Page 54 - the SyI Quarterly 13 - (V4)

Chartered Security Professionals

Enabling Competence: As a police officer and Counter Terrorist Security as ‘transformational’. Aside from a tangible
Coordinator (CT SecCo), continuing professional
improvement in the consistency and quality of
development is critical. Charged with: conducting
submitted work, candidate feedback points towards
the CSyP way risk assessments; the development of strategy and a number of positive outcomes:
tactics; testing and validation of security plans and
the coordination and integration of security activity,
a SecCos skills and knowledge must be beyond • The PRA is an ideal way to validate learning and
set people on the path to future professional
reproach and be able to bare scrutiny. I wanted development
By George Trebess CSyP MSyI to enable the professional development of the CT • PRAs are externally recognised and aligned to
SecCo network by introducing similar benefits to powerful respected brands
those enjoyed by members of the RCSP. Importantly, • The PRA pathway can act as a benchmark for
I wanted to recognise the subject matter expertise candidates to move to another level
of these hard-working individuals; to reward effort, • PRAs recognise, develop and make visible the
With the Protect Duty looming we can expect guidance leadership and innovation. To achieve this, I needed skills and abilities of candidates
on the Competence Persons Scheme (CPS) soon. But for to find a demonstrable measure of competence • PRAs could enable private sector collaboration
protective security, what does ‘competence’ actually mean? that was externally recognised and respected. Not a and common evidence-led risk management
And how will it be identified, grown and sustained? course of study, but a process geared to evidence. practice
• PRAs provide an effective bridge between the
There are any number of options. A recent proof of The solution appears to rest with PRAs- regulated police and the private sector. A common award
concept study points to Professional Recognition Awards by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations will nurture trust and confidence
(PRAs) delivered by City and Guilds as a possible solution. (Ofqual) and awarded by City and Guilds at Levels • Through a demonstration of competence, the
PRAs are not a course of study, but an award based on 4 to 7 (entry level to Masters equivalence). All levels PRA pathway could assist in the delivery of the
evidence. They make skills and experience visible and offer consist of six standards (Leadership, Professional Protect Duty, irrespective of complexity
a professional development pathway. This short article will Standards, Professional Development etc.) that • The pathway has the potential to form an
briefly detail the process and importantly, the feedback resonate powerfully with the requirements of CSyP effective and focused network of like-minded
from the initial cohort of candidates that points to a and that learners must meet. Working collaboratively professionals.
promising future for protective security. with NaCTSO as the assessment centre and City
and Guilds, I developed a PRA in CT Security There is still work to do, but PRAs offer practitioners
Competence can be described as a combination of skills, Coordination and Integrated Risk Management. the opportunity to develop and distinguish
experience and knowledge that a person has and their I recruited a number of occupational competent themselves through a clear expression of
ability to apply them (HSE 2022). The Register of Chartered assessors and thirty-five CT SecCo candidates to competence. They have a clear potential to serve
Security Professionals (RCSP) recognises individuals trial the entire pathway, commencing in March the requirement of the Protect Duty. A decision to
who have done just that, and to the highest level. The 2020. The assessment process is broadly similar to continue with the process and to a wider offering is
assessment is rigorous and standard aligned. As members that of the RCSP: complete a piece of work, project still to be made. I remain hopeful.
we are recognised as leaders and innovators in protective or initiative or successfully have done this in the
security thinking. The RCSP nurtures and promotes past; gather a ‘portfolio’ of evidence demonstrating
professionalism. It’s a place that encourages collaboration what was done; produce a reflective overview of
and continuous professional improvement. Membership how they met the six PRA standards and finally
(the CSyP badge) is the ‘gold standard of competence in include witness statements that confirm the work
security’. Improved trust and confidence are the inevitable completed met the required standard. An action
result. There’s no downside. plan was completed for each candidate, who was
then supported by regular contact with a dedicated
But what about those individuals on the journey to assessor. Ultimately, each person was assessed on
becoming a professional? Would they, and indirectly the the strength of their evidence. To the feedback.
public, not benefit from a similar approach? A professional,
like-minded network working to clear standards would There are challenges: the administrative burden;
certainly have brought focus to operational and academic assessor training and abstraction; standardisation
efforts earlier in my career. of format and content and the application process
warrant further consideration. However, on a
more positive note, direct costs are low and
paid at registration with City and Guilds and the
impact perceived by many has been described
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