Learner Supports and Quality Assurance Mechanisms
Your learning experience is very important to us. We want to support you in any way we can. We have a number of supports available to you and would like you to contact us if you feel that there is something else we can do to help you. Please do so by talking to your Tutor directly or by contacting us in the Training Unit at any time. We also have a number of ways that we collect information about our training which enables us to ensure that the training we offer is quality focused. Some of these require your support in order to be meaningful and in order for us to continuously improve.
The following supports and quality assurance mechanisms are already in place:-
Learner Handbook
We have produced this handbook to address some of the questions most asked by Learners on our Courses or in response to information that we think you might need. It is not an exhaustive list but it covers most things. We would actively encourage you to contact us if there is something that we have not covered and we will be pleased to advise you on your query but also we will use your feedback to update the Handbook to make it more relevant to you, the Learner.
Tutor Handbook
In the same way that Learners have a Handbook, so to do the Tutors. In many ways it is very similar to yours but covers Tutor responsibilities and other topics in more detail. If you wish to have a copy, please request it from the Training Unit. Every tutor that we use has been met individually by the Training Unit staff to ascertain their skills, knowledge, capability and suitability to deliver FETAC Accredited Training to our Learners in the way that we expect.
If for any reason, you are unhappy with your Tutor, please contact the Training Unit and we will address the matter confidentially and to the satisfaction of all. In the same way, we would encourage Learners to give us positive feedback where it is warranted as we very much wish to be able to acknowledge excellent training too.
The Training Unit will periodically attend training sessions in an observer capacity to ensure that training is being delivered in line with our Quality Assurance procedures and to the standard expected. This in no way indicates that there is a problem with the tutor but is part of our procedures to ensure that the Learner has the very best training experience but also to support our excellent tutors in every way possible.
Centre Manager Handbook
Many of our Resource Centres around the Country will start to deliver FETAC Training in 2010 and beyond. We will provide them with Learner Handbooks to issue to Learners, Tutor Handbooks to issue to Tutors and instructions as to how to organise training in their areas. If you are unhappy in any way about how training was organised or indeed wish to give us positive feedback we will be delighted to receive it.
New Modules & New Courses
We will continually look at gaps in course provision and strive to address any gaps we see by developing new modules or courses as appropriate. If you feel that there is a need for a Course that has not been met, please contact the Training Unit and we will investigate it for you.
We have already developed a new FETAC Level 5 Module which addresses the whole area of providing care in the home with our Practical Home Care Skills Module (N22940). This was developed because we felt there was no module which specifically addressed this issue and which also highlighted awareness of Family Carers and the Stress of Caring in general. 90% of all Care is provided in the home.
When we develop any new courses or Modules we commit also to developing materials to support the Learner as we did with our Practical Home Care Skills Manual.
FETAC Level 5 Practical Home Care Skills Manual
As outlined, we developed a Module focused on delivering Care in the Home for Family Carers and others who may support Family Carers in providing care in the home. We developed a Manual to accompany the Course which serves as a reference tool for the Tutor and Learner but also which the Learner can refer to long after the course has ended.
This is part of our commitment to quality assured training and to supporting learners. If you feel that other materials would be useful, please do not hesitate to contact us and we are open to developing these for you.
Application / Registration Form for Training
This is used to register learners for the training and to ascertain the Learners level of education, their experience of caring and whether or not the learner has any particular needs. These are to ensure that all training meets your needs.
Learner Pre-Course Preparation Questionnaire
The Learner Pre Course questionnaire assists us in checking your understanding of the training methods and assessment methods used to verify learning as well as giving us an insight into your expectations, concerns and what you hope to get out of the course. This gives the tutor an opportunity to address these issues from the very outset.
Learner Contact Details
This should be completed by the tutor on the first day of class. The name entered on this form will reflect the name required on the FETAC Certificate. Date of Birth and PPS Numbers are critical for registering students for FETAC Certification. Contact details will also be used to advise change of venue or class-time or to advise if a session had to be cancelled in unforeseen circumstances.
Learner Self-Evaluation / Reflection
Learners are encouraged to reflect on individual sessions and the overall context of a module to ascertain what has been learnt and what proved most challenging. These can be included in the Learners Portfolio for review by the External Authenticator and by the Training Unit.
Return of Assignment / Portfolio / Learner Journal
This record of a Learner submitting their work is extremely important. Learners must only return completed assignments, portfolios or coursework to the designated tutor and must sign to state it is their own work and the tutor must also sign to acknowledge receipt of the portfolio and give the student a copy of the receipt for their records. No responsibility can be taken for work handed in to any other person other than the course tutor or for work which is not signed for by the tutor and the student. All Learners should keep a copy of work handed in for their records.
Post Course Evaluation Questionnaire
We would request that all Learners complete a Post Course Evaluation for each course they attend. Again the information in this will be used to support tutors where required, to ensure that Learners and Tutors feel supported and valued and to ensure that training delivered is of a consistently high standard.
Other Evaluation
The Training Unit may also request other feedback from learners in the form of an overall questionnaire or survey which will be used to inform a review of our procedures. All feedback is welcomed. Sometimes this will be done using Survey Monkey particularly for those with email addresses. All responses are confidential in these cases to allow Learners and others to give honest feedback that can be used to improve our services. We would really appreciate your feedback so that we can make our training better and more meaningful.
From time to time, we may look at other methods of evaluation as deemed appropriate.
Self-Evaluation
All FETAC providers have to evaluate their services periodically and usually there is an in-depth evaluation after the first year of operation and every few years after that. We would ask for your co-operation in obtaining this feedback. This Self-Evaluation is usually carried out by an independent person with experience in reviewing systems and procedures of this nature and who can look at the feedback from all learners, from tutors, from the External Authenticator and any FETAC Monitoring Visits to recommend changes or improvements.
Learner Facilities
We strive to ensure that all our facilities are appropriate for training and that the learners and tutors have everything they need. We provide light refreshments to our Learners. We provide handouts, materials appropriate to the course content and guidelines in the form of Learner Handbook and assignment briefs that may be useful to the Learner throughout the Course. If a Learner feels that there is more we can do, we are happy to receive that feedback.
Learning Difficulties
Alternative assessment arrangements can be made (in as far as we can) to allow for Learners with a disability or learning difficulty. The Learner should make known his/her need for support as soon as possible to the Training Unit.
Regular Feedback from Tutor
Your Tutor will give you ongoing feedback to advise you on your progress particularly in relation to assignments. Please listen to this feedback and take on board the feedback you are receiving. It is designed to give you the very best opportunity to obtain the best grade possible. It is also an opportunity for you to ask for additional support if you require it although please request this as and when you need it as we are there to help and support you.
External Authenticator
An External Authenticator is appointed by The Carers Association with significant experience and expertise in the field to Authenticate or verify and check results of learners to ensure consistency and quality and to ensure that learners and being marked and graded in a consistent manner. Sometimes the Authenticator will adjust Tutor marks up or down depending on the findings. The External Authenticator will advise changes that need to be made or will suggest improvements to how training is being delivered. It is another way that students are supported and that the quality of training is ensured.
FETAC Monitoring
FETAC will conduct monitoring visits at intervals to ensure that we are meeting the needs of learners, that we are upholding the integrity of FETAC Awards and standards and that we are doing what we said we would do to support learners. The Monitoring Visits will support us in becoming better at what we do and will identify areas for improvement.
