Computer says no? Not any more

In particular, our people who work the Retained Duty System can really benefit from the flexibilities of e-learning.

But the reality hasn’t always lived up to expectation. Often the computer said ‘no’ because e-learning just meant repackaging the same old training course. Also, there hasn’t been much national co-ordination so each fire and rescue authority (FRA) has had to find its own solutions.

Help is on its way!

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has invested in a national project to produce a Managed Learning Service (MLS) for the Fire and Rescue Service. It’s a fancy title for a simple idea. The MLS will:

• provide flexible learning opportunities through an online portal (website);
• give the Fire and Rescue Service the means to deliver e-learning to its people;
• offer a wide range of centrally managed learning resources;
• provide a user-friendly way to keep records of their learning;
• allow FRAs to use their own material and branding;
• provide a clear road map for linking IPDS role maps with relevant development activities; and
• dovetail with current systems.

This is great news for the Fire and Rescue Service and great news for IPDS too, as MLS helps move staff development into the 21^st century.

The MLS rolls out early next year and it’s FREE for the first two years. Want to know more? Contact e-learning@fireservicecollege.ac.uk