Benefits to Drivers and Passenger Assistants
"I have been doing my job for 30 years, why do I need training?"Today’s professional driver needs a wide variety of communication and other skills to do their jobs effectively. An understanding of health and safety, disability discrimination, security and customer service are also important. Soon all Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers will need a qualification called a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). An NVQ Level 2 for drivers goes a long way towards a CPC and right now it won't cost you a penny to take it. The NVQ for drivers and assistants is specially tailored to your needs with special sections for taxi and private hire, bus and coach drivers, community transport, van and lorry drivers. "How can I benefit from having an NVQ?"A driver or passenger assistant with the right skills and experience is a valuable asset to any organisation. The Train to Gain scheme encourages employers to provide you with the skills you need in the workplace. The NVQ is yours to keep and to show to new employers. Many organisations now stipulate NVQs for all their new contracts, so it will also increase your job prospects. An NVQ Level 2 is equivalent to five good grade GCSE examinations so it is well worth having. "I was never any good at examinations."Many drivers and passenger assistants are concerned that taking an NVQ will be like going back to school. But the training is nothing like school apart from having to sit in a classroom for two half days. These are not pass/fail tests and there are no exam type questions. The aim is to make a record of your skills as a driver or assistant which is recorded in your workbook. If English is not your first language or your have reading difficulties, your trainer or assessor will help you record your entries. The vast majority of our trainees (96%) receive an NVQ qualification. "What does the training involve?"The training usually consists of two half day classroom sessions and two on the road assessments. During the classroom sessions the trainer goes through a workbook and discusses subjects such as health and safety and customer service. Everyone contributes to the answers which are recorded on a whiteboard. All you need do is to enter your the answers into your workbook. You will also be given some questions to answer in your own time. For the on the road assessment, your assessor will accompany you while you are out on a normal run on at least two occasions. The assessor makes a record of your knowledge as a driver and your ability to manage the different aspects of your job. This is added to the information recorded in the workbook to make a compete record of your understanding and practical skills. The M2 Training Induction DVDM2 Training has produced an induction DVD specially for drivers and passenger assistants. It explains how the training works and its benefits to you. It also shows the support you will receive during the training. |