We have been contacted by a number of centres with regard to plans we have in place related to COVID-19 Coronavirus. We are following closely Government advice in relation to Public Health England updates and also any guidance that is issued by Ofqual.
With regard to assessments if you have any questions related to assessments going ahead or individual candidates in relation to COVID -19, please contact the Customer Support Team. We will be happy to move any assessments that might be affected or re-arrange assessments for individual candidates should this be required. We appreciate that it may not be possible for candidates or centres to provide the usual medical evidence we require. However if you do have any medical evidence to support the rearrangement of assessments please do provide this where you can. If you are unable to provide any form of medical evidence then we shall of course discuss this with you and we will still assist in moving assessments. This service will be provided free of charge for any flexibility needed in relation to COVID-19 only.
You will need to inform us as soon as you are aware that you have a problem with an assessment. If this is in advance of the assessment then this is easier for us to change. If an assessment does not go ahead as planned and you are unable to inform us in advance, then you must let us know within 48 hours of the assessment date, that the assessment has not happened or a candidate/s has not attended as planned.
Please also note that for any other changes to assessments you require in relation to any other illness/bereavement our usual policy will apply in term of medical certification.
We are currently assessing the number of centre visits that are booked and planned and we will be in touch with those centres individually to inform you if those visits will be going ahead.
Within the Signature Office we have taken steps to prepare should we be required to isolate staff or if we are unable to open the office. All key staff will be set up to work from home both online and by phone to provide a good level of service with as little disruption to service as possible. We shall of course keep all centres regularly updated by direct email or on social media outlets should anything change.
IRIS at this stage there is NO change to the planned introduction of our new CRM system IRIS and regular updates will be provided on this as appropriate.
Information is being updated continually by government and the link below will give you regular updated information.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have related to your centre or assessments and we shall be pleased to help and support.
