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Reviewing Gas Competency

By Ian Moss, manager – Gas Safe Register, Energy & Utility Skills Ltd

Gas Safe Registered engineers can decide whether the current processes for new applicants entering the industry, and for engineers who wish to change their scope of work, need to change.

During the past twelve months, over 6,400 new applicants have joined the Gas Safe Register and now operate as engineers in the downstream gas industry. So, how do new applicants obtain the necessary qualifications, experience and competence to obtain registration with Gas Safe Register?

The current routes for new applicants are either to gain an S/NVQ* or to prove existing experience and competence through a Managed Learning Programme (MLP) and then undergo assessment through ACS. Applicants with no previous industry experience can use the ACS route in conjunction with an MLP.

Registration
For the S/NVQ route, the applicant is assessed on ‘whole job competence’, which includes quality of work, customer service, system design, etc, whereas, for the ACS route, the applicant would be assessed on ‘matters of gas safety’ only.

This difference may lead to significant variation in time and cost to achieve Gas Safe Registration. The Gas Safe Register requires engineers to prove their competence in only ‘matters of gas safety’ to obtain registration.

While anyone may enrol on an NVQ/SVQ/QCF qualification, there are currently three categories of people seeking to undertake ACS assessments – applicants regarded as experienced gas fitting operatives; applicants holding a nationally recognised qualification, e.g. S/NVQ or City & Guilds craft certificate, in a trade associated with gas work, e.g. plumbing, and applicants new to the industry that do not hold any national qualifications and have no previous experience.

Category 1
People with an S/NVQ or ACS qualification are classified as Category 1 applicants when they sit their first ACS assessment and can reasonably sit other, perhaps more complex or skilled, assessments to extend their range of work.

There is no limit to ACS assessments once Gas Safe Registration has been achieved. The applicant can undertake mandatory training in the new discipline, and/or present a portfolio of experience to the assessment centre prior to assessment. A large number of applicants wishing to cross skill also undertake training, and the robustness of the ACS assessment will determine if the applicant is competent in these new areas.

Category 2
Category 2 applicants should have ‘whole job competence’, such as quality of work, customer service, system design, etc. The specific ‘matters of gas safety’ can be gained through an appropriate MLP and subsequent ACS assessment, but it’s worth noting that ‘mandatory’ training could have a significant cost to industry.

Alternatively, applicants could complete an MLP but provide a detailed portfolio of work experience. Gaining experience may prove difficult for engineers, as providers may be reluctant to ‘train’ potential commercial rivals.

The targets of on the job experience have to be clearly defined and the entry requirements ensure every applicant achieves the minimum expectation. Consideration should also be given to how to assess competence of engineers who don’t work in mainstream gas utilisation but operate within specialist areas, e.g. gas engines, turbines and compressors. These operatives are often qualified within their own field but would require only a limited scope assessment to prove their competence.

Category 3
The requirements for Gas Safe Register registration need to be consistent for all applicants, and the route to registration needs to be the correct one. For new entrants to the industry, the full range of competence may have to be demonstrated, and the appropriate route would then be an agreed vocational qualification, currently S/NVQ level 2.

Alternatively, the current route for Category 3 applicants may be sufficient, i.e. an MLP followed by ACS assessment. This would differ from a vocational qualification in that the applicant may enter the industry having been assessed only on matters of gas safety. The dilemma this would raise is which assessment framework is suitable for new entrants, i.e. S/NVQ* or ACS? Training would not be a key issue, so an MLP may be appropriate. Alternatively, following an MLP, Category 3 applicants could be divided into two sub-categories – those with no or few transferable skills or relevant experience, and those with transferable skills or relevant experience, e.g. an experienced but unqualified plumber or heating engineer. Applicants/employers would need to decide whether a QCF type qualification would be more appropriate in the latter instance as ‘whole job competence‘ would be achieved.

Evidence
Application conditions need to ensure that new entrants provide evidence of relevant experience of real life scenarios and that the requirements are consistently interpreted and applied by assessment centres. Therefore, proven ‘gas safety competence’ has to include on the job experience in a consistent manner. Furthermore, MLPs need to be consistent in their delivery, in particular the duration of ACS assessments. Gas Safe Registered engineers can have their say at www.surveymonkey.com/s/downstreamgas until August 31.

Contact Energy & Utility Skills Ltd on 08450 779922 www.euskills.co.uk

*S/NVQ is being replaced by the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) for England and Wales, and the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) for Scotland.

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