Occupational Certificate: Patrol Officer

Purpose

The purpose of this to part-qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Patrol Officer.

A Patrol Officer conducts various types of security patrols by observing and monitoring the physical environment or property for suspicious behaviours/activities and potential hazards and/or threats. The officer identifies and responds to potential and/or existing hazards/threats and completes all relevant documentation.

The part-qualification will equip learners with competencies in all aspects of legal, regulatory, and procedural security operations, enabling them to operate professionally.

The part-qualification providers offer career opportunities within the security environment. Qualifying learners will be employed by public or private security agencies, residential complexes and homes, educational, cultural, financial and health institutions, businesses and retail establishments, investigation service companies, transportation facilities, and organisations throughout the private and public sectors, or they may be self-employed.

A qualified learner will demonstrate the following attributes: Honesty, Trustworthiness, Punctuality, Critical thinker, and Reliable.

Rationale

The security industry is globally recognised as the largest and fastest-growing industry, spurred on by the perception of increasing crime affecting individuals, businesses, and government. The security officer occupation is a highly regulated occupation internationally and individuals wishing to practice as the regulatory body must license security officers. The demand to protect goods and services surges, given the progressing technology, and this requires qualified and competent security officers to deter, detect, and investigate criminal and illegal activities, and to maintain secure environments, which is growing steadily.

Currently, there are no other similar occupational qualifications for this specific specialisation area registered on the NQF.

The part-qualification will benefit societies by ensuring improved security services for members of the community, as well as protecting goods and property. The economy will benefit from increased optimisation of the security service to the community it serves by more efficient and adequate protection and guarding services. This would encourage more businesses to invest and grow in which would increase employment opportunities.

The part-qualification contributes to the development of qualified patrol officers in the country.

The part-qualification provides progression possibilities in related occupations to security-related qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

A professional registration is needed for the Patrol Officer with the relevant regulatory body.

This part-qualification is an entry-level qualification, typically suited for individuals who wish to enter the security industry or those already working in the industry without a formal qualification. It will equip learners with competencies in all aspects of legal, regulatory, and procedural security operations, enabling them to operate professionally.

Consultation with stakeholders from the regulatory body, training providers, public and private security organisations formed part of the development process.

Typical occupations in which the qualifying learner will operate: Watchman, Patrolman, Guard, Railway Patrol Officer, Mobile Patrol Officer, and Beach Patrol Officer / Beach Guard.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL for Access

Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a part-qualification if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a part-qualification.

Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated, and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider that offers the specific part-qualification. Such an assessment must ensure that the learner can display the equivalent level of competencies required for access, based on the NQF level descriptors.

RPL for Exemption

For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a part-qualification through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded.

RPL for awarding credits

Learners who have acquired the stipulated competencies of the modules in a part-qualification through formal, informal, or non-formal learning and/or work experience may be awarded credits towards relevant modules and gaps identified for training, which are then addressed.

A valid Statement of Results is required for admission to the EISA, in which confirmation of achievement is provided that all internal assessment criteria for all modules in the related curriculum document have been achieved.

Upon successful completion of the EISA, RPL learners will be issued with the QCTO certificate for the part- part-qualification. Quality Partners are responsible for ensuring the RPL mechanism and process for the part qualification is approved by the QCTO.

Entry Requirements

An NQF Level 2 qualification.

This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill, and Work Experience Modules

Knowledge Modules

• 541401-000-01-KM-01, Professional Conduct and Ethics, NQF Level 3, 4 Credits.
• 541401-000-01-KM-02, Introduction to the Security Industry, NQF Level 3, 4 Credits.
• 541401-000-01-KM-03, Legislation and regulations influencing the security industry, NQF Level 4, 10 Credits.
• 541401-000-01-KM-06, Security Equipment, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 22

Practical Skill Modules

• 541401-000-01-PM-01, Inspect, operate, and record security equipment, NQF Level 2, 8 Credits.
• 541401-000-01-PM-02, Conduct regular patrols and inspections of buildings and/or facilities, NQF Level 3, 8 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 16

Work Experience Modules

• 541401-000-01-WM-01, Security equipment inspection and basic maintenance processes, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
• 541401-000-01-WM-02, Patrolling processes, NQF Level 3, 12 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 16

1. Demonstrate the ability to use, inspect, maintain, and report faulty security equipment.
2. Conduct a patrol of premises to prevent and detect signs of unauthorised entry or infractions of rules.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

ELO 1: Demonstrate the ability to use, inspect, maintain, and report faulty security equipment

• Identify and describe types of security equipment utilised in the context of security services.
• Define the general uses and purposes of security equipment in accordance with the relevant manufacturer's specifications.
• Inspect security equipment in accordance with relevant manufacturers' specifications and organisational standard operating procedures.
• Maintain security equipment in accordance with relevant manufacturers' specifications and organisational standard operating procedures.
• Select and operate appropriate security equipment effectively in given security situations according to the manufacturer's specifications and organisational standard operating procedures.
• Report faulty security equipment as per organisational standard operating procedures.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

ELO 2: Conduct patrol of premises to prevent and detect signs of unauthorised entry or infractions of rules.

• Define terminologies and concepts used in a patrolling environment in terms of their meaning within the context of security services.
• Describe the general duties, standards, practices, regulations and prohibitions in accordance with the applicable legislation.
• Describe the fundamental security elements related to access control, crowd management, vehicle control and shift-handover in accordance with organisational standard operating procedures.
• Explain the main purpose of carrying out a crime prevention patrol in accordance with organisational policies and operating procedures.
• Identify and explain the types and reasons of patrols, including "selective patrol" and "saturation patrol" used in the security environment, within context.
• Use observation, monitoring and recording techniques while patrolling.
• Identify and properly utilise patrolling equipment for different security situations and explain key factors that impact effective patrol, with examples.
• Use human senses to identify irregularities, unusual events, hazards to yourself and others, including risks, and make appropriate observations.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessments

Formative assessments are conducted throughout the learners' training. A range of formal, non-formal, and informal ongoing assessment activities is used to focus on teaching and learning outcomes to improve learner attainment.

Formative assessments are conducted continuously by the facilitator to feed into further learning, to identify strengths and weaknesses, and to ensure the learner's ability to apply knowledge, skills, and workplace experience gained.

Formative Assessments are conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP), and a variety of ongoing assessment methods may be used, for example, quizzes, assignments, tests, scenarios, role play, and interviews. Continuous feedback must be provided.

Integrated Summative Assessments

Integrated Assessment involves all the different types of assessment tasks required for a particular part- part-qualification, such as a written assessment of theory and practical demonstration of competence. To achieve this, the Internal Assessment Criteria (IAC) for all modules, as outlined in the QCTO curriculum document, must be followed.

An accredited SDP should implement a well-designed, formal, relevant, final internal Summative Assessment strategy for all modules to prepare learners for the EISA. These assessments evaluate learning achievements relating to the achievement of each module of the relevant components of the part-qualification.

Internal Summative Assessments are developed, moderated, and conducted by the SDP at the end of each module or after integration of relevant modules, e.g., applied knowledge tests, workplace tasks, practical demonstrations, simulated tasks/demonstrations, projects, case studies, etc.

The results of these final formal summative assessments must be recorded. These results, which include the Statement of Work Experience results, where applicable, contribute to the Statement of Results (SoR), a requirement for admission to EISA. An SoR, using the template provided by the Quality Partner, is issued by the accredited SDP for part-qualifications. The SDP must produce a valid Statement of Results for each learner, indicating the result and the date on which competence in each module and component was achieved. Learners are required to produce this SoR, together with their ID document or alternative ID document, at the point of the EISA.

External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA) - a national assessment

The Quality Partner is responsible for the management, conduct, and implementation of the External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA), in accordance with the QCTO's set standards. Competence in the EISA is a requirement for certificating a learner.

For entrance into the EISA, the learner requires a valid Statement of Results issued by the accredited institution indicating:

• The attainment of all modules for the Knowledge, Practical, and Work Experience modules.

Or

• The attainment of all modules for the Knowledge and Application Components.