OCN NI Business Contingency Arrangements: Coronavirus
19/03/2020
OCN NI’s priority is to ensure the safety of our learners, centre staff and our employees. OCN NI teams will do everything possible to ensure that teaching, learning and exam preparation can continue during this current difficult period of uncertainty. We will follow guidance from the relevant Government Departments, Qualifications Regulators and the Public Health Agency. We understand the impact this situation is having and our thoughts are with all those affected.
We will remain open for business as we have a robust contingency plan in place to minimise the disruption to our services. However, there may be instances when our usual Customer Service Standards are impacted. As per Government advice, OCN NI has implemented working from home and social distancing throughout the office. Our teams have remote working capability and can communicate with you via Microsoft Teams/Skype as well as mobile phone calls. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss the impact on your centre or learners please contact us on info@ocnni.org.uk or tel: 028 90463 990.
Learner Registration/Certification and Invoicing
At this time OCN NI has no plans to make any changes to the services and support provided by our Customer Services Team, and we are monitoring the situation on a daily basis. For all queries contact the office as usual on tel: 028 9046 3990.
Business Development
The Business Development team is here to provide support and assistance as normal, however, no face to face meetings will take place. Instead, we are proactively offering video and telephone conferencing to all centres, via Microsoft teams and also Skype. Please do contact us on the numbers below:
New Business Enquiries
Loraine Robinson – mobile: 07395 951 556 email: l.robinson@ocnni.org.uk
Account Managers
Jo Bailey – mobile: 07780 111 415 email: jbailey@ocnni.org.uk
Joanne Patterson – mobile: 07500 081 882 email: jpatterson@ocnni.org.uk
Sean McCormick - mobile: 07500 081 884 email: smccormick@ocnni.org.uk
Niamh McGoldrick - mobile: 07392 169 376 email: nmcgoldrick@ocnni.uk
Compliance & Audit
The Compliance & Audit Team is here to provide support and assistance as normal, however no face to face meetings will take place. Instead, we are proactively offering video and telephone conferencing to all centres, via Microsoft teams and also Skype. In preparation for external verification (which will be carried out remotely) centres should ensure that completed evidence has been assessed and internally verified and scanned if possible or prepared for posting. OCN NI will provide further guidance following advice from the regulator.
OCN NI Training Calendar
All on site training has been postponed. Online webinars are available and can be booked through www.ocnni.org.uk/events. For those people already booked onto one of our training events, you will receive an email link to the live webinar.
General Vocational Qualifications
At this time OCN NI has no plans to make any changes to the services and support provided for our General Vocational Qualifications, and we are monitoring the situation on a daily basis. For all queries contact the office on tel: 028 9046 3990
Essential Skills
At this time OCN NI has no plans to make any changes to the services and support provided for Essential Skills Qualifications, and we are monitoring the situation on a daily basis.
OCN NI advises centres and students to prepare for external assessments as is their usual practice. If your centre is required to close down, please contact us with the following:
1. Confirm your decision to close your centre.
2. Confirm details of booked assessments and proposed time and venues for suspended exam sittings and store unopened papers as per OCN NI requirements. All papers must remain sealed until the examination sitting.
3. When appropriate, inform OCN NI of your continuation of assessments.
If OCN NI offices are closed down, the majority of the business will continue as normal, remotely, but external assessments may be impacted. In this event, please contact OCN NI with the numbers of assessments impacted, and we will confirm the measures which need to be implemented. OCN NI will regularly update centres with guidance as it is communicated by the NI qualifications regulator (CCEA Regulation).
Our Essential Skills team is contactable via tel: 028 90 463990, or directly through:
Karen Reynolds – mobile: 07395 963 173 email: kreynolds@ocnni.org.uk
Dawn Mason dmason@ocnni.org.uk
General Information
Please find below some useful links containing further guidance regarding Coronavirus.
What is COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/covid-19-coronavirus#what-is-covid-19-coronavirus
Situation in Northern Ireland
https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/covid-19-coronavirus#situation-in-northern-ireland
Guidance for educational settings
Guidance for employers and businesses
https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/campaign/coronavirus-updates-support-your-business
All businesses are going through a very challenging period due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The weeks ahead will no doubt bring significant disruption to all. At this time, OCN NI’s primary concern is that we play our part in the prevention of the spread of the virus and protect our learners, centre staff, our employees and their wider families and loved ones.
Take care and stay safe,
Martin Flynn
Chief Executive Officer