Consultations
HO: Plans to raise standards by introducing additional training for UK Door Supervisors form part of a Home Office consultation launched recently (closes on 23 March 2010). The aim of the new proposals is to protect the public by raising standards. Additional training will include physical intervention, first aid, special considerations when dealing with young people and awareness of the threat of terrorism.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has already included the additional training elements as part of the new qualifications being introduced from June 2010. The consultation proposes making the additional skills a requirement for existing door supervisors in the form of top-up training that must be taken before renewing their licence. This would also apply to those who have an existing qualification and want to apply for a licence for the first time.
If the decision is made to implement the proposals, top-up training will be compulsory for all door supervisors from May 2011. The SIA will work with awarding bodies to ensure training is available from October 2010.
Press release ~ Security Industry Authority (SIA) ~ Top-up Training for Door Supervisors - A Consultation Paper
Newswire – HSO: The Health Service Ombudsman, Ann Abraham, has published a consultation document - Sharing and Publishing Information about Complaints - with the purpose of seeking views on sharing & publishing information about complaints handled by the Ombudsman.
This consultation (closes on 10 March 2010) is taking place now because of the increased focus on the importance of information about complaints following recent events in the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust & elsewhere. The significant changes in the NHS complaints system, and the abolition of the Healthcare Commission as a second stage complaint handler, have given rise to some unrealistic expectations of the volume & scope of information that the Ombudsman can & will make available.
HMT: The Treasury has published proposals to strengthen the UK's ability to deal with any future failure of an investment bank. The proposals are intended to enhance the UK's reputation as one of the world's leading centres for conducting investment business. They look at introducing processes that will allow for the managed wind-down of a future failed investment firm, including resolution plans and a new insolvency regime for investment banks, with special administration objectives.
The consultation (closes 16 March 2010) paper looks at proposals that will help client assets & money (held on trust by an investment firm) be returned as quickly as possible, as well as proposals to allow the trades that the failed firm has entered into to be resolved effectively to ensure clarity for affected counterparties & creditors. A final report will be published in 2010, setting out concrete proposals and a timetable for action.
FSA: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published proposals for enhancing the professionalism of investment advisers under the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) - consultation closes on16 March 2010. The RDR is seeking to rebuild people’s trust & confidence in the retail investment market by raising standards of professionalism.
A key element of the FSA’s wide-ranging reforms is that (by the end of 2012) advisers, whether independent or restricted, will need to demonstrate greater knowledge & skills and meet enhanced standards in dealing with clients.
The FSA has also clarified a number of important issues about the new level of qualification investment advisers will need to meet by the end of 2012. In particular, it has published a list of qualifications that advisers may already hold or be studying towards, with the guarantee that, should they hold one of these qualifications, they will not need to take further exams once the content for meeting the new qualification standard is confirmed. Instead, advisers are able to meet any gaps through on-the-job continuing professional development.
Press release ~ Consultation paper CP09/31: ‘Delivering the Retail Distribution Review: Professionalism; Corporate pensions; and Applicability of RDR proposals to pure protection business’ ~ Delivering the RDR ~ Factsheet: Improving your understanding of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) – Professional standards ~ Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC)
Newswire – CABE: As the housing market begins to stabilise after a traumatic period of decline, a new report called Who should build our homes? challenges any presumption that housebuilding should just continue from where it left off. Earlier this year, Richard Simmons, CABE chief executive argued in No more toxic assets that more of the same is simply not good enough.
CABE is launching a debate about who should build our homes. Six housing experts have contributed their own strong views through a collection of essays. They put the case for new models – for much less reliance on build-to-sell; and for renting to become the norm once again. They also argue for self-build & community commissioned housing to enter the mainstream instead of being marginalised at the periphery. CABE will continue the debate with an expert workshop in January 2010.
