The National Staff Training Group (NSTG)

The NSTG aims to act as a focus for information and knowledge on issues relevant to Road Safety Officer (RSO) education, training and continuous professional development.

The group strives to:
Keep the continuous professional development of RSOs topical and relevant.
Provide outline suggestions for continuous professional development.
Keep abreast of academic and vocational road safety qualifications.
Arrange appropriate relevant courses and seminars, through training providers.
Cascade information to the profession.
Respond to the training needs of the profession and the changing road safety context.

In 2000 the group tendered out the Road Safety Phase 2 course. The NSTG works closely with the training provider to ensure the course is appropriate and satisfies the needs of Road Safety Managers in delivering a broad Road Safety course. NSTG will continue to operate the Road Safety Phase 2 course in this manner.

There were a number of NSTG representatives that contributed to the development of the newly established National Transportation Qualifications.

Qualifications
Edexcel BTEC Professional Development Diploma in Accident and Safety Management The recognised qualification within Road Safety. It involves distance learning combined with residential study over a 2 year period. The qualification is comparable to NVQ Level 5.

For further information: www.mol-openlearning.co.uk

National Transportation Qualification
For a number of years there has been National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) in Road Safety at Level 3 and 4. A new NVQ has been developed that is aimed at a number of Transportation fields including Road Safety and is available at Levels 3, 4 and 5. These qualifications are based on evidence provided to demonstrate competency.

For further information on the National Transportation Qualification click on the following link: www.transportationvg.org.uk

Membership and Contacts
The NSTG is a partnership represented by Road Safety Officers from The Institute of Road Safety Officers [IRSO] and Road Safety GB.

The group meets 2-3 times a year and is currently chaired by:
Steve Shannon - [IRSO]
Tel: 01302 862310
Email: steve.shannon@doncaster.gov.uk

The 3 Phase Training Programme
The NSTG has developed the 3 Phase Training Programme for Road Safety Officers, which is broadly outlined below.

Phase 1
The first phase operates within the first 12 months of a new appointment. It takes place within the employing authority upon appointment to the profession and is completed by the unit/section manager. It is the start of Continuing Professional Development and aims to provide overall local knowledge of style and approach taken by the authority concerned. It is intended that phase 1 should enhance the local authority's own induction programme. The Training Record for Road Safety Officers includes, in section 5, suggestions for the road safety topics that should be included.

Phase 2
It is intended that phase 2 training should take place between 6 and 12 months after appointment. Phase 2 is a national residential course organised by an outside agency within a broad agreement and specification set by the NSTG. Phase 2 aims to provide the opportunity to network with people from other authorities and background disciplines, take time to re-evaluate education, training and publicity initiative implementation and ensure an overall grounding in the principles and practices of the wider road safety context.

For further information: www.roadsafetynet.com

Phase 3
Phase 3 training is part of Continuing Professional Development. Phase 3 can be seen as locally delivered seminars of a relevant, topical and professional nature. This should be available to all road safety staff as part of their professional development and can provide the underpinning knowledge required for NVQ/SVQ qualifications. Phase 3 seminars may be run locally and/or regionally. RSOs link into seminars organised by regional LARSOA groups, area groups of IRSO [Institute of Road Safety Officers] or local authorities opening in-service events to other people. Usually phase 3 seminars are where local road safety groups have had an input and help to set a topical agenda. Courses organised by companies or other organisations could still be viewed as phase 3 seminars. A certificate is available, through the NSTG, for organisers of phase 3 seminars to use.

Training Record
While there is a brief overview of the NSTG training programme on this website further information, including a training record/manual can be obtained from: www.irso.org.uk