Education Working Group

1
Education Working Group

• Development of an Education and Training
  Programme
• Ed Passant

2
Education Working Group Structure

• Ed Passant Chair of group
• Isabel Coe Centre Manager
• Adrian Dobson Centre Manager
• Colin Barnett Centre Manager
• Paula Quinn Information Officer
• Debbie Murgatroyd OT Driving Adviser
• Ron Spence DSA ADI Driving Adviser
• Gary Jones DSA ADI Driving Adviser

3
Group changes

• Colin Barnett
• Ed Passant
• Liz Whiteman
• Jean Bish
• Yvonne Brown

4
Aims of the education working group

• Key Aspects
• To develop and implement a training system to
  address the varying needs of staff within Forum
  accredited mobility centres.
• To explore and develop a professional
  qualification for Driving Advisers

5
Review of the education process

• The role of the Driving Adviser
• (core competencies)
• The need for a validated professional
  qualification for Driving Advisers.
• Future training options.

6
The Context

• Skills development within the assessment field
• Quality assurance/consistency of outcome
• Need to link competency of staff to the
  accreditation process
• Improvement in standards across sector

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The need for training and education

• The diverse role of the Driving Adviser
• Most Driving Advisers are either Occupational
  Therapists or Driving Instructors.
• Are we equipped with the necessary skills?

8
Core competencies of a Driving Adviser

• Understanding of the musculo-skeletal system.
• Understanding of the central and peripheral
  nervous system.
• Understanding vision as it relates to driving.

• Understanding cognition as it relates to driving.
• Understanding vehicle control solutions.
• Understanding vehicle design.

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Core competencies of a Driving Adviser

• Understanding ergonomic principles.
• Understanding normal driver behaviour.

• Measuring on-road driver performance.
• Managing on-road risk during assessment.

10
A review of training options

• Driving Standards Agency - 2-6 week intensive
  training to administer a standardised process.
• Training within Europe, Australia and America
  various approaches taken.
• Previous Forum education programme low uptake,
  not flexible, not supported by member centres,
  administration difficulties.
• Forum short courses valuable complementary
  training but not an alternative. No independent
  validation, no measure of learning outcomes.

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Outcome of Review

• There is an essential need for a validated
  professional qualification for Driving Advisers.
• Any future education programme must be
  meaningful, academically endorsed, flexible and
  achievable by all staff working within driver
  assessment.
• The future training programme must be implemented
  in conjunction with a standardised assessment
  process and a more relevant accreditation process.

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The proposed future of our training

• A validated academic and practical approach to
  study.
• A 3 stage approach to qualification.
• Compulsory element of training for all Driving
  Advisers.

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Problems with the Greenwich Course

• Volumes
• Course Content
• Dependence on key individuals as tutors
• Marketing to wider industry
• Administrative problems

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New Model

• Based on a Competency framework
• Many competencies not specific to our sector -
  we just concentrate on those that are.
• Up to 50 of content can be credited via schemes,
  such as APEL - experiential learning
• Local delivery
• Flexible

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New Model

• Three possible qualifications
• Foundation degree
• Honours Degree
• Diploma

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Next Steps

• Work on Core Competencies
• Negotiations with potential academic partner
• Seek Funding
• BUT FIRST - A MANDATE FROM THE AGM