What are Due Diligence checks?
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) lay down certain requirements for any First Aid at Work training provider. They are all here https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/geis3.pdf
I will summarise the pertinent points here for business owners and employers.
· The onus is now on the business owner or employer to carry out “due diligence checks” on the training provider. The business owner should check the following:
· the qualifications expected of trainers and assessors;
· monitoring and quality assurance systems;
· teaching and standards of first-aid practice;
· syllabus content;
· certification.
Clearly, as an employer, you will require some assurance that the due diligence criteria are adequately met and that you have selected an appropriate training provider. All training providers should be able and prepared to demonstrate how they satisfy these criteria. Clarity in this area will be beneficial to both employers and first-aid training providers. First Aid Training GB can supply any evidence requested in order to satisfy these due diligence checks.
Trainers/assessors should have knowledge and competence in first aid, as demonstrated by:
■ a current, valid FAW certificate; or
■ being registered and licensed as a doctor with the General Medical Council; or
■ current registration as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council; or
■ current registration as a paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); (Steve Jenkins of First Aid Training GB is registered with the HCPC)
and
■ a knowledge and competence in training and/or assessing, demonstrated by holding a training/ assessing qualification such as those listed in Table 2. This is not an exhaustive list. (See below) I hold a Level 6 (BSc level) Mentorship in the Healthcare Setting qualification which is equivalent or higher than these shown.
There should also be a quality assurance system in place to ensure that teaching and content is current and delivered in an appropriate manner. First Aid Training GB recently had such a QA assessment carried out, which can be available to clients if requested.
External training providers, of which First Aid Training GB is one, can choose to offer regulated qualifications; or operate under voluntary accreditation schemes (including trade/industry bodies); or operate independently of any such accreditation scheme. There is no legal requirement to be part of an accredited scheme. These schemes are usually more expensive, due to accreditation costs.
So, to sum up, as a business owner or employer, please ensure that your training provider is qualified and competent to deliver training to your workforce. There is no such thing as “HSE Registered” any more. The onus to check that training is competent and appropriate falls upon the customer.
You can be assured that First Aid Training GB will supply all information requested in order to satisfy your Due Diligence checks.
This is not an exhaustive list.