Consultants
Our D&T Independent Consultants offer a range of services on an independent, commercial basis. We also work alongside Local Authority Consultants employed by and confined to working within a Local Authority. Consultant members offer a range of services in support of design and technology practitioners and often work with the Association on a variety of D&T projects. Suitably qualified and experienced design and technology consultants can apply to become a Registered Design and Technology Health & Safety Consultant (RDTHSC), enabling them to provide training and accreditation to the D&T Association standards, working to a Code of Practice.
Details of the consultants in your area can be found in our Consultants directory.
Why are our D&T consultants important
Our consultants play an incredibly important role in the Design and Technology Association. We work closely with them to provide our members with training, support and services on a national level and on a more intimate local Branch level. Schools access our consultant directory to find RDTHSC’s who will deliver initial core training, refresher courses, specialist levels and specialist extension training sessions in health and safety on a nationwide basis. Consultants and RDTHSC Consultants also deliver food training, robotics and CAD/Cam training in the school environment. Our D&T consultants are also instrumental in the development of knowledge gap, training programs that we have identified in conjunction with teachers. Teaching professionals have identified areas within the new D&T Programme of Study that will need addressing. Consultants work closely with us to provide resources, support, guidance, advice and deliver training to address areas that are of concern to many teachers. They will work with us to, dispel fears about the new D&T Programme of Study, improve understanding about how to implement the changes into teaching practice and update our members on developments at the D&T Association
Benefits of becoming a consultant member
Consultants enjoy a full range of member benefits: full listing within the consultant directory, which places consultant members directly in contact with anyone seeking advice within D&T. It is a full service directory that enables consultants to promote themselves and highlight their areas of expertise.
Consultant membership includes all D&T Association publications: D&T Stream, D & T Primary, D&T Practice, Designing and D&T Journal. Consultant members have the opportunity to hear about, and respond to, Government initiatives and curriculum developments which impact on all aspects of design and technology education
Consultants benefit from privileged insurance rates for Professional Indemnity (Subject to conditions), discounts on resources and publications, events and magazines. Health and safety accreditation is offered to our consultants at a discounted rate.
Suitably qualified and experienced design and technology staff can apply to become a Registered Design and Technology Health and Safety Consultant (RDTHSC), enabling them to provide training and accreditation to the D&T Association standards, working to a Code of Practice.
How to become a consultant member
To become a D&T Consultant, they must follow a strict code of practice. They are able to remain as a member, and be listed in the Consultant Directory, if they meet the criteria agreed with the National Association of Advisers and Inspectors in Design and Technology (NAAIDT).
Suitably qualified and experienced design and technology staff can apply to become a Registered Design and Technology Health and Safety Consultant (RDTHSC), enabling them to provide training and accreditation to the D&T Association standards, working to a Code of Practice.
How do I find a suitable consultant?
If you are looking for training you will easily find D&T Consultants, by region on the D&T Association website and listed in the Consultant’s Directory. You will be able to view the consultant’s personal summary, areas of expertise, training courses including Health and Safety, covered by each consultant, in order to organise training within your establishment or group of local schools. Fees vary between consultants but can be found on each directory page. For ease, the directory has two sections. One for independent consultants and consultant members, offering services on an independent, commercial basis and a second for local authority consultants, who may be employed by and confined to working with in a LA.
As a condition of membership, consultants are obliged to conform to a Professional Code of Practice (see below) established by the D&T Association in conjunction with the National Association of Advisers and Inspectors in Design and Technology (NAAIDT) to ensure a high quality service.
Working together D&T
The D&T Association is continually striving to ensure the quality assurance of all consultant training activity and indeed the Health and Safety and Food Safety Schemes and is developing this further by introducing strategies to monitor and evaluate all training given by our consultants and RDTHSC consultants. At present, quality assurance is achieved in a number of ways:
- Conferences and regular consultant training sessions
- Access to D&T advice and support
- Use of common course specific training materials to be used by all consultants to ensure standardisation
- Access to RDTHSC Closed User Group resources
- Use of the RDTHSC code of Practice and handbook (see below)
- Use of TDS/ D&TA H&S Training standards, matched to the requirements and expectation of the BS 4163:2007
DBS Checks for Consultant members
The D&T Association does not hold a central file of DBS certificates for consultant members or RDTHSCs. Schools should follow their own procedures with regard to checking DBS certificates.
Join Now
Design and Technology (D&T) is the inspiring, rigorous and practical subject which prepares all young people to live and work in the designed and made world.
We are focused on giving you the tools, knowledge and information you need to become more effective, more experienced and more efficient. Giving you access to expert opinions. And creating a place where you can air your views, ask your questions and so help make a difference to your life and those of your pupils. We want to hear from you. We want to know how we can help. And we want you to join us.
