Hi and welcome to the forum.



I'll try to give you a straight answer (which is a little difficult because no-one really knows for sure) and in the order asked;



a) The implementation of the Lofstedt report requires a change in legislation and therefore parliamentary time.  According to the parliamentary calendar announcements of this type are usually made each October and each April.  Therefore as it is likely to be implemented before the end of 2013, you are looking at either October 2012 or April 2013 or October 2013.  No one knows yet for sure which date it will be.



b) Consultation on the implimentation has already taken place and Ministers have stated they are 'minded to accept' the recommendations of the Lofstedt report - which, incidentally looked at the workings of the whole HSE not just First Aid.



c) EFAW is already released and runs parallel on the QCF and it is likely that FAW will follow the same route and run parallel prior to deregulation.  However there are some machinations happening between the HSE and Ofqual currenly on this issue.



d) The implementation of the Lofsted review only specifies that the HSE should cease the approval and monitoring of training providers.  They (HSE) will still be responsible for setting the standard.  The onus, as it is now, will be on the employer to ensure the training provided meets the standard.  Following the implimentation of Lofsted training providers will be able to train and cetificate statutory first aid courses without recourse to the HSE for approval to do so.



There is another thread on the forum in the same subject however this is a highly contentious issue within the industry and so be aware there are some fairly vitriolic views being expressed.  Read the other thread but try to keep an open mind.



Hope I've helped.  If you need any further assistance or guidance give me a call in the AoFA office on Tuesday - 01908 610093.  I'll be spending Monday with a book and a jug of mint julep in the garden providing its not raining!

If you are HSE approved then you still need assessors for the FAW. From 1st Jan IF you are approved by an Ofqual or SQA Awarding Organisation (AO) and you run the FAW certified by the AO then you do not need an assessor. However, you do need other Quality Assurance in place i.e Internal QA and a visit be a External QA every so often.Overall it should save money. The other thing to note is that the FAW is a EFAW with an additional 2 days. So you could run both courses together with FAW candidates staying on for a further 2 days.

Please give me a call on 01908 610093 if you need any help/ advice.

It is natural for existing HSE training provides to compare HSE approval vs Ofqual . They are totally different beasts, the HSE was about the training provider, Ofqual is all about checking outcomes including improvements.



We have always complained that standards needs to be improved, Ofqual will do this and with real teeth.

One thing to remember is that the HSE is only removing approvals from training providers not standards. The responsibility of getting it right will fall on the Employer (Statutory duty)  - Can you remember when the responsibility of getting income tax correct was with Inland Revenue? Now the responsibility falls directly on us through Self Assessment. Well, it’s a bit like with employers and first aid training. 



A few things you many not know about First Aid,  Approvals and Ofqual.



Ofqual does not approve Training Providers – Ofqual approve (and monitor) Awarding Organisations (AOs) The  AOs approve and monitor Training Providers (centres).



An Employer choosing an AO centre for their FA training needs will automatically meet their requirements in selecting a suitable training provider.   Currently, other ‘Approval’ bodies, Associations, Federations etc that are shooting up will NOT discharge this requirement on the employer and hence should be ignored by the employer. So from a training providers point of view they are a total waste of money and could even be seen as misleading the customer (employer) – Trading Standards anyone??

Ofqual can withdraw approval  and fine AOs through statutory powers.



If a training provider (Centre) is found guilty/suspected by an AO of malpractice ( ie. Say forging documents) The AO must inform other AOs  -  Other AOs are then unlikely to touch you with a bargepole – Bang goes your business!

 

For first aid, all trainers will, in future (2 years ??) need a formal qualification in teaching/training. Likewise for Internal Quality Assurance.



For a trainee to pass a FAW or EFAW, the trainee must pass ALL competencies, not just the major 4 as with the HSE. Fail one and you fail the course. However, the trainee can retake /be re assessed during the course.



A FAW is a EFAW (one day course) with additional subjects covered in an additional two days.

 

The Requal FAW is the normal FAW taken in two days as long as you hole a current FAW qualification – there is not a ‘Requalification’ qualification.



Once you are approved by an AO it is easier to expand training into other subjects provided by the AO – i.e food hygiene etc.



You do not need an Assessor for the (Ofqual) FAW.



Food for thought

Out of the main AOs in first aid, the AoFA (AoFA Qualifications) is one of the only AOs that does not have a first  aid training business  behind the scenes in direct competition with you (common director / Manager/ shareholder).  AoFAQ only does training to improve standards for trainer / training providers, we do not do first aid training.