Do your security officers use assignment instructions?

09 Jul 09

The Total Training Consultancy has produced a 45-page set of standard assignment instructions that can be used for all client sites, as Roberta Minty explains.

By Roberta Minty

As the managing director of a security consultancy business, and having worked in the security sector for 20 years now, I’ve seen many changes within the industry.

With the relatively recent introduction of the Security Industry Authority’s Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS), a standard has at long last been set. That standard has been much needed in the security sector.

In particular, the ACS has highlighted the importance of processes and documents in your business. It has made this mandatory in some cases, for example when it comes to site assignment instructions.

Of vital importance to the officer

I have long held the belief that site assignment instruction booklets are one of the most important documents a security officer has access to while on duty (if not the most important). During my time working with all sizes of security company, I have come across many variations of site assignment instructions. There have been the two-page documents scribbled all over as practices have altered, all the way up to vast tomes designed to impress clients rather than aid the officer.

The feedback I have received about assignment instructions when speaking to officers has surprised me. In some cases, such little importance is given to these documents that certain security officers don’t even know what they are, and why they should be used.

On the other hand, we have officers who are frustrated as their limited assignment instructions document does not aid them in their job. At the other end of the scale, I’ve met with officers who are baffled by a 100-page collective that bears little relevance to their job and duties.

In our experience, assignment instructions are a constant reference for the security officer and every bit as important as his or her licence and uniform. Having passed Basic Job Training, the assignment instructions become a familiar document which includes such important information as duties for the security staff, client details and emergency procedures.

Various advantages of detailed instructions

The advantages to having detailed but concise assignment instructions are far-reaching:

it's one of the requirements of the SIA’s Approved Contractor Scheme
Security officers are more confident in their job, and have a standard against which they can work
they portray a professional image to clients
the guarding company’s processes are more structured
it’s good indication to your insurers that you’re trading correctly

However, when producing your assignment instructions you’ll find that it’s time-consuming and very often difficult to know what to include. The instructions we’ve developed are easily adaptable and contain information approved by a qualified assessor