Auditing training provision to support effective border force operations

Skills for Justice have extensive experience in carrying out audits in a range of public and private sector organisations, and a deep understanding of the processes and procedures that organisations need to ensure the quality of the training employees receive.

The Ministry of Immigration and Border Services commissioned us to use this expertise to audit their training provision. Working with them, we:

• Completed a self-assessment exercise and sourced key documentation to evidence the current practice of the training team
• Reviewed the documentation, as well as the course materials and policies of the organisation
• Carried out interviews with the training team, management, and learners

Using our quality assurance framework, we assessed three of their training courses against four focus areas which are:

• Quality of training: the efficacy of quality systems and processes
• Behaviours and attitudes: what behaviours are there that inform and drive delivery
• Personal development: learner and trainer opportunities for development
• Leadership and management: effective stakeholder partnerships

A full audit report was produced for Turks and Caicos Islands Force, with a detailed action plan.

Skills for Justice presented the findings and recommendation in the report with the organisation to ensure Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force had the opportunity to clarify and understand the details contained within the report.

We found evidence of a lot of good practice already embedded within the training provision, such as:

• An embedded recognition of the value of continuous professional development (CPD) and reflective practice
• Training evaluation before courses are rolled out to learners
• Course aims and objectives are clearly communicated, and learners are satisfied that they receive clear information

Some of our key recommendations include:

• Process improvement to formalise monitoring and observation of training delivered by subcontractors
• Building on existing efforts to support learners who may need reasonable adjustments made to training courses or materials
• Introducing a greater level of quality assurance, and ensuring leadership and management stakeholders are involved in and responsible for making sure materials and language used are appropriate, and that proper technology and products are being implemented

The findings of the audit will now be used to help ensure industry best practice and development of training provision that will support the delivery of services in the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force. The project underpins the organisation’s commitment to their employees professional development as a vital part of delivering excellent public services.

Find out more about Skills for Justice’s quality assurance services →