Its been a long time coming but finally we can confirm that the new WAMITAB/CIWM scheme was approved by DEFRA in December!

All environmental permits issued under the 2007 Regulations effective from 06/04/2008 require all waste operators of Permitted sites to have competent staff. Under the new regulations there is a greater choice and flexibility for determining competency.

The nature of the site’s operations determines the level of competency which the permit holders’ staff must achieve. The nature of the sites has been split up into low risk, medium risk and high risk. For example:

Permit holders can now have a choice over which competency route their staff take, suited both to their learning styles and operational needs. The choice range between NVQ and classroom based VRQ training and assessment. The table below indicates the choices available to staff new to the WAMITAB/CIWM Scheme.

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You will notice on the table that we have mention continuing Competence. This is because one of the new requirements to the scheme is that you must pass a knowledge based assessment every 2 years to ensure that your knowledge of legislation and practices are up to date. If you already hold a COTC, then you must also ensure continuing competence every 2 years.

Please call Albion Environmental to discuss these options and the new scheme and we will be happy to help you with any enquiries.

Albion Environmental’s North-East England Office in Scarborough, North Yorkshire has been given Centre Approval Status by The Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board

Centre approval was granted last week after a visit from an External Verifier who assessed the Centres policies and practices.

WAMITAB is responsible for ensuring that only those centres that have the necessary resources, systems, commitment and expertise to support the consistent delivery, assessment and quality assurance of an National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) are approved to offer the Certificate of Technical Competence (COTC) / WAMITAB qualifications

What we can now offer

Although Albion Environmental have been offering the Certificate of Technical Competence (COTC) through the Scottish Vocational Qualifications for the past 7 years through their Scottish SQA Approved Centre, Albion Environmental can now offer a full range of awards throughout England and Wales through the WAMITAB/NVQ Approved Centre. For more information on the individual awards please visit: http://www.albionenvironmental.co.uk/wamitab-awards-list.php

Whats involved with the NVQ?

An National Vocational Qualification is based on workplace assessment rather than the ability to pass exams. Individuals completing S/NVQs gain skills, knowledge and a better understanding of their job. They also gain documentary proof of their abilities to show prospective employers and regulators.

Target Audience

Albion Environmental Limited will assess any range of candidates engaged in the Waste industry from first line operatives to senior directors and managers throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

For further information, quotations or advice please call Lynda Owen on Scarborough 01723 354464 or mobile 07909 521576.

Albion Environmental is pleased to announce that they are currently awaiting approval to deliver the newly devised nationally recognised qualifications developed by the Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM) and the Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board (WAMITAB).

The new qualifications have been developed as part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Waste Implementation Programme which aims are to raise the skills of UK Waste Managers in relation to waste treatment technologies.

The new nationally recognised qualifications available are:

 Level 4 HLA Award in Waste Treatment Technologies;
 Level 3 VRQ in the Principals and Practices of Sustainable Waste Management;
 Level 3 VRQ in Waste and Resource Management.

Note that these changes are only relevant to England and Wales and are not applicable to Scotland or Northern Ireland, However – that said, Watch This Space!.

How did the new Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQ) and Higher Level Award (HLA) Qualifications come about?

Competency on waste management and other permitted facilities is now defined by the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) 2007.
The new regulations allow DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly Government to approve a competency scheme for England and Wales that meets these requirements. This change’s the way in which competency is reached for the majority of different waste management and other permitted facilities.

Following on from the forth Environmental Permitting Programme (EPP) Consultation, which included revisions of the requirements for technical competence, two schemes were submitted. The first scheme based on individual competence submitted by the Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM) and the Management Industry Training and Advisory Board (WAMITAB) and the second scheme based on a corporate level for competence management systems, submitted by the Environmental Services Association (ESA) and EU Skills.

The individual scheme submitted by CIWM and WAMITAB has now been approved and with effect from 5 April 2008. The Technical Competence Scheme has been based on individuals demonstrating personal competence within a prescribed framework. It seeks to build on and improve the existing COTC Scheme so that relevant achievements through the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) / Certificate of Technical Competence (COTC) are still recognised.

However the new scheme identifies that different types of waste facilities pose different levels of risks to the environment and therefore demonstrate that technical competence should be proportional. It also recognised that individuals have different learning and development preferences and therefore the scheme offers choice’s in the way they want to achieve their competency. The scheme also ensures that individuals maintain their competency through continuous learning. A Continuous competence system has been built into the new scheme ensuring that all individuals remain up to date with relevant knowledge.

Different Levels of Risk Require Different Levels of Competence.
You will have to demonstrate initial competence by gaining one of the awards within the new scheme. Which award you go for will depend on which risk tier your activity is in. See Fig 1 below:

The high risk tier only allows for the full NVQ. However, at medium and low risk tiers a choice of awards are given in order to offer flexibility and cater for different learning styles and needs. At low risk the Environmental Permit Operators Certificate (EPOC) offers a two day training course with a scenario-based assessment and, at medium risk, the VRQ is a vocational related qualification that is a combination of taught modules, scenario based assessments and an assignment based on the specific site/activity. The new scheme ensures you stay up to date with legislation changes and other changes by way of continuous competence requirements.

FAQ’s

What if I am already “competent”? Do I have to gain another qualification?

No. If you already have an appropriate NVQ Certificate of Technical Competence (COTC) then this will still be valid as an initial award. If you have been identified as being “deemed competent” by the Environment Agency then you will also not need to gain an initial award. If you currently fall outside of needing a COTC, and you have been assessed by the Environment Agency, you will also not need to gain an initial award.

Does that mean that if I don’t need to gain a new award, then I don’t need to do anything else?

No, everyone who wishes to remain technically competent must undertake continuing competence. How you do this is up to you, however you must demonstrate through assessment that you understand and can apply the knowledge.

What is continuing competence?

Continuing competence is a requirement to keep up-to-date with changes and key issues relating to a waste and secondary resource permit activity. What needs to be covered within your continuing competence will be set at the start of the continuing competence period by an industry panel. The continuing competence syllabus will be re-set every two years and, in order to maintain your technical competence status, you will need to pass an assessment. The appropriate updates can be obtained from a variety of sources and by a variety of methods, such as seminars, informal discussions, reading journals, in-house training, external training, briefing sessions etc, depending upon your preferences and budget. You may take the assessment at any time during the two-year period.

If you wish to discuss any of the points above or still have concerns about the new changes please do not hesitate to contact Albion Environmental.

SQA carried out a detailed audit of all the qualifications currently delivered by Albion Environmental Ltd on 5th April 2006. We received an extremely positive report, which is a compliment to the staff who have invested a lot of time and effort to ensure we deliver a quality service.

Under the heading “Internal Assessment”, Dr. Jennifer McQuaid-Cook was pleased to note- “Good Structure & increased use of e-mail, making systems more efficient”

Also under the heading “General Feedback”, she noted “This centre has developed very commendable systems of information provision to candidates methods of tracking candidate work and in-house recording systems. There is on-going development of efficiencies across all activities”

And finally under the heading “Good Practice”, she was pleased to note-

“There is a creative approach to enhancing both learning and applicability in the workplace through underpinning knowledge exercises.”

“Overall, this is an efficient, progressive centre”.

If you wish to see a complete copy of the report or wish to talk to any of our existing candidates please do not hesitate to contact us.

Albion Environmental Ltd continues to consolidate their position as the most innovative WAMITAB training and assessment centre in the UK. This is recognised by the number of new clients we have already taken on in 2006. Albion Environmental Ltd, do not believe in standing still and are pleased to announce the following new services for 2006 to compliment our existing services.

• 2 day Background to Waste Management Course – This course will cover the basic knowledge and understanding required to complete a WAMITAB award. Ideal for candidates who are new to the industry or simply wish to improve their knowledge. To find out more please contact us.

– Over 50% of our candidates are having their work assessed by sending work by email. This allows candidates to complete small sections of work and have it assessed prior to moving on to the next section. It also significantly reduces costs by reducing assessor travel time. This option is currently offered to all candidates.

• Web based WAMITAB portfolio – Albion Environmental is currently testing a system where a complete portfolio can be developed and assessed on the internet. This option can be offered to candidates on a trial basis. In addition to the cost savings from being able to prepare and assess a portfolio on line this option also provides a discussion forum for all candidates operating through the Centre.

As always we ensure that training and assessment is carried out by experienced Waste Managers who understand the pressures of managing an operational site. Relevant C.V’s detailing levels of expertise can be provided for trainers.

Albion Environmental Ltd continues to evolve their methods for training and assessing WAMITAB candidates. In the four years we have been operating our methods have changed and we have provided additional services. The WAMITAB section of the web site has been updated to reflect these changes.