Contents

A guide to gaining and maintaining HSE approval

This is taken from the guide "The training of first aid at work - A guide to gaining and maintaining HSE approval" ISBN 0-7176-1896-X 01/01 Available from HSE Books PO Box 1999 Sudbury Suffolk CO10 2WA
Note:This document may not be up-to-date.
Main Section

Introduction
Background
The law
Fees
Gaining approval
Original approval assessment visit
Original approval monitoring visit

Maintaining approval
Post-approval monitoring visit
Cancellations
Renewals
Appeals
Complaints
Appendix 1 - Your Approval Status 

Your Approval Status
Training Administrative systems
Student certificates
Qualifications and experience of trainers
Qualifications and experience of assessors
Number of trainers andassessors
Number of students
Quality assurance plan
Training standards


Course syllabus: Lesson plans
Course duration
Final practical examination
Training equipment
Training premises
Assessment visit
Teaching standards
Assessment standards

Appendix 2 - Related training 

Related training
Appointed person/emergency aid training
Specific hazard training

 
Appendix 3 

HSE's contractor
Data Protection Act 1984

  
Appendix 4 - Sample lesson plan 

Sample lesson plan
References

 

Main Section
Introduction 1 This guidance is designed to help you gain and maintain approval to carry out First Aid at Work (FAW) training. The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) First Aid Approval and Monitoring Section (FAAMS) is authorised to issue and renew certificates of approval to FAW training organisations whose training and qualifications in FAW meet the requirements of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 (the Regulations).
Background 2 Since 1 April 1997, field activities, relating to the approval of FAW training, have been provided by HSE's appointed contractor (the contractor). These activities had previously been undertaken by HSE's Employment Medical Advisory Service (EMAS).
The law 3 The Regulations' require that, in order to provide first aid to their employees who are injured or become ill while at work, employers must have suitable people, equipment and facilities. Regulation 3(2) says that: '... for this purpose a person shall not be suitable unless he has undergone: such training and has such qualifications as the HSE may approve...', and 'such additional training, if any, as may be appropriate in the circumstances of that case.'
4 Under regulation 3(2) therefore, HSE will only approve FAW training and FAW requalification training. The Regulations are supported by an Approved Code of Practice.(2) You are advised to read both in conjunction with this guidance.
Fees 5 HSE will charge fees for the various elements of the approval process. HSE will inform you, in writing, of the details of those fees and the date they will become effective. After that, HSE will notify you of any changes to fees.
Gaining approval 6 To become a FAW training provider, you will need HSE's original approval. There is an original approval fee which covers all assessment activities carried out by HSE and its contractor, which include the original approval assessment visit and original approval monitoring visit.
  7 You must first apply to:
The Health and Safety Executive, First Aid Approvals and Monitoring
Section, Grove House, Skerton Rd, Trafford M16 ORB
Telephone: 0161 952 8322/8326/8280
  8

FAAMS will send you an original approval questionnaire to complete. You will also be required to provide photocopies of the following documented information:

  • details of your administrative system;
  • a sample of the certificate to be issued to students;
  • personal portfolios of at least four individuals (two trainers and two assessors);
  • your quality assurance plan;
  • information about the standards of your first aid training;
  • details of your course syllabus, including at least three sample lesson plans, showing aims, objectives and outcomes;
  • a timetable for your four day syllabus;
  • a timetable for your two day syllabus (requalification), if applicable;
  • details of your final assessment procedure;
  • details about your training equipment;
  • information about your training premises.
  9 Appendix 1 sets out the detail of information you are expected to provide. You must then send the completed questionnaire, photocopies of your information and the fee to FARMS, who will acknowledge receipt of them if requested. FARMS will then assess your application and inform you of the outcome. FARMS will tell you if more information is required.
Original approval assessment visit 10 Once satisfied that you have provided a complete set of information,
FAAMS will promptly notify you that the contractor will be carrying out an original approval assessment visit. The purpose of this visit is to check the authenticity of all the information you have provided. The contractor will arrange with you a suitable time for a visiting officer to carry out the visit.
  11 The visiting officer will provide FAAMS with a written report of the visit. FAAMS will consider the findings of that report and will then write to inform you of the outcome. Where you are required to make minor improvements, FAAMS will discuss with you how these can best be achieved.
  12 If major improvements are needed, FAAMS will instruct the contractor to carry out an additional visit, once you have notified FAAMS that those improvements have been made. Please note that you will be charged a fee retrospectively for an additional visit.
Original approval monitoring visit 13

Once approval has been granted, FAAMS will send you a provisional certificate and a FAW training course notification form (MS79). You can complete either the MS79 or a form of your own choice. For each course you are intending to run, you must provide the following:

  • the name and address of the training organisation on the certificate of approval;
  • your approval number;
  • the dates and times of the training course, including the final assessment;
  • the course venue;
  • whether it is a FAW training or FAW training requalification course.
  14 This information must reach FAAMS at least four weeks before the start date of each training course. FAAMS will then instruct the contractor to arrange for a visiting officer to carry out the original approval monitoring visit. The visit will take place, where practicable, within three months from the issue of your certificate. This visit concentrates both on the assessment of your trainer(s) against the teaching standards set out in your application and the equipment and premises used for your training. You will need to ensure that the portfolios the trainer and two assessors, involved with the course, are made available for the visit.
  15 The visiting officer will provide FARMS with a written report of the visit. FARMS will consider the findings of that report and will then write to inform you of the outcome. Where you are required to make minor improvements, FARMS will discuss with you how these can best be achieved.
  16 If major improvements are needed, FARMS will instruct the contractor to carry out an additional visit once you have notified FARMS that those improvements have been made. Please note that you will be charged a fee retrospectively for an additional visit.
Maintaining approval 
Post-approval monitoring visit 17 Post-approval monitoring visits are carried out to established FAW training organisations to assess whether compliance is being maintained. The visit will look at all aspects of your training delivery. In particular, you will need to ensure that the portfolios of all your trainers and assessors are made available for the visit. If you employ a large number of trainers and assessors then you will be expected to provide a representative sample of portfolios.
  18 Each organisation will receive at least one post-approval monitoring visit during the five year approval term. The number of visits each organisation will receive will be determined by the actual number of training locations used by the organisation. There is a fee for a post-approval monitoring visit for which you will be charged retrospectively.
  19 FAAMS will notify the contractor when your post-approval monitoring visit is required. The contractor will contact you to arrange for a visiting officer to carry out this visit. (Exceptionally, you may be visited unannounced to investigate a formal complaint either by HSE, its contractor, or both).
  20 The visiting officer will provide FARMS with a written report of the visit. FARMS will consider the findings of that report and will then write to inform you of the outcome of the visit. Where you are required to make minor improvements, FARMS will discuss with you how these can best be achieved.
  21 If major improvements are needed, the contractor will carry out an additional visit once you have notified FAAMS that those improvements have been made. You will be charged a fee retrospectively for an additional visit.
Cancellations
  22 f you have to cancel either an original approval monitoring visit or postapproval monitoring visit, you must notify FAAMS giving at least three working days notice prior to the date of the visit. Failure to do this may result in a cancellation charge being levied.
Renewals  
  23 At least one month before the expiry of your current certificate of approval, you must apply to FAAMS if you want it to be renewed. You will be charged a renewal fee for your new certificate. You must send the fee with your application.
Appeals
  24

You may decide to appeal against a decision not to issue you with a certificate of approval, where your approval status has been removed or where an additional visit is required. You must write to FAAMS (at the address in paragraph 7) with evidence to support your appeal. FAAMS will consider your appeal and inform you of its decision within ten working days.
Complaints  
  25 FAAMS will promptly investigate all written complaints.
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