The safety of ALL children should always be at the centre of any decisions made regarding your school’s training needs.
In addition to your legal responsibilities regarding staff training, your liability insurance could become void if the correct training does not comply legally and ensures ALL staff have the skills to act competently in any medical emergency, no matter how many years you may have used the same company/provider or how cheap the training is, this argument WILL NOT stand up against the due diligence all school headteachers should do when making this choice.
How do you know you are choosing a legally accredited training centre to deliver your first aid training?
What should you be looking for on the certificate to ensure it is legally compliant?
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE YOUR CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED BY A VERIFIABLE TRAINING CENTRE.
You’re in safe hands with Willhan Training
We are looking forward to working in partnership with you to ensure your staff training meets all the legal requirements and more.
Whether it’s an individual staff booking or a conversation about the right in-house training course. We are here, ready to listen, and will ensure you get the quality training your team deserves.
I’ve worked within the dental profession for over 20 years, and have to say this phrase is as true today as it was when I first started. There have been so many changes and challenges within dentistry over the last 20 years and no more so than over the last few years.
I have spent over 20 years working within the dental professional. Firstly as a dental clinician then moving into teaching dental courses from level 2 up to level 4 qualifications and more recently providing dental teams and professionals with bespoke first aid training courses including our annual refresher on CPR & Defib training.
Remember the phrase "we've always done it this way”
I hear this so many times from dentists/practice managers. However with the GDC/CQC CPD requirements getting tighter year on year it is vital dentists/practice managers who are responsible for booking staff training ensures they are booking with an accredited training centre and your training and certificates come backed by a nationally recognised awarding body.
I agree this is a mine field when you don’t know the correct questions to ask before you book and assuming that the company/individual you have always used is GDC compliant may lead to confusion and at worst having to pay again for accredited training following CQC inspections.
BUT NOT researching and looking into the training you are receiving regularly and booking with the same person year on year could leave you none-compliant.
Did you know?
Dental practitioners and other dental healthcare staff should update their knowledge and skills in resuscitation at least annually.”
For example:
Use our check list to ensure your CPR refresher / first aid training is GDC compliant. Does your training provide you with :
The minimum topics required as started by the resuscitation council : Theses are as follows:
All primary dental care providers should recognise the need for and make provision for dental staff to have sufficient time to train in resuscitation skills as part of their employment. All training should be recorded in a database.
Training and retraining should be a mandatory requirement for Continuing Professional Development and maintenance on professional healthcare registers. It may be appropriate for some retraining to be undertaken using ‘e-learning.
All dental practice owners must ensure a fully qualified first aider is on site at all times – someone who has an in date accredited First Aid at Work certificate.
How did you do with our check list?
As mentioned at the beginning of this blog I have spent over 20 years working within the dental profession.
Firstly as a dental clinician, then moving into teaching dental qualifications & CPD courses from general refresher training up to Level 4 qualifications. This is why we are best placed to deliver your bespoke staff training that is fit for purpose for all dental professionals.
We would love to hear from you to discuss your training requirements and how our bespoke first aid and yearly refresher training will ensure you are GDC/CQC and health & safety compliant.
Sources via the link: Quality Standards: Primary dental care | Resuscitation Council UK (01.12.21)
Copyright reserved Willhan Training Jan 2022
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If ever there was a medical emergency at work, at home or in a shared office space would you be able to provide the correct first aid and handle an emergency situation calmly and confidently? It is imperative you, your colleagues and those around you in the workplace have some first aid knowledge.
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces including those with less than five employees and to the self-employed.
What is 'adequate and appropriate' will depend on the circumstances in the workplace. This includes whether trained first-aiders are needed, what should be included in a first-aid box and if a first-aid room is required. Employers should carry out an assessment of first-aid needs to determine what to provide.
If you are self employed you are required to ensure you have such equipment, as may be adequate and appropriate in the circumstances, to provide first aid to yourself while at work.
You should make an assessment of the hazards and risks in your workplace and establish an appropriate level of first-aid provision. If you carry out activities involving low hazards (eg clerical work) in your own home, you would not be expected to provide first-aid equipment beyond your normal domestic needs. If your work involves driving long distances or you are continuously on the road, the assessment may identify the need to keep a personal first-aid kit in your vehicle.
Many self-employed people work on mixed premises with other self-employed or employed workers. Although you are legally responsible for your own first-aid provision, it is sensible to make joint arrangements with the other occupiers and self-employed workers on the premises. This would generally mean that one employer would take responsibility for first aid for all workers on the premises. HSE strongly recommends there is a written agreement for any such arrangement.
If your work is low-risk, such as desk-based work and you work in your own home, you don't need any first aid equipment beyond normal domestic needs.
If your work involves lots of driving, you may want to keep a first aid kit in your vehicle.
If you're self-employed and based in a co-working space (shared workspace with other self-employed or employed workers) you're legally responsible for your own first aid provision. However, you can make joint arrangements with the other occupiers. Usually, in a written agreement, one employer takes responsibility for first aid for all workers on the premises.
Sources (HSE website 15.12.21) First aid for homeworkers and co-working spaces - HSE
It is important to remember that accidents and illness can happen at any time. Provision for first aid needs must be available at all times while people are at work.
Some small workplaces with low-level hazards may need only the minimum provision for first aid. But there are circumstances and factors that will mean you need greater provision. You, as an employer, are well placed to decide the provision you need.
A first-aider is someone who has done training appropriate to the level identified in the needs assessment. This may be: first aid at work (FAW); or emergency first aid at work (EFAW); or some other first-aid training appropriate to the particular circumstances of your workplace.
There are no hard and fast rules on how many trained first aiders you should have. It depends on the nature of your work and its location.
First aiders are trained by a competent training provider in:
The main points you need to consider are:
This takes minutes to complete and will give you an accurate recommendation of the number of staff needing training and to what level. Click here to complete your risk assessment.
Use the findings of your first aid needs assessment to decide:
Keep training up to date with regular refresher courses.
Our mission:
Is to deliver accredited training and qualifications at affordable prices. We can provide these within your workplace at times to suit your needs.
We are passionate about the quality of our teaching and providing a professional, yet friendly and relaxed learning environment in which people succeed.
Our training and qualifications are not just about ticking boxes, but giving people confidence in their new-found skills so they can be used long after the course has finished.
We understand that time and money are valuable resources and you’ll want to make sure that any investment on training and qualifications is worth it.
We pride ourselves in working with business in delivering in-house training courses at times to suit you at your premises.
We’re also so proud of our 100% record of amazing feedback from the businesses and delegates we have worked with.
Sources: HSE.org
Call us to discuss delivering any of our training courses at your premises at times to suit you, or book onto one of our courses.
Are you a food business? If your business deals in food you must:
· make sure food is safe to eat
· make sure you don’t add, remove or treat food in a way that makes it harmful to eat
· make sure the food is the same quality that you say it is
· make sure you don’t mislead people by the way food is labelled, advertised or marketed
· keep records on where you got food from and show this information on demand - known as ‘traceability’(PDF, 90KB)
· withdraw unsafe food and complete an incident report
· tell people why food has been withdrawn or recalled, for example by using a leaflet or poster
· display your food hygiene rating (if you sell food direct to the public)
and providing guidance to consumers with food hypersensitivity which includes food allergy, intolerance and coeliac disease.
In the UK, food businesses must inform you under food law (Opens in a new window) if they use any of the 14 allergens as ingredients in the food and drink they provide. This list has been identified by food law as the most potent and prevalent allergens.
The 14 allergens are: celery, cereals containing gluten (such as barley and oats), crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs and lobsters), eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs (such as mussels and oysters), mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (at a concentration of more than ten parts per million) and tree nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts).
‘Natasha’s Law’ introduced to protect allergy sufferers and give them confidence in the food they buy.
Millions of allergy sufferers across the country will be protected by a new law laid in Parliament today, requiring food businesses to include full ingredients labelling on pre-packed for direct sale foods.
Following the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, the teenager who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger baguette, the government confirmed stronger laws would be implemented to protect those with allergies and give them greater confidence in the food they buy.
Currently, food prepared on the premises in which it is sold is not required to display allergen information on the label, meaning allergy sufferers sometimes lack confidence buying food to eat whilst they are out.
(source Gov.uk08.12.21)
What businesses need to know about the changes to allergen labelling for pre packed for direct sale (PPDS) food, also known as Natasha's Law.
This introduction is to help you check if your business is affected by the changes to allergen labelling requirements, also known as Natasha's Law, and what to do next to comply with the law.
From 1 October 2021, the requirements for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food labelling changed in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland. This labelling helps protect your consumers by providing potentially life-saving allergen information on the packaging.
Any business that produces PPDS food is required to label it with the name of the food and a full ingredients list, with allergenic ingredients emphasised within the list.
Businesses need to check if their products require PPDS labelling and what they need to do to comply with the law.
(source FSA 2021)
read more https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/introduction-to-allergen-labelling-changes-ppds
Business owners MUST ensure continual refresher training to ensure all food handlers keep refreshed with current guidelines and skills.
It is also vital that those new to a job or industry have training in line with their job role.
We have been working with the Birmingham NHS community trust to provide all food handlers with a legally accredited qualification at level 2 in food safety.
It is vital that everyone is trained to an adequate level to ensure the public& everyone in the workplace is kept safe.
Read more regarding new laws and regulation click read more https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/introduction-to-allergen-labelling-changes-ppds
We are excited to announce our new accredited food allergens training course that incorporates up to date guidelines keeping you and your customers safe
For further information click here
(Sources FSA.gov Dec2021)
The benefits of blended and e-learning training and qualifications
Many business/sectors have moved their services/products online purely to survive since 2020. For some sectors online training courses are absolutely the way forward as they save time and can be a cost-effective way for businesses to ensure compliance is keep up to date.
The benefits of e-learning
1. Learning any time anywhere
2. Cost effective option
3. The best e-learning courses MUST include all learning styles
4. People management –less time away from the “day job”
5. Keep professional industry knowledge current in a quick and effective way
6. Learners can revisit topics to ensure understanding.
1. Learning any time anywhere
e-learning courses are just that, courses that can be accessed anywhere any time. Learners can complete e-leaning courses is smaller bitesize bits as and when they have time until the course is completed.
Learning at its best is when the individual is engaged and owns their own learning, what I mean by this is that we all know if we enjoy doing something we gain far better results than “just going through the motions “ and not fully engaged.
A good e-learning package should include all learning styles and barriers to learning to produce a course that ensures learners are fully engaged to get the maximum benefit.
Accessing learning anywhere anytime opens up job opportunities through qualifications in a way we have never seen before.
1- e-learning courses are far cheaper to the individual paying on-line. This is a massive opportunity for anyone to gain qualifications that are affordable.
e-learning courses can also boost job opportunities due to the accessibility and affordability of e-learning courses it’s easier than ever to update/refresh ones current knowledge or gain new knowledge via e-learning courses.
2: All employers MUST ensure HSE and industry basic training is kept up to date. e-learning courses are a fantastic way of achieving this and ensures employees are safe within the workplace.
e-learning courses are also an amazing way to upskill employees within the workplace
What is your learning style?
Visual(spatial): You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
Aural(auditory-musical): You prefer using sound and music.
Verbal(linguistic): You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
Physical(kinaesthetic): You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
Logical(mathematical): You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
Social(interpersonal): You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
Solitary(intrapersonal): You prefer to work alone and use self-study. We are having the most amazing feedback from all delegates who have attended our blended learning first aid course we are now so excited in launching our online food safety training courses
I’m a strong believer that everyone learns in different way which is why all the training courses we deliver here at Willhan training are unique to the setting we are delivering to., reflects current teaching and learning strategies and includes all learning styles any more.
4.Time management –less time away from the “day job”
e-learning gives learners the flexibility to carry on with the “day job” and complete e-learning in shorter bite size bits to fit around any working diary.
This in turn ensures productivity is still high while businesses and employees keep up to date with current industry specific knowledge.
5 Keeps professional industry knowledge up to date
As mentioned e-learning at its best provides a quick and effective way of ensuring industry compliance. It SHOULD also ensure leaners have up to date knowledge of topics covered to keep themselves safe within the workplace.
6 Learners can revisit topics to gain deeper knowledge or re-visit topics covered to ensure understanding.
As previously said e-learning at its best invites learners to revisit topics or gain a deeper knowledge of topics covered by the teaching strategies used.
This in turn enables the leaner to use knowledge taught within the workplace when required to keep themselves safe and to solve workplaces problems by recalling taught skills/knowledge.
Why blended learning:
Blended learning training and qualifications embeds all of the above. Our online first aid packages are completed before you attend the practical first aid workshop. The workshop gives delegates the opportunity to retain knowledge taught online and at the same time gain skills during practical tasks.
Delegates amazing feedback from all who have attended our blended learning first aid course
"Really enjoyed the workshop. Louise demonstrated an amazing subject knowledge, kept pace appropriate, and ensured everyone's knowledge was secure before moving on. Brilliant... enjoyed both online and face to face. Louise made the day really enjoyable and interesting, brilliant" ( Teacher Primary school)
"I liked the blended as I was a able to go back over things" ( Nursery Manager Coppice prim nursery)
"Enjoyed both elements. The e-learning I could do at my own pace. the practical workshop was really good in recapping knowledge online was amazing" (Teacher)
Guaranteed to provide you with the highest possible standard of learning, our food safety e-Learning courses allows you to build an understanding of safe food handling practices and keeping food safe.
These courses are designed for anyone who comes into contact with food handling due to the nature of their work. All our e-learning courses can be completed at times to suit you in smaller bite size chunks.
As mentioned before our blended learning first aid courses have all the benefits of an outstanding e-learning package with a face to face practical workshop that ensures online knowledge has been retained and leaners gain new practical skills to use in first aid incidences
Click here to read more about our first aid blending learning courses
Give us a call T01213292288 E:info@willhantraining.co.uk
Copyright Willhantraining 16.12.21
As workplaces start to welcome more staff and visitors, having fully trained staff who can deal with a medical emergency while staying covid safe is vitally important.
I’m often asked by the lovely people on my courses about providing first aid treatment during this pandemic.
We have been delivering First Aid training courses over the past 13 mths and include as standard up to date cross-infection ideas and measures that can be used quickly and simply in the workplace to keep first aiders safe while dealing with medical emergencies in any setting.
The HSE guidelines are still the same regarding First Aid requirements. All workplaces and school MUST have in place.
Complete your own Risk Assessment by following the link below to identify how many first aiders your setting should have on-site at all times;
As we, hopefully, are heading out of the other side of this pandemic business, schools, organisations, and those self-employed have a legal duty to ensure they can assist quickly if a medical emergency was to occur in the workplace
This guidance will help employers ensure first aiders are confident that they can help someone injured or ill at work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Employers and their first aiders should read the guidance on giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) from the Resuscitation Council UK.
Emergency service professionals, such as NHS ambulance workers, will receive advice from their employer about this.
HSE has guidance on First aid cover and qualifications.
As an employer, when reviewing your risk assessment to include working during the pandemic, consider refreshing your first aid at work needs assessment.
Ask your first aiders if there are any factors that should be taken into account as part of your risk assessment. These factors could include vulnerable workers with first aid responsibilities.
You should discuss the risk assessment with your first aiders so they are confident about providing the right assistance.
This includes knowing what equipment they can use to minimise the risk of infection transmission, as explained below.
Although the UK Government has now removed social distancing in most workplace situations, first aiders should still consider the precautions set out in this guidance to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection.
Try to assist at a safe distance from the casualty as much as you can. Minimise the time you share a breathing zone.
Although treating the casualty properly should be your first concern, you can tell them to do things for you if they are capable.
Remember the 3P model– preserve life, prevent worsening, promote recovery.
Call 999 immediately –tell the call handler if the patient has any COVID-19 symptoms.
Ask for help. If a portable defibrillator is available, ask for it.
Before starting CPR, use a cloth or towel to cover the patient's mouth and nose. This should minimise the risk of transmission while still permitting breathing to restart following successful resuscitation.
If available, you should use:
Only deliver CPR by chest compressions and use a defibrillator (if available) – don't do rescue breaths. For CPR in paediatric settings see guidance from the Resuscitation Council UK.
If you suspect a serious illness or injury, call 999 immediately – tell the call handler if the patient has any COVID-19 symptoms.
If you’re giving first aid to someone, you should use the recommended equipment listed above if it is available.
You should minimise the time you share a breathing zone with the casualty and direct them to do things for you where possible.
Make sure you discard disposable items safely and clean reusable ones thoroughly.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser as soon as possible.
If first aid cover for your business is reduced because of COVID-19 or you can't get the first aid training you need, there are some things you can do to comply with the law.
If fewer people are coming into your workplace it may still be safe to operate with reduced first aid cover. You could also stop higher-risk activities.
You could share first aiders with another business but make sure they have the knowledge, experience and availability to cover the first aid needs of your own business.
Shared first aiders must:
Whoever provides the temporary cover must make sure they do not adversely affect their own first aid cover.
If first aiders are unable to get annual face-to-face refresher training during the pandemic, we support the use of online refresher training to keep skills up to date.
We still strongly recommend that the practical elements of FAW, EFAW and requalification courses are delivered face to face. This means that the competency of the student canbe properly assessed.
Source HSE.org26.7.21 Author Louise Vickers (CertEd, D32,22 V1)
You’re in Safe hands with our legally accredited training courses
Winter lockdown
I’m very much a people person and love listening, meeting and chatting to people in person, which is why I love teaching and delivering training as I love nothing more than seeing others learn new skills, develop in confidence and achieve a qualification that will benefit their job role or just give them the confidence to use the skills they have gained.
Since March 2020
Many business/sectors have moved there services/products online purely to survive. I was one of those business who considered moving my training courses online and was asked a lot as to why I didn’t deliver training online.
My answer was simple.
For some sectors online training courses are absolutely the way forward as they save time and can be a cost-effective way for businesses to ensure compliance is keep up to date.
My businesses ethos is on providing quality,legally accredited training courses as standard. Therefore until online First Aid training was recognised as legally accredited, companies, schools and individuals are wasting their money and time in completing online learning that is not legally accredited for their industry.
I’m NOW so excited in launching our legally accredited Blended learning First Aid at Work qualifications.
These courses are legally accredited and have an outstanding online learning package that reduces the face-to-face classroom teaching so instead of attending a 3-day First Aid at Work course this has now been cut to attending a 2 day face to face workshop.
Instead of attending a 2-day First Aid at Work requalification course you can learn via our online platform and attending a 1 day workshop to gain the practical skills you require:
I’m a strong believer that everyone learns in different way which is why my training courses reflect all learning styles. This online package does that too.
How we like to learn
We all have our own unique learning style.
Some people like to sit a read books to learn.
Some people like to learn with others via group tasks and discussions.
Some people like to learn via doing ( i.e practical)activities.
No matter what training course you attend the difference between outstanding and "ticking boxes" in training is huge.
Training that is value for money and outstanding offers everyone who attends the same chances to gain new skills and knowledge
Why blended learning:
· Blended learning embeds all of the above. It also enables skills to be practices and gained online and in person.
Blended Learning give business, schools and individuals
· The peace of mind that you're gaining legally accredited qualifications.
· We know your time is precious- Blended learning enables you to gain theory knowledge in your own time which reduces the time spent in the classroom.
· These courses are cheaper per person and in-house.
Read More about our First Aid at Work blended learning courses
Coming soon
Our legally accredited Ofsted compliant blended learning paediatric first aid training.
Look out for further information.
Covid secure
We all need to feel safe in any environment to be confident in the job we do and to grow as professionals.
For me, COVID 19 has reinforced the good practice procedures I have adhered to as standard. Ensuring all who attend our course feel safe.
Here at Willhan Training we take our cross-infection duties extremely seriously. See our covid secure policy.
Re-opening after lockdown:
Business, leisure centres gyms and many more businesses will reopen and will people just wanting to get out again.
First Aiders & Paediatric First Aiders are a legal requirement and will be needed after lockdown, being training now in readiness for re-opening will prevent having to release staff, loose wages and time away from your job role when lockdown is eased.
The latest guidance for first aid provision in schools and the workplace
The HSE and DfE have not relaxed their rules on maintaining adequate first aid provision in the workplace and within schools and early year settings.
Therefore, it is important that business,including schools and early years nursery’s, ensure they have the correct and relevant first aid provision available within their setting to ensure they can provide assistance in a medical emergency.
Re-opening after lockdown:
First Aiders & Paediatric First Aiders area legal requirement and will be needed after lockdown, being trained now in readiness for re-opening will prevent having to release staff, loose wages and time away from your job role when a lockdown is eased.
More than two million children under the age of 15 experience accidents in and around the home every year and are taken to hospital. Many more are treated by GPs and by parents and carers.
On average 62 children under the age of five died as a result of an accident and over 76.000 under the age of 14 are admitted for treatment, of which over 40% are under 5 years of age. Those most at risk from a home accident are the 0-4 years age group.
Falls account for the majority of non-fatal accidents while the highest numbers of deaths are due to fire. Most of these accidents are preventable through increased awareness, education and improvements in the home environment and greater product safety.
The most severe injuries are associated with heat-related accidents and falls from a height. Older children are more likely to sustain fractures than younger counterparts. Younger children have a higher percentage of burns and scalds as well as poisoning and ingestion accidents.
Most accidents happen:
Children can swallow, inhale, or choke on items such as small toys, peanuts, and marbles.
Babies and small children are most at risk from choking because they examine things around them by putting them in their mouths.
Would you know what to do if your child had a medical emergency at home? Most parents have little or no first aid knowledge, or the knowledge they have is out of date. Education is key to the safety of all of us.
Knowing:
These can all help ensure our home environments are safe for children to live in.
Prevention is better than cure, which is why at Willhan training we have developed a “bespoke “ parent and grandparent First Aid workshop for any parent/ grandparent to attend.
The feedback from our parents and grandparents who have attended has been amazing.
As a parent myself I have designed these 3 hour sessions with parents in mind and cover topics like meningitis, sepsis, choking and more to give you a basic knowledge of the signs & symptoms of certain conditions but also practical skills to use if a child in your care suffers a medical emergency in your home.
“very informative, friendly environment, feel more confident now with hands-on experience”
“Great delivery really enjoyed & informative”.
“Covered common worries we had as parents the practical’s help remember” really enjoyed”
“Enjoyed the part about choking, really good course. The tutor encouraged questions which was good.”
“Enjoyed all of it. Especially the choking information and practical. Lots of useful information included”.
Sources RSPCC .uk Willhan Training. HSE .org. Copyright reserved April 2020
By law, all businesses are required to have at least one fully qualified first aider on-site at all times. All business must carry out their own full due diligence to ensure all staff are receiving legally compliant training.
To comply with your legal duties under the Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 your choice must be appropriate & adequate based on a needs assessment & appropriate due diligence being conducted.
Those who are self-employed should also have some formal first aid training.
If your workplace has more significant health and safety risks, for example, you use machinery or hazardous materials then you are more likely to need a trained first-aider. You must provide all your employees with details of the first-aid arrangements.
Your liability insurance may be affected if you have no first aid provision in place or if have attended a course that is not legally accredited.
You may know from my previous blog. “You learn something new every day.”
Training is key in all industries.
If you are responsible for developing and maintaining a business’s food safety management procedures, you must have had suitable training on food safety and hygiene to do this. Skills can be learned by:
You must make sure that any member of staff who handles food is trained in food hygiene and safety, including allergens, before they start work.
All food businesses must put in place food safety management procedures based on the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP).
HACCP is a system that helps you identify potential food hazards and introduce procedures to make sure those hazards are removed or reduced to an acceptable level.
These procedures will help you produce and sell food that is safe to eat, providing you:
All business owners have a legal requirement to provide training that is fit for purpose and relevant for the job being undertaken.
Regulations state that all food handlers must receive the appropriate training in food safety practices relevant to their duties. However, having a good understanding of food safety practices is not only a legal requirement, it is also essential in protecting the health of both consumers and food handlers.
Food safety, in fact, most training can be sourced either online or via a training centre providing classroom training. Everyone learners in different ways.
Online, individual training will suit some people however, for those practical and visual leaners who like discussions and like to ask questions a classroom-based training course will be of more benefit.
You will gain far more from learning with colleagues and other professionals from outside your business and sharing good practice ideas in a classroom setting that can be implemented within your food business.
Some free online short courses can be beneficial, especially if it’s a refresh of certain areas and does not involve practical assessment.
The Food Standards Agency offer some excellent online training courses around allergens with some useful information on how to implement these guidelines.
However, caution should be applied when choosing online free training instead of face-face training to ensure you and your colleagues get the training and skills that they can remember and use way after the course has finished. It is vital that any course you are investing your time into is legally accredited and complies to food safety guidelines for training or you will have wasted you precious time.
Business owners MUST ensure continual refresher training to ensure all food handlers keep refreshed with current guidelines and skills.
It is also vital that those new to a job or industry have training in line with their job role.
We have been working with the Birmingham NHS community trust to provide all food handlers with a legally accredited qualification at level 2 in food safety.
It is vital that everyone is trained to an adequate level to ensure the public & everyone in the workplace is kept safe.
