QUALITY AUDIT SUMMARY. DECA Training. Audit Date: 29 and 30 July 2008 Web Report Date: 26 September 2008 Provider ID: 9957

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1 QUALITY AUDIT SUMMARY on DECA Training Audit Date: 29 and 30 July 2008 Web Report Date: 26 September 2008 Provider ID: 9957

2 1 Objectives The audit aimed to obtain reasonable assurance that DECA Training is a sound and stable provider, has effective quality management systems in place, and is substantially achieving its goals and objectives as required by Quality Assurance Standard for Private Training Establishments, Government Training Establishments and Wānanga (QA Standard One). The results of this audit will contribute to the decisions made by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to confirm ongoing registration and accreditation, and the length of time until the next audit. An audit is a snapshot of the organisation s performance at a particular time. As such, it is not a guarantee of ongoing compliance and effectiveness. An audit is based on sampling and instances of non-compliance may remain undetected. 2 Scope The audit covered all elements of QA Standard One except Research. Research was excluded because DECA does not offer degree courses. 3 Responsibilities DECA Training is responsible for meeting all requirements of QA Standard One by ensuring the quality of its management systems and the achievement of its goals and objectives. Under the Education Act 1989, NZQA is responsible for registering private training establishments and granting accreditation to organisations offering approved courses. 4 Background This audit (2008) was a scheduled audit at the DECA Head Office at East Tamaki, Auckland. DECA Training was previously audited in 2005 and substantially met the requirements of QA Standard One. The one requirement not met related to the element governance and management. The main course delivered by DECA Training is an eight to twelve month programme leading to a National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Goods Service) Heavy Combination Vehicle Driver, which trainees attend one day per month. DECA Training also delivers a four week full time course leading to a National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Introductory Skills). The organisation also delivers many transport, driver, and distributionrelated courses of one to two days duration. 5 Summary At this audit (2008), DECA Training substantially met the requirements of QA Standard One. The three requirements not met relate to the elements governance and management, and development, deliver and review of programmes. One requirement relating to financial management statements was a repeat from the previous audit. Page 2 of 5

3 Goals and objectives DECA Training s goals and objectives are defined in the quality manual and in the 2008 business plan. The DECA Training mission is to design and deliver training which improves the safety, productivity, knowledge and skills of all people involved in the transport and vehicle-related industries. The overall objective is to create and deliver quality assured training programmes that suit the needs of industry, the labour market, the trainees, DECA Training clients, and that reflect industry expectations of the workforce. Governance and management DECA Training is the trading name for the parent company, Kiwi Driver Training Limited. Two of the three directors work as managers for DECA Training and are involved in the dayto-day management of the company. A quality manual contains the policies and procedures for the day-to-day business activities. However, the quality manual is not fully coherent because some requirements of QA Standard One are incomplete. These include the processes for monitoring the delivery of course components delivered by other training providers, the processes for formally reviewing programmes, and the processes for internal audit and review. Financial management statements were not supplied to NZQA within three months of the end of the financial year ending 31 December However, these documents were submitted during the audit. Personnel DECA Training employs eight permanent full-time trainers/assessors. All trainers are suitably experienced and qualified for the work they do and all are registered assessors with the relevant industry training organisation (ITO). An interview was held with a group of trainers and they indicated that training materials and resources were adequate and they received good support from management. Performance appraisals are carried out informally with staff, but the procedure is not documented. A plan for the professional development of trainers has been developed for Physical and learning resources Physical and learning resources are appropriate for the courses being delivered. Most courses are one to two-day sessions held at the premises of clients or at premises rented for the training. A major component of most courses is a practical demonstration of skills. The vehicles and equipment required for practical demonstrations are either hired or supplied by clients who want their trainees to demonstrate skills using the clients own vehicles. DECA Training considers health and safety an important aspect of driver training. As well as emphasising this on the courses DECA Training also implements its own health and safety system at head office. When visiting a client, DECA Training incorporates its own policies and procedures into the client s health and safety requirements. Page 3 of 5

4 Learner information, entry and support For short courses, trainee information is provided during the introduction to the training session. Trainee information for the longer national certificate courses is supplied in various documents and handouts. However, the information provided on the longer courses needs to be presented in a more formal manner to ensure that all trainees receive the required information in a consistent manner. An interview was held with a group of new trainees. They stated that they were interviewed twice before being accepted on the course. They considered that they were well briefed on the course content and on the support they would receive from trainers and management. They were satisfied with their progress to date and the treatment they were receiving from trainers and management. Development, delivery and review of programmes DECA Training has developed a new four-week national certificate leading to the achievement of a National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Introductory Skills) that is delivered as part of a contract with the Ministry of Social Development. The organisation also delivers a National Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Goods Service) Heavy Combination Vehicle Driver (or Heavy Rigid Vehicle Driver) which consists of one day per month training sessions over a period of eight to twelve months. The DECA Training quality manual does not contain a documented process for developing programmes. Although the programmes have been developed using informal processes they seem to meet the needs of stakeholders. Evidence of this was provided by feedback and support from funding agencies and other stakeholders. Some components of courses are delivered by other training providers, but the process for monitoring the performance of the other providers is not clearly documented. Programme review occurs occasionally, but this process also needs to be better documented. Assessment and moderation Most assessment material is obtained from the relevant ITOs. This material is checked by the trainers to ensure that it is suitable for the trainees attending the course. Internal moderation takes place regularly to ensure that assessment tasks are appropriate and assessors judgements are fair, valid and consistent. The process for recording and reporting assessment results is well documented. DECA Training is engaged in external moderation activities with Competenz, Transqual, and New Zealand ITO. Notification and reporting on learner achievement The results of trainee work is recorded on assessment sheets and reported to the trainee as soon as they are available. Results are often discussed with the trainee immediately after assessment is completed. If the course is subsidised by an ITO, trainee credits are reported to NZQA through the ITO. Other unit standard credits are reported directly to NZQA by DECA Training. All unit standard credits are reported within one month of being awarded to the trainee and usually within one week. Page 4 of 5

5 Achievement of goals and objectives Goals and objectives are reviewed annually when the business plan is completed. The achievement of objectives is measured by using performance indicators, and new objectives are set depending on the current training and educational environment. Quality system policies and procedures are reviewed annually, but the review/audit process is not sufficiently documented and robust to ensure that all requirements of QA Standard One are being met. Closing statement The results of the audit indicate that DECA Training is meeting the needs of trainees and other stakeholders. Evidence indicates that the organisation is well regarded in the industry, with special expertise in providing knowledge and skills to existing industry trainees and those new to the industry. The non-compliances identified during the audit show that although most requirements of QA Standard One are being met, some procedures need revision. The procedures need to be complete to make the quality manual a more coherent document for managing the business s activities. Page 5 of 5