News
The Career Management Division of the People Development Team (PDT) has successfully passed the rigorous assessment set for the Matrix quality standard. The Matrix Standard is the quality framework for the effective delivery of information, advice and/or guidance on learning and work.
“We undertook the accreditation for our Outplacement Services, because it’s one of the most sensitive areas of work we do.” said Ellie Hughes,
who heads the Career Management Division. “There is a huge emotional commitment both on the part of the client and PDT when we enter an organisation to help staff through redundancy,” Ellie explains “so having
a sound accreditation is reassuring to all involved.”
“The accreditation process is described, rightly, as a ‘journey’ and is specifically designed to ensure the continuous development of our services.
It was a very positive process,” Ellie continues, “we had all the right practices in place, but going through the accreditation helped to formalise them – put it all down in black and white.”
“The accreditation process involved the whole team,” says Shani Eliraz, who is one of the Outplacement Consultants and project manager on-site at Cereal Partners UK Ltd (CPUK) in Hertfordshire, which is being relocated to Wiltshire. Over 300 staff are being supported by PDT through the shut-down of the factory.
“The challenge with any redundancy support process is engaging the staff in outplacement – there’s a tremendous emotional and practical challenge for the employees, employers and PDT as the service provider.” Shani explained. “Having the accreditation process take place on-site gave us a fantastic opportunity to involve real people.” Shani said. “For example, Philip Hollowday, the Personnel Manager at CPUK, was interviewed both as an individual who is receiving support as well as in his capacity as our client. We worked with Philip to set service level agreements, delivery methods and outcome expectations.”
Caron Waters, who is a senior consultant for the Career Management Division and worked very closely with the team to achieve Matrix accreditation, said ”The assessment helped both PDT and CPUK look objectively at the partnership and the outcomes we both need. The Matrix Assessor interviewed the client too, to ensure that not only was the information, advice, and guidance given correct, but that the agreed levels of service were met, how the client partnership was built and how flexible it was.” She explained.
The Matrix Assessment culminates in a report which highlights the processes, procedures, areas for development and strengths. One of the key strengths of the PDT team wasthat “the team responds flexibly to demand, often delivering more than is contracted".
The team are justly proud of the report, especially the comments of the assessor in reference to the team: “.. an ongoing, informal, team-wide approach to continuous improvement.” As an organisation described by their Investors in People Assessor in 2005 as ‘the best example of a development culture’ they had ever seen, it was a further endorsement of the company’s commitment to quality people development, not just for the client but for the staff too.
In conclusion, Caron said it was an extremely valuable exercise: “The objectivity of the process allowed us to look carefully at our evaluation of feedback, change what we can, agree with the client what can’t be changed and make alternative plans where possible. It really gave us a chance to ‘stand back and look’ whilst we were in the midst of delivery. The team put in a fantastic amount of effort to achieve accreditation in a limited time – it meant a lot of work. I’m very proud of the team, and the achievement of the accreditation.”
PDT’s reputation in outplacement is exceptional with a 95% engagement rate(staff participating in outplacement services) and a 97% ‘aspiration achievement rate’* (individuals going on to new jobs, retirement, start their own businesses etc).
* see Young’s Brewery Case Study.
For more information on PDT’s Outplacement, Career Management and Training programmes, please contact:
Ellie Hughes
Career Management Division
PDT
47 Baldock Street
Ware
SG12 9DH
T: 0800 107 1856
E: info@people-development-team.com
W: www.people-development-team.com
Notes for editors:
PDT were assessed for the Matrix Standard by EMQC Ltd. November 2007.
The methodology for assessment included interviewing ‘learners’ (outplacement candidates), staff members, partner organisations and a thorough document review.