

additional materials they want to examine.

This will be sent to you in advance of the audit two weeks where possible.

Who is the auditor?

The auditor will hold the lead auditor qualification or a suitable equivalent, and be familiar with

the Trading Standards Qualifications Framework. The auditor is responsible for writing the

report and making recommendations, or setting conditions to the accreditation.


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The day of the audit

It is likely that the audit will take the whole day from about 09:30 to 16:30 with a half hour

break for lunch. You will be briefed by the auditor on who they are, and why the audit is taking

place. The auditor will have previously provided you with an agenda and will typically start with

an opening meeting, review of the documentation already provided and request additional

evidence to demonstrate meeting the requirements of the standard. A tour of the facilities and

discussions with the staff involved in delivering the material will be required. Once all this hasbeen completed and the auditor is satisfied that they have enough information, a closing

meeting will finish the days auditing process.

The Auditor will require an office or suitable space to work in, access to refreshments (these do

not have to be provided free of charge but they must be directed to the on-site facilities if

required). It is usually best to nominate one member of staff to be the main point of contact

throughout the day and attend both the opening and closing meetings.

What does the auditor want to see?

The auditor is looking to see that you can provide evidence that you meet all the requirements ofthe standard. Some of this information will have already been provided prior to the audit.

However, listed below are the requirements in the standard and an example of what you might

like to present as evidence.

Requirement Example Evidence

Description of provider Marketing materials, and annual report.

Course/module descriptors A course handbook, internal documents detailingsyllabus and content.

Learning support environment A tour of the facilities.

Pastoral care Policy documents, tutoring system, web based

information.Teaching/assessment methods Example of coursework, examinations.

Resources Structure chart of staff, budget information, andequipment available to students.

Staff Meeting some of the staff. Staff CVs, evidence ofcontinuous professional development.

Internal development procedures Policy documents, minutes of meetings, paneldecisions, development plans.

Where course fits into TSQF A mapping diagram demonstrating how therequirements of the TSQF have been put into thecourse provided.

External links with employers Work placement arrangements, visits by employers tothe organisation to give talks etc.

No. of students recruited and completingcourse

A student register, results.

External examiner Who they are, the qualifications and experience, theirinvolvement in the course.

Marketing/Promotion Published material, results of market surveys, webbased material.

Communication of results Evidence of the results being passed to TSI, or wherestudents sit TSI exams evidence of that informationbeing requested from TSI. Consider freedom of

information and Data Protection.Continuous improvement A continuous improvement plan, student feedback

questionnaires.


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The auditor will also want to see policy documents that address the following areas:

Equal opportunities

Disability and special learning needs

Complaints

Fees and/or grants information

What happens next?

The auditor will take away all the information they have gathered and prepare a report.

They may make recommendations or put conditions on your accreditation. If there are

conditions applied then a review will take place within 12 months to make sure that

these have been complied with. Normally accreditation will last for 5 years. However,

there will be a mid-term review. The mid-term review will usually be a paperwork

exercise or maybe an exchange of emails. Where changes are made to the course, you

should contact the co-ordinator so that an auditor can make arrangements to review

these changes.

You will receive a letter from TSI telling you the outcome of the audit, a copy of the

audit report and an accreditation certificate (provided the standard is met).

What if I dont agree with the outcome of the audit?

There is an appeals process.

If you disagree with any of the findings you have the right to appeal the outcome of the

report. An independent person appointed by TSI will act as a senior-auditor. They willbe given all relevant documents and arrange interviews with both the original auditor

and organisation appealing, and make a decision based on their findings. There are

three possible outcomes:

1. That the report is upheld in full

2. That the report is upheld but with revised recommendations/conditions

3. That the report is rejected and a new audit team is appointed to carry out a

review

If you appeal the initial report and the super-auditor decides to uphold the report in full

then the organisation is liable to pay the cost of this appeal (currently 500). Appeals

should be addressed to the Education and Training Manager, TSI, 1 Sylvan Court, Sylvan

Way, Southfields Business Park, Basildon, Essex SS15 6TH.

Appeals must be made within 3 months of the audit report being provided and

submitted to TSI. The decision of the super-auditor after appeal is final.


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How much does it cost?

2,000 plus VAT per 5 years.

What are these costs based on?

TSI seek only to cover the cost of funding and maintaining the system, therefore the feeis based on a five year rolling accreditation, and covers the amount of time it takes toconduct an audit, including all the preparation and post audit work.

Questions?

If you have further questions please direct them to Phil Owen, Education and TrainingManager, at TSI, 1 Sylvan Court, Sylvan Way, Southfields Business Park, Basildon, EssexSS156TH or by telephone on 0845 608 9435 or by email on [email protected].