More arrivals to follow...

Today brings news of even more potential arrivals to the facilitator team. A plethora of candidates have been put forward to 2nd interview with some of these occuring tomorrow (23rd July). We are also looking at recruiting from within the Programme Assessor team which supports our investment in our own people. Additional news that we will also now be recruiting for another RQV/SRQV has been welcomed, we need as many 'eyes on assignments' as possible for the coming intake, with an additional 500+ learner predicted, this will impact the amount of verification we need to accomplish to maintain our sampling strategy.

Suit Up

It's a fancy logo, that's all. Would be nice on a T-Shirt

Breaking News!

Joseph Flannigan - Facilitator for Manchester Academy
Anthony Boal - Facilitator for Warrington/Preston Academy

Both the above will start with us on the 2nd August, thus allowing Tov and Pov to start their new roles. Those unsuccessful for the Fac roles have been earmarked for future positions in Facitator and Associate trainer gaps as they arise.

Welcome to the dream team

We will have new comrades in arms within the next 2-3 weeks, names to follow after the official acceptance of the offer.

Recruitment Drive Complete

Thankfully the decision did not reside at my doorstep as it would have been very difficult to choose betwen all the 5 shortlisted candidates for the Northern FAC vacancies. However, that said, I am happy with the appointments made by our resident RTM and look forward to welcoming them to the dream team.

Slots filled... easy as A, B, C

2 vacancies, 5 applicants, totalling 10 interviews. Today we will have made an offer to a couple of new facilitators which will bring our team up to full strength in the Northern Region. Of all the candidates interviewed I have no doubt that they will all do a great job for us as it was apparent at interview that they already hold the key attributes of what makes a good/great/fantastic facilitator. Each of them had their own, individual attributes but they all had bags of motivation, determination, professionalism and, as they say in the singles ads - GSOH. I will keep you all updated with progress from the remaining 2nd interviews today and will hopefully be able to report that we have two new colleagues soon.

As we approach the final couple of weeks of the intake it appears we are almost there in terms of marking, assessment and verification. Yesterday we began claiming for those who have achieved the framework and have now prioritised marking by academy for those learners with only 1 or 2 elements outstanding, again allowing us to claim prior to graduation. With the FAC's now taking a firm grip on the outstanding unassessed tasks we hope to apply a combined effort of everyone to assess the C2.3a's over the final week of the intake. We have a marker task force on standby for the final week should we require any additional rework to be marked. Today in the trainer meeting the academies will be instructed now to submit all unassessed due, reworks and reworks of reworks into AP by the 23rd or risk not having their learners work marked in time for graduation. Although it is feasible to have some learners back after graduation to complete any absent or incomplete elements but we would rather not have that struggle.

Interviews-a-plenty!

Today I am entrusted with the responsibility of identifying suitable Facilitator candidates for the 2nd interview stage. The first interviews have so far thrown up a mixed bag of applicants, one in particular showed great disgust at the quality of the brew in the coffee machine, this may have dropped him 5 marks!! These drinks form the lifeblood of assessment and without at least 17 lattes per day you will never reach the target 40 Tasks. An update on the highlights of 1st interviews to follow.......

All hands on deck!

And so it begins, life without our Senior Southern RQV. We are all mucking in, taking on extra tasks and chipping in where we can to ensure the void is covered without too much disruption. Due to the aforementioned departure my own promotion has been put on hold for the interim period but not to worry, small sacrifices for the greater good. The Show Must Go On (as said by Mr Mercury).

Gone in 60 seconds...

Sad news filtering through today that our comrade and font of all knowledge has parted company with the organisation. A massive, unfillable void has been left and there is an absolute uphill battle on the horizon trying to compensate for the experience and knowledge we have lost with the departure of one of the most respected, helpful and knowledgeable people I have had the pleasure to both work with and call my friend. Our loss is somebody elses gain.