IMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2014 The Oxford Hotel, Oxford 12 th & 13 th May 2014 Conference sponsored by
IMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2014 The Oxford Hotel, Oxford 12 th & 13 th May 2014 The new framework for money advice standards
IMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2014 The Oxford Hotel, Oxford 12 th & 13 th May 2014 Presenter Tiana Pathmanathan Debt Advice Quality & Transformation Manager, The Money Advice Service Facilitator Graham O Malley, Money Advice Specialist, IMA
MAS co-ordination role: Aim for debt advice standards across the UK Consistent, high quality debt advice across the sector A Quality Framework based upon best practice informed by mapping undertaken by MAT building on existing standards and identified good practice processes a focus on both the quality of organisations and individuals Wide consultation held in early 2013 Quality Framework for Organisations published in June 13 Independently Chaired Working Group between (June October 2013) to develop the Individual Framework
How does it work? Existing quality standards, membership codes, training and qualifications are invited to be mapped and assessed against each of the agreed best practice requirements set out in the Quality Framework Potential outcomes following an independent assessment: Money Advice Service issue accreditation to standards, membership codes, debt advice training and qualifications 3 year award full accreditation 3 month award conditional accreditation Development work followed by a reassessment of changes made in next application window
Organisational Framework Requirement 2.6: Clients needs organisation to be staffed by individuals trained and competent in line with the individual element of the MAS Quality Framework. Evidence of learning records reviewed at audit. Governance Learning
Individual Framework Working Group membership Advice UK Advice NI Citizens Advice England & Wales Citizens Advice Scotland Debt Resolution Forum Institute of Credit Management Institute of Money Advisers Money Advice Scotland Payplan StepChange Debt Charity
Individual Framework - Wide support for Framework to use National Occupational Standards (NOS) as the core building blocks of the framework. NOS developed within each sector that they cover and owned by a range of Sector Skills Councils. - NOS provide the sector wide agreed content outlining the knowledge and performance criteria for each unit. - Post consultation a change to reflect the activities that individuals undertake rather than their roles to reflect feedback outlining the wide variance in approach across the sector.
Individual Framework Activity Sets Initial contact; Support work; Advice work; Casework/specialist advice; Court representation; Supervision
Individual Framework - Provide sector wide visibility over the agreed knowledge and understanding required to undertake each activity set - Provide transparency over the training and qualifications undertaken thereby providing evidence to advisers of the depth and breadth of learning that has been undertaken - Recognition of prior learning to be a consideration for training and qualification owners. Their policies where they exist would take into account any determined entry level evidence of learning required.
Sole Adviser requirements Accreditation will be open to sole debt advisers working throughout the sector e.g. within local authority, education, housing association etc. settings Sole advisers will be required to evidence that: - They hold an accredited qualification that supports the specialist activity set; - Are part of a membership body with access to regular updates, CPD, peer support and a range of technical support - They hold all of the relevant insurances and licence requirements The accreditation application process will open once the qualifications in use in the sector have been through the accreditation process
Future focus Peer review to measure the quality and appropriateness of debt advice provided to the client Money Advice Service is currently scoping out an appropriate peer review scheme for use in the debt advice sector We would anticipate using peer review for a range of purposes: As a measure of the appropriateness of advice given, To review how the case was managed and To identify any trends (individual or for the organisation) To be used fundamentally as a development tool to facilitate learning for individual advisers and their organisations and as a means to engage the sector in the sharing of best practice
Future focus Supporting advisers to access the range of MAS accredited training and qualifications. Money Advice Service to review support required for its grant funded services to ensure advisers are provided with the learning required for the work that they undertake Will seek to widen support across the UK to non MAS funded services To publish a clear learning pathway for advisers to be able to have sight and choice over Money Advice Service accredited learning options that suit them and enable them to meet the quality obligations of the organisation they work for.
Activity Which NOS would you identify as essential? (15 mins) 1. Advice Advice where no casework is undertaken 2. Casework/Specialist advice Casework advice from generalist through to specialist advice 3. Court representation Casework advice and representation in a court setting