The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has unveiled plans to make its skill card a high-tech, one-stop ID for all construction workers that would carry information about an operative’s qualifications and additional training. It could also act as a security card to control access to individual sites, writes Michael Glackin.
The ambitious plan for the card underlines the determination of the CSCS to shake off industry skepticism after CITB-ConstructionSkills said it was ending its 16-year tie-up with the scheme.
CSCS cards are currently used as proof of competence by most major clients and contractors. The move also comes at the same time as a report for the Health and Safety Executive by Pye Tait Consulting called for the establishment of a single authority to monitor and be responsible for the industry’s card schemes that would also maintain a database of cardholders’ skill levels and safety qualifications.
But CSCS chief executive Brian Adams said: “We want the CSCS card to be the single card for all the industry’s needs. Instead of site workers carrying around a dozen different cards, one for getting through site security, another for showing their skill level etc, a single CSCS card could carry all the information employers need, and employees require on site.”
He added: “The CSCS card became a smart card with a microchip in 2010. That means the card can now hold a permanent record of an operative’s qualifications, including any additional qualifications people choose to gain by ‘upskilling’ in new areas applicable to the industry.”
The CSCS smart card has been piloted at Tottenham Court Road station
The one-stop card is being piloted on London Underground’s refurbishment of Tottenham Court Road station by joint venture contractors Vinci Construction and BAM Nuttall. A spokesperson for BAM said: “It’s proved very useful having all training information as well as a site security pass on a single card.”
Adams believes the card would also enable and encourage craft workers, who often work for a range of employers, to undertake CPD, something that hitherto has remained the preserve of technicians and managerial operatives.
He added: “We’re talking to contractors about adopting this on a wider scale. Right now we’re rolling out around 25,000 of the smart cards each month, but we only made the switch in January 2010, so there are still a number of old cards with three and a half years left on them, but it’s where the CSCS scheme is heading.”
Commenting on the break with ConstructionSkills, Adams said he was “disappointed” by the training board’s decision, but insisted it would not affect the future of the CSCS.
within the agenda for CPD will there be provision for assessor qualifications to be added to the updated smartcards.
I’m confused! What is all this about a break with Construction Skills. I thought I was pretty well up on these things but myself and my company are not aware of this fall out. Can you please explain or give me an information update reference?
Thanks
Jim Dickie
Please outline the reasons for the break? When does this take effect and what is the likely impact?
Constructionskills as far as I am aware have not been happy with the introduction of the new full manager and supervisor cards. These cards can be gained by answering a few questions and they are deemed competent. The questions are no where near as many or as taxing to answer as you would expect to answer if undertaking an NVQ which is the only proof of comptency.
I cannot understand how CSCS make this card a proof of competency as it is asking no where near the evidence required for an NVQ as most people understand an NVQ is the only qualification that you have to achieve all of the assessment criteria 100%.
So beware
ConstructionSkills currently provides the CSCS helpdesk and application processing service under contract to CSCS and the five year notice period to terminate the contract has been served. There has been no fall out and we continue to have a good relationship with ConstructionSkills both as a supplier to CSCS and as the construction industry’s Sector Skills Council.
As an industry owned Scheme we are currently in the process of consulting with industry about how they would like CSCS to be provided in the future. This could be with ConstructionSkills or it could be with an alternative supplier and no decsions will be taken on this until the consultation is complete.
I think the new cards that P Dea refers to are CSCS cards applied for through the Profiled Route. This route is subject to rigorous assessment by an applicant’s employer, a company reviewer and an independent assessor from CSCS. All applicants must provide an occupationally specific profile against an agreed list of competencies which reflect the relevant National Occupational Standard. It is a very thorough review process and was introduced in response to industry demand for a route for experienced managers and supervisors to be able to prove their competence in an alternative way to achieving an NVQ and it is similar to how membership of professional bodies is achieved. There is more information about the Profiled Route at http://www.cscs.uk.com/profiledroute
The profiled route for site supervisors and managers makes a complete mockery of all of us that had to train our operatives/supervisors/managers via the NVQ route. It is a return to Grandfather Rights which made a total mockery of our particular industry which we are still paying the price for after many years, use the NVQ route, if this continues it will back fire on us all. All the person has to do is get their employer to complete and sign a tick sheet and send with the fee and they then will be issued with either a gold or black CSCS card, I would strongly recommend, no insist that CSCS keeps all the information relating to the people that have signed as this is the so called prove of competence, so when the first signs of problems start to occur which they will, then these people can be asked to make account of this and be held responsible for signing the double sided A4 sheet saying that the supervisors/managers are competent!
I think CSCS needs to review this and review this quickly as I feel it will effect the future of CSCS, how can this profiled route prove competence!
The reason for the profiled route is for people who have worked in building at a more “hands on” level and worked their way up to supervisor/manager. These people have a good knowlege of building and probably served an aprentership of 2/3 years, do we want a situation where knowbody can be promoted without retraining (nvq) A lot of managers with an nvq could not put up a shelf, how do they spot shoddy workmanship?