At Risk notice

bunnyfuller

Hi all,

I work in Public Services, and yesterday many of us got served with At Risk notices. We're now in the consultation period running until 19 Jan.

The role I currently perform is that of an NVQ Internal Verifier, the presence of which is mandatory from any awarding body, such as City and Guilds. We still have a large number of learners on various programmes who will not be finished by 31 March, the date for being made redundant.

When my colleague and I pointed this out employing us as consultants post redundancy was mentioned, then possibly extending our employment. They have said categorically that our area of business will be ended, although now obviously they'll need to consider those people still doing qualifications.

My questions are: is it legal for them to employ consultants for the exact function we're being made redundant from.

Secondly, can they legally make us redundant when the work we're carrying out in fact will continue.

Sorry if any of this is confusing, happy blooming christmas, eh?!

bunnyfuller

No opinions?!

Please!

penrhyn

Is NVQ verifier your sole role in the organisation?
There is nothing to prevent a company from farming out a function previously performed internally, e.g. payroll, IT, training etc.

SarEl

The answer is basically yes. They have a lot of alternatives to employing you. Whether they are lawful or not (and they probably will be) will depend on what nthey do. And given they haven't done anything... you will have to wait ans see what they do do!

Emmzi

an external provider can pick up any part complete NVQs part way through and finish them off. The company just need to argue something like, there aren't enough part done candidates for a full time job.

Or you may be TUPEd over - is that something you'd want?

bunnyfuller

Thanks for the replies.

This round of redundancies is being rushed through, they've actually admitted that.

The at risk notice didn't even have my job title, but one from 5 years ago. They appear to have not thought about candidates on programme, my employers knowledge of NVQs in any detail not being the best!

So they weren't aware I was an IV, and weren't aware any awarding organisation has to have sufficient IVs to be allowed to deliver an award.

Their words when running through the restructure were 'we won't be doing assessment any more'. When quite clearly they have to in some form to support the 70 odd candidates still halfway through! Many of whom's qualifications are tied to their career. They've also just signed up to a new e-portfolio, so I am going to explore this. They've said they're making me and my colleague redundant as they are ceasing our function, but got very twitchy when we asked when they'd be letting the awarding organisation know.

Thanks again