Does it effectively mean that anyone could give these short first aid sessions, print off a certificate on their PC at home and jobs a good 'un?

Yes





If I were to, for example, do an evening course for a group of new parents and provide a certificate would the certificate actually be worth any more than the paper its written on?

No



Basically there is nothing to stop anyone teaching any first aid course, other than those that are regulated, calling it what they like, and issuing a certificate. You don't even have to hold a first aid qualification to do so. This was why EFAW was brought into the fold, because that is exactly what was going on for "Appointed Persons". There are also such people out there teaching Paediatric FA and getting away with it because people commisioning paediatric training are often unaware of the sanctioning framework, so these people get away with it and it will only ever come to light if during an OFSTED inspection on a nursery or school, the inspector actually checks back into any PFAs presented.



What would you include/ not include on such a certificate?

When we have issued anything for a non-regulated course, we make clear by wording that it does not meet the regulatory requirement e.g. before EFAW, any "one-day" type cert we issued said "This certificate is not appropriate for a Trained First Aider at Work". At the request of a school, we are doing a 2-hour session for their playground staff. They will receive a certificate of attendance, but it will also make clear it is not a PFA qualification.

For it to be OFSTED-acceptable, my understanding of the current situation is that the content of the course and the mode of delivery must be acceptable to the relevant Local Authority. Indeed, when our Education Authority approached us to extend our general contract into Paediatrics, I met with the Schools Health & Safety Officer and between us we thrashed out an acceptable course content that met EYFS criteria, but was more than what is traditionally taught (in my mind, too many of these courses are just a basic first aid course with an occasional mention of a child [some PFA first aid books have more about adults in them than about children!]).

As to delivery, it was agreed that no two courses would be the same, because the focus will differ depending upon the ages covered by the candidature, and also we liaise with the school/nursery beforehand and get non-personal details of children with problems attending their locations and ensure we cover a generic session on that subject (e.g. one school has a child with apnoea, so we covered a session on this, and because it is such a vital area for the school, the head teacher had all the school staff crammed into the hall when we covered it, and the child's mother also attended)

The one local authority gives us more than enough work, so we don't need to work in others. My understanding about the "portability"of the LA approval is that this is a very grey area that has been debated on here before, but I don't recall a definitive conclusion being reached. But I believe that, by the "letter of the law", approval of any local authority must be obtained before delivering OFSTED/EYFS courses in their area.

For anyone reading this who is commissioning PFA courses, please ignore all the organisations who claim their course is OFSTED-approved. OFSTED do not approve the courses; this is the local authority's role, so if someone is claiming this then (a) they are not OFSTED-approved and (b) it would suggest that either they are not sufficiently knowledgeable about their subject or they are deliberately setting out to deceive.



If anyone knows any different to the above, I welcome hearing from you with "chapter and verse"

So just to clarify, as it stands I would be able to provide the 12 hour Paediatric first aid for EYFS in my school with my NMC, PTLLS, First aid qualifications and as long as I cover all the requisite aspects in the Practice Guidance/OFSTED/EYFS etc on the course I do NOT need to be seperately registered with my LEA, and this would cover my colleagues/the school in future OFSTED inspections etc?



I take it this also covers the fact that I will be doing my courses under an umbrella company (NUCO) and also that I work in an independent school?







This is really helpful - thank you for all your time and information. I just want to make sure that I provide a legit service that is regulated and recorded properly.

Thanks Paul!

Thanks Marty B!



I hope as a school nurse, registered adult nurse, having worked in both paeds and adult A&Es as well as other departments and having done paediatric first aid courses myself for a number of years I will be able to provide a pretty good course myself.



My original question was aimed at trying to clarify the requirements/legalities of providing the course as I think it's unbelievable that ANYONE can effectively give a paeds course as long as it ticks a list of topics to cover.

It is certainly an interesting topic, if not very frustrating!



I have contacted my LEA as I would like them to have me on their approved list.



I'm not really one for grey areas, I like things to be black or white - it would therefore be so much easier if courses were regulated clearly, not only for providers but also for service users. I understand the necessity to have some flexibility in course content, but even the 2 hour first aid courses for parents should be regulated - Personally I think if you are paying for a service its only fair to get a service that is worth the money, which if anyone can deliver these courses I can only assume their might be some really shoddy providers out there who do it because they have over-inflated ideas of their own competencies.



But then I think maverick things like the fact that every school child should be taught some first aid.............I can dream, but I hope at least to be able to offer the chance to the children at my school in the future.

Hello, Can i add my comment on something I have just read on here. I don't know whether the comment " children are just small adults" was said in jest but can I please comment that children, for the purposes of first aid are definatly NOT small adults. As a first aider in a school, children come with their own problems when injured and their treatment IS different, for the most part, than it would be when dealing with an adult. If the comment was said in jest then I appoligise but I thought the point needed to be made. Thanks.

Marty

With you all the way. You are spot on that there are a number of trainers who don't have any proper paeds knowledge. The most telling post-course comment I have received was from a MDA supervisor (for the uninitiated MDA= dinnerlady) and summed up many similar plaudits received. She said "This is the sixth time I have sat a Paediatric First Aid Course. It's the first time I have learnt something about children"



It is not unusual to receive a round of applause on completion of our paeds course





My comment about people commissioning paeds training not knowing what's what, and training organisations pulling the wool is demonstrated by a village school we attended last year for EFAW. I pointed out during the post-course chat with the head that they had reception and infants kids, but no PFA certs on show. Yes we do, and points to FAW certs issued by another organisation who have gained a notorious reputation for abysmal quality (treatment forconscious heart attack victim - lay them down and cover with a blanket; they will die anyway). That's not PFA, I say. No but it covers us for PFA says the head. No it doesn't. They told us it did. I'll ring and check. She calls me next day and says she spoke to them and they say it's OK for OFSTED because the trainer covered child CPR!

sadly medickevin, this is the nature of the training sector- little or no barriers to entry, little or no regulation

most companies buy on brand awareness or if not then on price!
all the approvals in the world won't help if you are £30 more expensive than cowboy X!

all you can do is be the best at what you do and hope you make a profit from it!

cowboys exist in all lines of work!