1. Candidate pack for National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) This pack can be downloaded from our website www.irrv.org.uk 2004

2. Why choose the IRRV? We have over 100 years experience in the field of Revenues, Rating and Valuation We are the only Awarding Body offering NVQs in Housing & Council Tax Benefits and Local Taxation Whatever your previous work experience or qualifications, the IRRV will give you support and impartial advice Our qualifications are broad-based and practical and will give you the hands-on knowledge and competence to fulfil a range of Housing Benefits/Local Taxation roles

3. What is the IRRV? The IRRV was founded in 1882 Is a professional association Is the sole qualifications Awarding Body for NVQs in Housing & Council Tax Benefits and Local Taxation Has more than 5000 members Offers Continuous Professional Development to members Engages learners in vocational and professional qualifications

4. The IRRV NVQ qualifications: The qualifications are based on National Occupational Standards which are agreed standards of competence that define what is expected of you in your role The National Occupational Standards are developed by industry specific bodies, called Sector Skills Councils These Standards describe the knowledge and understanding necessary to fulfil your role The standards are regularly updated ensuring IRRV candidates are up-to- date with current work practices The qualifications are nationally recognised

5. Qualification structure The qualifications are NVQ level 3 which is broadly targeted at employees who are new to Housing Benefits or Local Taxation services, or employees who are experienced staff who want to gain a qualification The qualifications are aimed at administrative levels The qualifications take on average one year to complete The qualifications comprise mandatory technical units and optional units in more general areas such as Customer Service, Health & Safety and Administration The qualifications are structured so that candidates can receive credit for an individual unit or units The qualifications are not time limited and you can pursue them at your own pace

6. Qualification structure (continued) The NVQ HCTB qualification comprises technical and optional units The technical units cover; checking claims for accuracy and validity, processing benefit claims in an accurate and timely manner and sustaining a comprehensive and accurate database covering both claimants and claims The optional units cover; identifying and following up evidence of fraudulent claims, maintaining excellent customer service, office administrative procedures, monitoring your working environment and making sure it meets healthy and safe working conditions

7. Qualification structure (continued) NVQ Housing and Council Tax Benefits Technical units: –Evaluate Benefit Claims –Calculate Benefit & Arrange Payment –Maintain & Monitor Claimant Records Optional units: –Administration –Customer Service –Health & Safety Technical Units Healt h & Safety units Customer Service units Admin units

8. Qualification structure (continued) The NVQ LT qualification comprises technical and optional units The technical units cover; keeping the authority's records of properties in the tax base up to date and working with the local Valuation Office, carrying out detailed manipulation of taxation data whilst maintaining comprehensive records, calculating the liability of individual tax/ratepayers and issuing bills for sums due, administering the system for identifying and collecting unpaid rate and tax sums The optional units cover; maintaining excellent customer service, office administrative procedures, monitoring your working environment and making sure it meets healthy and safe working conditions

9. Qualification structure (continued) NVQ Local Taxation Technical units: –Maintain the Property Base –Establish and Monitor Liabilities & Reliefs –Implement Billing & Collection Procedures –Identify and Recover Sums Overdue Optional units: –Administration –Customer Service –Health & Safety Technical Units Healt h & Safety units Customer Service units Admin units

10. Assessment of competence You are required to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the National Occupational Standards which are available on our website at www.irrv.org.uk www.irrv.org.uk You are assessed on your ability to match the knowledge and understanding with the occupational standards. In other words you must put that knowledge and understanding into practice You are required to show a practical application of skills and knowledge in the workplace There are no exams

11. Assessment by Portfolios You will have to assemble a portfolio of evidence. The evidence needs to be from a variety of sources: –products of work –written questions and records of oral questioning –observations, photographic audio, video or other electronic recording of your activity –observations by the assessor –witness testimonies and personal reports This list is not prescriptive and many other things may also be included Your portfolio shows that you are demonstrating competence against the standards being assessed Approved assessors will tell you if the evidence is sufficient to demonstrate competence or whether you need to gather more for your portfolio. Once you have gathered sufficient evidence your assessor will confirm that you are competent in that particular unit

12. What happens next? You will be registered with an Assessment centre, which can be your employer, a consortium of Local Authorities including your employer or a company offering assessment services brought in by your employer. Once registered with one of the IRRV’s accredited Assessment centres your will receive a copy of Insight – the Institute’s monthly magazine Your Assessment centre will allocate an assessor, or assessors who will agree an assessment plan with you and assess your portfolio as you complete units After that an Internal Verifier will then sample some or all of the assessment decisions made by assessors to ensure they are valid and reliable and appropriate to your needs Before qualification or unit certificates can be issued by the IRRV an External Verifier will visit your centre to sample portfolios and provide feedback to the centre on the quality and consistency of the assessment process On completion of a unit or units the External Verifier can request that you receive an IRRV certificate which shows your attainment of competence in Housing and Council Tax Benefits or Local Taxation

13. How will the IRRV help me? As an NVQ candidate you will receive a number of IRRV benefits and services which support you throughout your learning but also throughout your career as a Housing & Council Tax or Local Taxation Officer You can visit our lively and informative website at www.irrv.org.uk for more informationwww.irrv.org.uk

14. Case study 1 Name:Kim Woolston Job:Team Leader “After 11 years in housing benefits I was beginning to feel bored in my job. I wanted a challenge. The IRRV NVQ sounded like an ideal opportunity to try something new and have my skills recongised. At my induction in October 2001, it all looked very straightforward. It took me a few weeks to complete my first unit and I found the more technical aspects quite tough. I was one of the first people in the country to gain the qualification via this route, which was especially rewarding. When I was told I had passed, I was overjoyed” As featured in Insight ©2003

15. Case study 2 Name:Sandra Moore Job: Team Leader “My training manager started an Assessment centre to allow staff in revenues and benefits to get an IRRV qualification via Level 3 NVQ. I have subsequently gone on to complete my assessor units and have just signed up to be an Internal Verifier. I would definitely recommend the NVQ as a way of gaining membership of the IRRV.” Sandra has subsequently become trained as an NVQ assessor and is now working towards being an Internal Verifier As featured in Insight ©2003

16. You have qualified – what next? You can apply for Technician membership of the IRRV and use the designatory letters Tech IRRV after your name You can progress onto the IRRV study programs including the IRRV Full professional award which leads to Corporate membership You can join the IRRV’s Continuous Professional Development schemes You can participate in the IRRV’s events, seminars and conferences You will enhance your status and recognition in the Housing Benefits or Local Taxation services If you would like more information you can access our website at www.irrv.org.uk or E-mail us on enquiries@irrv.org.uk or call 020 7831 3505 www.irrv.org.ukenquiries@irrv.org.uk