Baldyman - I did if you read my last post, exceptingt eh EV bit. I am pleased to see some joining me and stating that it is the assessors who are doing their jobs wrongly if Ffs get that far and are not practically competent, also remember that these same assessors are probably their line managers and it is their responsibilty to develop them. So not only are they lying on competence records they are not even doing the basic job of any watch manager in carrying out training of staff. I would never have let my Ffs get to such a state that they couldn't properly pithc ladders, use pumps, or wear BA safely. I did my job as a watch officer and recorded the fact too, and that was over 5 years ago, before the new systems and NOS were in. I see no reason that a WM now should not do the same and every reason why they should. Indeed there is now a WM NOS, which there wasn't when I was one, and in it that you should do such is specifically stated!!!!!!!!!!!
b217bravo - I see no reason why any 5+ year served staff should fail, though I accept that sone may, yes , but then that is bound to happend when any entry tests change. How many 10 yr passed car drivers could pass a driving test again? No point in that discussion. As to would they be deemed incompetent - no competence is about demonstrating that you can do the job, the entry tests are about demonstrating that you have the potential to do it. Those alread y in should have evidence of the ir competence already. The job has changed and the entry requirements have too, that the job chnaged before the tests for application does mean we may have some who would not get in now, but thats as it is and we have to live with it. I have no doubt that the many thousands of applicants, some of whom have already passed tests nationally but haven't been given a job (I know 100 or so locally) would be delighted if we made passing the new standards of entry retrospective!!
