Internal Quality Assurers (IQAs) Within The Police in England and Wales 

Internal Quality Assurers (IQAs) are a vital part of any organisation which carries out training or assessment. An IQA is a role that can be held by anybody with suitable qualifications, experience and authority. To learn more about what an IQA does within an organisation, you can read our comprehensive guide.

What is Internal Quality Assurance?

Internal Quality Assurance is a process of checking the quality of an organisation’s assessing processes, most notably by monitoring assessors. It is to ensure that helps to improve the quality of assessing, as well as providing recommendations for improvement.

What does an IQA within the police do?

All serving police officers and police staff in England and Wales are within the remit of the College of Policing. The College of Policing is part of the Home Office and is the professional body for everyone working in policing. As such it is responsible for setting standards expected for training and assessing police work.

An Internal Quality Assurer (IQA), also known as an Internal Verifier, will be in charge of making sure that the assessments and training that your colleagues undergo are consistent, fair and meet both national standards and those of your own force. In this role, you will perform a wide range of tasks including observing assessments, reviewing documents, interviewing candidates, monitoring assessors and analysing assessment results.

Who can become an IQA?

Anyone can apply to be an IQA, but there are some important requirements:

How to become an IQA

You can become an IQA by completing a course with us. This will ensure that you have the skills and knowledge required for the role and that you meet the requirements for IQAs laid down by the College of Policing. You’ll also gain a nationally recognised qualification, which is valid throughout society and not just limited to police work. 

Level 4 IQA Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice is designed for those who want to become IQAs; it provides you with all the necessary knowledge and skills needed to oversee assessments, assessors and the whole assessment process. It opens up new opportunities for those who want more responsibility in their current position – it allows you to take on roles with more responsibilities such as approving training activities, auditing assessors and checking assessment plans before they’re used on actual candidates. You’ll really be a vital part of the organisation with this qualification.

Which area of policing will I work in as an IQA?

All areas of police training and development will need internal quality assurance (IQA), including:

Internal Quality Assurers (IQAs) are an important part of the assessment and training process within the police force.

An IQA is an important role as it’s the IQA that helps to identify gaps in training and performance by assessing staff and identifying areas for improvement and can highlight where additional training is required.

The role of an IQA varies depending on the size of your organisation or department but typically involves:

Being an Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) is an important part of the training and assessment process throughout policing. Our Level 4 IQA course aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to become an IQA.