Safe Hands First Aid Training Ltd Quality Assurance Policy

Introduction

Safe Hands First Aid Training Ltd Quality Assurance Policy explains our strategies and mechanisms for ensuring we meet or exceed the standards used to benchmark the quality of our products and services.

On 1st October 2013, The Health & Safety Executive ceased the approval of first aid training providers and in October 2015 guidance was issued stating that those who deliver, assess and quality assure first aid qualifications must hold a formal qualification (see Appendix 1).  Regulated first aid qualifications follow the Skills for Health First Aid Assessment Principles and the responsibility has been placed on employers to identify and select competent training providers.

The Due Diligence procedure is explained at length in the HSE Guidance ‘Selecting a First Aid Provider’ which is available at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/geis3.htm and forms the basis of this document.

This policy requires commitment from everyone within the company.  The Director (Victoria O’Neill) is responsible for the implementation and effective operation of this policy.  Copies can be obtained from the downloads section of our website or by contacting the Director.

This policy will be taken into account during the design and development of all our processes and procedures.  It should be read in conjunction with any relevant code of practice, QA Centre Quality Assurance Guide and the relevant QA Trainer Risk Rating Guidance documents.

Responsibilities

As an approved Qualsafe Awards Centre we will make sure:

  • All trainers, assessors and internal quality assurers (IQAs) are familiar with this policy and all related documents
  • All internal quality assurance activity will be completed in accordance with all relevant Qualsafe Awards requirements
  • Upon commencement of their employment, staff will be informed of the existence of this policy and the company’s expectations of them under its terms
  • All trainers, assessors and IQAs should have a working knowledge of internal quality assurance and all relevant assessment procedures
  • All qualification suites will be allocated a sufficient number of internal quality assurers
  • All qualification suites will have sufficient internal quality assurance activity carried out, including desk based reviews, trainer observations and action plans
  • Standardised documentation, either provided by Qualsafe Awards or internally by our Centre, will be used for recording the internal quality assurance process and subsequent activity
  • As a centre, we will encourage and enable our staff to attend standardisation meetings

Good Practice

Training Venue

  • The room must be of an adequate size (approx 1.25 m2 per student) or a minimum room size of 4m2 for up to 12 students
  • Separate toilet facilities for male and female students
  • Adequate ventilation
  • Lighting suitable for reading
  • Room temperature should maintain a ‘shirt sleeve’ environment
  • Access/Exits should be safe, well lit and cater for people with special needs
  • Carpeted floor coverings or mats provided for use during practical sessions
  • Cleanliness should maintain a clean, tidy and hygienic environment
  • We will also consider whether there is any noise that may distract students from training
  • Breakout area for lunch and refreshments
  • Safe parking facilities either on-street or in a car park

Training Resources

  • an appropriate First Aid manual to match the course being delivered – 1 per candidate
  • audio visual equipment to facilitate the use of slides or any other media deemed as appropriate in lesson plans
  • appropriate syllabus and presentation – will differ for each course
  • presentation equipment – flipchart / whiteboard and marker pens
  • Training manikins – junior pack x4, baby x4, adult x4, plus family pack for use by trainer*
  • 1 x choking simulation manikin
  • 4 x choking rescue trainer vests
  • spare foam plugs and bolus sets for choking simulators
  • Variety of face masks & face shields for demonstration purposes
  • 1 x Laerdal Head Airway Section model
  • 1 x basic heart model
  • 1 x desktop skeleton
  • bandages and dressings – 1 set per student in candidate pack plus spare
  • 4 x cellular blankets
  • 4 x training mats
  • casualty simulation kit
  • adrenalin auto-injector trainers
  • first Aid Kit for demonstration purposes (type will depend on course being delivered)
  • items to manage hygiene during courses e.g. cleaning wipes for manikins, decontamination wipes, anti-bacterial soap in bathrooms and spare lungs
  • AED trainers
  • assessment materials

* There will be documented evidence of equipment maintenance e.g records to show how often manikin lungs are changed 

Trainer / Assessor

Each trainer / assessor should have a portfolio which contains:

  • a current FAW certificate
  • a formal teaching / assessing qualification
  • a chronological teaching record, showing that the trainer has regularly delivered / assessed first aid at work training over the past 3 years

Quality Assurance

Training providers must be able to show quality assurance plans for the following key elements of their business:

  • course feedback / evaluation
  • complaints & appeals procedures
  • trainer / assessor monitoring

Assessment Strategies

  • First Aid at Work courses should last for a minimum of 18 contact hours*
  • Emergency First Aid at Work courses must last for a minimum of 6 contact hours*
  • Course hours are usually split over consecutive days, however, it is acceptable to run the course over a longer period but this should not be more than 10 weeks with each session lasting for a minimum of 2 hours

*This includes the time for the final course assessment. ‘Contact hours’ refers to teaching time and does not include lunch and other breaks.

See also Due Diligence Checklist showing competence as a first aid training organisation.

The procedures set out in this policy will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved in Safe Hands First Aid Training Ltd. Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation.

Monitoring & Review

We will monitor all of the feedback that we receive in relation to the issues affected by this policy and will amend the policy as necessary.

This policy will be reviewed annually as well as following:

  • changes in legislation and/or government guidance
  • as a result of any other significant change or event.