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Herts Offsite Visits Advisory Service changes

Last updated on 10 March 2025
HCC logoby Offsite Visits team

Due to the retirement of the HCC Offsite Visits Adviser at the end of March 2025, there will be some changes in the Herts Offsite Visits Advisory Service. Whilst schools will continue to subscribe to HOVAS, the role of educational visits advice is being supported by EVOLVE Advice Ltd from 1st April 2025. EVOLVE Advice specialise in providing advice, guidance and training for educational visits.

Their service will comprise:

  • provision of advice for schools/customers by at least 5 qualified Advisers who are members of relevant associations (Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel (OEAP), The Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH), Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres (AHOEC); with a strong working knowledge of Health and Safety.
  • Provision of EVC Training and Update Training for school staff subscribing to Herts’ Offsite Visits Advisory Service (HOVAS) covering a range of topics related to outdoor education, trips, visits and use of EVOLVE
  • Entire management of HCC’s EVOLVE system and acknowledgement of notifiable visits for all children participating in outdoor/residential trips for all subscribed schools and other Children’s Services establishments. Monitor databases, keep contact information up to date, issue passwords, assist schools to complete forms and sign off visits, chase schools for late input, advise on compliance and correctly completed forms and safeguarding
  • Maintaining and monitoring the Evolve inbox, responding to all queries – 5 days per week, 52 weeks per year; including emergency/incident advice/support by email when required.
  • Provision of advice and guidance in writing via email
  • Supporting schools to process accident/incident investigation when required.

As part of the transition arrangements, it is envisaged that the Offsite Visits Adviser will continue to deliver face to face Management of Offsite Visits (EVC) Training on behalf of EVOLVE Advice in association with HCC for some of the coming academic year, to help support and enthuse people with planning learning outside the classroom and offsite visits.