SITO Training

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 12:37 pm

We have visited this subject before but after a recent visit from Bob Doyle, Regional Training Manager of SITO (South) we have been asked to revisit this subject in order to get your feedback on SITO training.

What do you think needs to be changed to improve the service and courses that SITO offer?

As most of you are already aware, SITO has a Steering Committee made up of representatives from throughout the British security industry, with the glaring exception being the end user - the likes of you and me who are out there in the field using the knowledge gained from SITO courses every day.
The purpose of the Steering Committee is to ensure, through positive and pro-active feedback that the course content remains relevant to the changing needs of the industry and that the course materials accurately reflect the needs of the industry.

We have asked Bob if the Guild can be involved in this steering committee to provide feedback on updating course content and materials, so we wait with baited breath to see if the dinosaur that is SITO really is waking up and smelling the coffee (no offence to Bob) or just going through the motions of change.

One thing is certain however, if SITO doesn't commit to change they may well lose their place as the pre-eminent provider of training for the industry.

We want to know what you think of SITO.

What you would change in SITO?

Is the course content relevant, accurate and up to date?

Are security companies still 'helping' candidates pass the exam if they fail the first time around?

What other courses would you like to see SITO undertaking?

Site Admin Joined: May 07, 2003 Posts: 24 Location: Wigan

In my experience, the trainers conducting the SITO BJT (Basic Job Training) are still 'helping' some candidates pass the exam.
I remember being on one BJT course where 2 out of the 6 potential employees were unsuccessful in meeting the pathetically low standard under their own steam.
The trainer coached them through the resit but saying things such as 'Do you not think THIS answer would be better?'.
The fact that one of these gentlemen's command of the English language (or lack thereof) meant that he had difficulty understanding the question raises the further question of 'Who interviewed these people?'. If they are expected to carry out their duties in a professional and diligent manner it is not fair to allow people who, for whatever reason fail, to pass the exam.
Surely if this soon to be Security Officer were faced with a situation where he had to give a statement to the police or write an incident report, he would have equal if not more problems in doing so than passing SITO BJT?

The course content in the last BJT course I had to endure (I've done 3 now) was severely out of date, making no reference to automated check call systems now in place in the majority of the industry.
The videos were in some cases filmed over 20 years ago also depicted some actions and procedures no half decent company would allow their officers to do.

Further courses I would like to see offered by SITO include a Mobile Driver/Supervisor/Inspector (infact any company vehicle user) Safety course. For instance how to conduct basic vehicle safety checks (tyre tread/inflation, oil level, washer fluid level, lights etc). I know these are things most responsible drivers would do before driving a vehicle for 12 hours solid but it would at least educate those who 'haven't the foggiest' and promote safe practise.

Well, there's a few of my opinions on SITO, so tell us yours!

Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 9:54 am

SITO, I feel, is ok as far as it goes. But it goes nowhere near far enough. I think we would all agree that manned guarding is a large and diverse area, where the type of premises/area looked after and geographical location both make a huge difference to the requirements placed on the Officer on the ground. For example I could not leave my industrial site here in the South West and walk into a job in say a shopping mall in Birmingham with out being severly under prepared. BJT will have prepared me for basic security duties, but not for the demands of that type of work. The example would work the same the other way round too.

The answer I feel is for SITO to introduce a tiered BJT system, where an Officer doing mobile work is given a specific package for that, an Officer doing site work a different package, and so on and so forth. Then when transfering between jobs the new employer would see clearly what the officer was skilled in and could re-train as nesecary for the new post. I appreciate that more specific training is given during a new guys Site training, but I'm certain we've all met new blokes who have come away from SITO with totally the wrong idea of what is expected on that type of site.

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:34 am

SITO do offer quite a few courses, however the content that is contained within is somwhat minimul

The courses that I know of: -

· BJT (SITO)
· Professional Security Officer (SITO/City & Guilds)
· Advanced Security Officer (SITO/City & Guilds)

All of the above are easy to obtain a pass certificate with a little reading. It will be interesting to see what is going to happen with the introduction of licenses and there for higher training levels.
They also provide NVQ courses though I have no information to hand on these.

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 1:34 am

John,
Have we had any feedback from Bob as yet?

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 7:53 pm

Dave,

SITO also help run with NASDU the Security Dog Handler coruse.

Paul

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 8:16 pm

No Dave, no feedback from SITO yet.
I was hoping the members would use this chance to to voice their opinion on what they thought of SITO as I promised Bob we would update him - and then he can give us some feedback.

Obviously during our meeting, a number of points were raised with Bob and I will be chasing this up with him and will update this thread on his response.

If anyone else has any opions of SITO, wether we have covered them before or not, now is your chance to give us your opinion and we might just make that bit of difference that matters.

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 8:24 pm

It seems to me that a lot of members are missing out on an opportunity to inform a major service provider of their thoughts. Embarassed

John, as a point of interest could the Guild’s newsletter convey a link to this and other important items/events, or could a global e-mail be sent to advise members of this opportunity.

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 9:05 pm

Yes, I can include links to topical posts such as this one.
Last months newsletter is over due actually but I have been waiting for a couple of articles to help fill it out.
I have added the newsletter to the 'to do' list for the week-end so it will go out regardless very early next week.

Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 6:51 pm

I think something need to be changed regarding certificates from SITO having completed the course on numerous occasions i find that the security company that i worked for at the time did not buy the certificates,therefore i have no record of completing the course and as the security company no longer exsists i will need to redo the course which is another delay for myself which could and should have been avoided the first time around.

Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 7:36 pm

A lotof the sito courses need to be revamped
I HAVE DONE THE BJT on numerous occaissions and every trainer has a different way of teaching the course content if they all teach it to the same standard it would be a lot better, a lot of trainers do help students
who are not capable of passing , AS SPOOKY says if they cannot pass the BJT under there own steam they will have problems in the future
alot of the companies want quantity not quality
I feel that as long as you have 2 arms,eyes,ears, legs, and a body and a sliver of brain a company will employ you, a lot of the companies out there only want to fill the position a.s.a.p they are not interested in qualifications.
anyone like too comment
bigal : Sad

Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 7:44 pm

bigyin wrote:

I feel that as long as you have 2 arms,eyes,ears, legs, and a body and a sliver of brain a company will employ you, a lot of the companies out there only want to fill the position a.s.a.p they are not interested in qualifications.
anyone like too comment
bigal : Sad

I use to work as an security events manager for one of the bigest uk security events companys some time ago.
When I was looking for staff I would look for people that could do the job, but I was always told "don't worry if they can do the job we just wont shirt fillers".
Need I say any more.

Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 9:09 pm

Sadly, the 'bums on seats' mentality continues to pervade the industry.

To some extent, this is inevitable as otherwise it would be impossible for a company to expand. BUT, this seems to be the rule, rather than the exception.
Many, officers new to the industry then find themselves rushed through the training system with the companies minds very much on 'he/she will have to do for now - if we get anyone better, we will fail them on their probationary period'.

A fact of life to any large company out there that wants to challenge me!

Sadly, the quality of 'in-house' training is not always as good as it should be, despite SITO's efforts on setting certain criteria to individual companies who wish to undertake their own training.
More importantly, as has been discussed many times (and reminded of in the previous post), it enables in-house trainers to cheat the system by 'helping' candidates who would otherwise fail the course.

SITO have been made aware of this loop-hole and have done bugger all about it despite agreeing that it happens!

Our temporary solution was put to a SITO Manager by me earlier this year and that was to try and plug the gap by ensuring that the 'trainer' and 'examiner' are independant of each other - preferrably utilising different security companies.

SITO Certificates
These should be available to anyone who undertakes SITO training but invariably aren't for a couple of reasons;
1. The training company simply cannot be bothered
2. It means passing on the cost of the certificate to the candidate and presume they will not pay for it, without even giving them the option
3. The retain the certificate themselves in order to apply 'hidden pressure' - the employee might reconsidering leaving their employ if he/she thinks they will have to re-sit the course without pay (a lot of companies do not pay you for your time on the course even though they have a legal obligation to do so.

Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 11:10 pm

THE BUMS ON SEATS MENTALITY will be here for a long time john
unfortunatly there are a lot of companies like that but a few companies are starting to get there act together, and get rid of a lot of the numpties/
unprofessional people and are starting to employ quality not quantity

if sito where aware that companiesare passing people who fail on the BJT
THEY SHOULD CRACK DOWN on these companies
any comments
Bigyin

Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 11:52 pm

Whilst SITO are not under any legal obligation to correct any moral wrong doing by companies who are cheating the system, it does raise the argumant that, if enough companies are cheating the system, then the overall quality of BJT trained officers will fall and this would detrimentally affect the standing of 'SITO BJT trained officers'.

It is therefore in their interests that, to avoid the 'standard' being labeled as .it means nothing' they would and should, do something to plug the loop-hole.

Perhaps this is the real reason why companies insist you get your SITO BJT training from them so they know exactly what you are capable of, rather than relying on another companies assessment by their examiners/trainers?

Food for thought! Twisted Evil