Dear Colleague,

 You will all be aware of the Scottish Governments’ recent “Skills for Scotland” – A Lifelong Skills Strategy” and the Enterprise Network review, which included the creation of a new skills body, the detail of which is still to be finalised and with which we will keep you informed.

However nothing has changed in terms of delivering National Training Programmes (NTP’s).

You may also be familiar with the work undertaken by HIE last year to ensure that the quality within the delivery of National Training Programmes would be maintained beyond the previous SQMS framework and the need for you to conduct Self Assessment Reviews (SAR’s) and submit Quality Development Plans (QDP’s) along with contract documents.

My role as Quality Manager working alongside internal colleagues and with you is to ensure that the production of SAR’s and QDP’s has a purpose and that they support ongoing evaluation and improvements in the delivery of the programmes.

I am currently undertaking analysis of available data and management information and reviewing detail on current programme delivery as well as drafting a timetable plan for conducting formal Quality Performance Reviews (QPR’s - not inspections) in the Network area.

Obviously conducting the reviews will take some time but I plan to work with HIE Network colleagues in each locality as well as HIE based NTP Contracting staff in order to get this done.

How the Quality Performance Reviews will work

Prior to the QPR I will read and analyse your formal SAR’s and QDP’s as well as current performance data.

We will then agree a mutually convenient date and time for the QPR which will include one to one meetings and discussions with

 • Your key staff
 • Learners on Programme
 • Employers.

I will evaluate the findings and feedback gathered and subsequently produce a report which will be shared with you.

I also attach a copy of a power-point document alongside this message which you may find useful.

The Quality Performance Review as with the Quality Agenda itself will become a continuous, cyclical process on a scheduled basis over time.

In addition to the more formal aspect of the QPR, I plan to work with you in a supportive role in relation to the wider Quality agenda. I want you to feel that you can contact me by telephone; e-mail or where possible in one to one meetings over time.

I am planning to be out and about within HIE Network area over the coming months and will endeavour to meet as many of you as possible.

For those of you who are not immediately local to Inverness but who may be over this way on business, I am happy to meet in Cowan House where appropriate.

I look forward to working with you all for in the future.

Yours Sincerely,

Derek Cairns
Quality Manager
National Training Programmes
Developing Skills
Highland and Islands Enterprise
Cowan House,
Inverness Retail Park,
Inverness, IV2 7GF

01463 234171

07825842320