Tutor Spotlight: Rob Chapman
In a world where safety is a growing concern and supporting safer communities is paramount, knowledge truly is power. Whether you work within crime prevention or community safety in the police, a local authority, the health sector or another organisation, the Academy is here to support your learning.
Let’s take a look at just one of the team who delivers training here at the Academy – Rob Chapman.
Who is Rob Chapman?
Having worked as a highly respected Police Officer at Dyfed-Powys Police for 28 years, Rob possesses a wealth of practical experience and knowledge in the crime prevention realm. Following this, he applied his skills to the role of Crime Prevention Officer / Designing Out Crime Officer across a period of 18 years. During this time, he worked across various areas of specialism – including a Beat Officer, Traffic Officer as well as working within the Community Safety team.
As well as bringing occupational competence to his role, Rob has achieved a number of relevant qualifications including the Level 5 designing out crime Diploma NVQ which is the recognised qualification for Police DOCOs. He also completes CPD throughout the year which ensures his portfolio of skills and knowledge remain relevant and current.
Role within the Academy
After retiring from the police in April 2021 during the pandemic, Rob joined the Academy in the July of that year and soon achieved the Level 3 Certificate in Teaching, Training and Assessment. As an Academy trainer, he’s passionate about crime prevention methods and ideas; it’s not just about big walls, CCTV and fences, but the deeper strategies behind it.
Rob leads the Level 3 and Level 4 Crime Prevention NVQ courses, delivering these via Teams as well as travelling to locations across the UK to deliver to delegates in person. He leads on the National Delivery of the Level 4 Crime Prevention Certificate which has a number of deliveries scheduled throughout the financial year which are attended by delegates from a range of different organisations and backgrounds and provides invaluable sharing of experiences across public sector partner agencies and private sector companies.
Making a Difference
One thing Rob particularly enjoys about his role at the Academy is the opportunity to meet delegates and hear about their experiences then identify how they can use their work-based experience to achieve their chosen qualification.
“It’s interesting how much the stories vary – a delegate from a rural area will deal with different issues to one from a city” says Rob. “It’s also fulfilling to explain a crime prevention or problem solving process and witness the ‘light-bulb moment’ when the delegate understands the potential applications of the learning.”
Importance of Academy training
Here at the Academy, we would always encourage crime prevention and community safety practitioners to undertake accredited qualifications. “You can never stop learning” states Rob, “Accredited qualifications are recognised by UK employers as well as providing the practitioner and their organisation with a defensible position in relation to advice given. The qualifications require work-based evidence rather than being an academic test of knowledge which makes them accessible for everyone.”
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is also critical to providing evidence of currency in your role and professionalising what you do. The Academy offers the content of many of the accredited qualifications in the format of CPD courses, helping you to access a wide range of topics. We can also develop and deliver bespoke courses to cover differing customer requirements and delegate needs – just reach out to us to learn how.
Take-aways for Academy students
There is always something new and exciting to learn that can transform your skills and provide you with recognition by other practitioners and by employers.
Feeling inspired to undertake an accredited qualification or CPD course? Contact the team today to get started.