Omagh assessment centre praised by Justice Minister
Thursday, 27 November 2008
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Ann Quinn and Dr Mary Magee, of AM Communications, Omagh, who manage the Regional Assessment Centre for Justice Sector Awards in NI, were this week delighted to have their hard work - and that of their NVQ students - recognised by Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins MP at an awards ceremony in Belfast.
The Regional Assessment Centre for Justice Sector Awards provides quality assessment of occupational competence in community justice and youth services.
“This is a real landmark - Northern Ireland is trail-blazing in using NVQs in the community and youth justice sector, and today we had a celebration to mark that," Ann said.
“Two candidates in Northern Ireland were the first in the UK to achieve Level 4 in Youth Justice Services, and six to do so in Work with Victims, Survivors and Witnesses.
Two of those six are Omagh-based - Cllr Ross Hussey and Brian Maguire - and two are from Strabane - Jeff Barr and Patricia Hegarty." Delighted by their students' success, the duo said: "We work with the community, voluntary and statutory sectors, with the Probation Board of Northern Ireland, the Youth Justice Agency Juvenile Justice Centre in Bangor, and the likes of Opportunity Youth and Women's Aid.
“This is a celebration of the centre's success, our success and the candidates' success".
Mr Goggins congratulated all those working in the criminal justice system who had achieved NVQ Awards, including those who recently became the first in the UK to achieve NVQ Level 4 accreditation for work with young people and with victims, survivors and witnesses.
Speaking at Tuesday's ceremony for over 200 NVQ awards recipients, he said: "Staff are working in a wide range of statutory and voluntary agencies to provide victims and witnesses with much needed support and to divert the most vulnerable young people and adults away from the criminal justice system.
“The development of a workforce with a high level of skills and commitment will further strengthen public confidence in the criminal justice system and help to make Northern Ireland a safer place to live and work."
Omagh district councillor, Ross Hussey - one of the candidates who completed a Level 4 NVQ in Working with Victims, Survivors and Witnesses - said: "It is marvellous to have this local centre. It is essential nowadays for victims and survivors to be able to relate to someone who works with them.
“The training received for such roles is greatly enhanced by the NVQ. The support we, as students, were given by Ann Quinn and Dr Mary Magee was second-to-none."
