Emergency Life Support Team

Quality Assurance

“Our purpose is to empower everyone with life-saving first aid knowledge and skills, delivered through accessible, engaging, and empathetic training. We aim to inspire a sense of confidence, courage, and unwavering compassion, ensuring that everyone feels prepared to act decisively and caringly in an emergency.”

Your Partner in Exceptional First Aid Training: The Power of Self-Regulation

At our core, we believe that first aid training should be more than just a certificate on the wall—it should be engaging, relevant, and truly life-saving. As a self-regulated first aid training company, we have chosen a path that prioritises quality, flexibility, and real-world application over bureaucratic overhead.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not require first aid training providers to be approved by an external awarding body or organisation.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not approve or regulate training providers; instead, they require employers to conduct due diligence on their chosen provider.

RQF Levels are Optional: Some providers may state their FAW courses are Level 3 on the Recognised Qualifications Framework (RQF). This is not a legal requirement and does not automatically guarantee high quality.

Our self-regulated model is built specifically to make that due diligence process easy for you, while delivering a superior learning experience for your team.

Link to PDF: HSE – Selecting a first-aid training provider: A guide for employers (GEIS3)

What Self-Regulation Means for Your Business

Choosing a self-regulated provider like us offers distinct advantages that an externally regulated body often cannot match:

Tailored, Flexible Training Solutions

Beyond the Standard: Regulated courses are often rigid. Our self-regulated status allows us the flexibility to adapt the standard curriculum to your company’s specific risk profile. If you operate in a high-risk industry or a remote environment, we can seamlessly integrate specialist modules (like catastrophic bleeding control or environmental considerations) directly into your course, ensuring the training is maximally relevant.

Agile Updates: We can quickly update and deploy new training methods or materials as real-world best practices evolve, without being held up by slow, external approval processes.

1. Introduction and Policy Aims

The purpose of this Quality Assurance (QA) Policy is to establish and maintain consistently high standards in the delivery, assessment, and administration of all first aid training courses provided by Emergency Life Support Team Ltd.

We are committed to meeting and exceeding the minimum criteria for competent training providers, as outlined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 and supporting guidance (specifically the criteria for selecting a training provider GEIS3).

Key Policy Aims:

1. Compliance: To ensure all courses comply with statutory and regulatory requirements, including guidance from the Resuscitation Council (UK).
2. Consistency: To ensure standardised and reliable delivery across all instructors and locations.
3. Competence: To ensure all Instructors and Assessors possess current, relevant occupational competency and instructional skills.
4. Continuous Improvement: To establish robust processes for monitoring, reviewing, and enhancing all aspects of our service provision.

2. Regulatory Compliance and Course Content

2.1 Syllabus and Guidelines

All course content for regulated qualifications (e.g., First Aid at Work (FAW), Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW), Paediatric First Aid (PFA), Outdoor First Aid (ODFA) will strictly adhere to the current syllabus set by the HSE, Department of Education and the Institute for Outdoor Learning.

2.2 Clinical Practice

All practical and theoretical first aid techniques taught are mandated to align with the current best practice guidelines published by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and other recognised advisory bodies. Any changes to accepted practice will be implemented into the training syllabus within one month of publication.

Advisory Bodies:

• Resuscitation Council UK
• The Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee
• Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care (The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh)
• Voluntary aid first aid book

2.3 Course Duration

Minimum contact hours for core courses are strictly observed, as follows:

• FAW: Minimum 18 contact hours over a minimum of three days.
• EFAW: Minimum 6 contact hours over a minimum of one day.
• FAW Re-qualification: Minimum 12 contact hours over a minimum of two days.
• Paediatric First Aid: Minimum 12 contact hours over a minimum of two days.
• Outdoor First Aid: Minimum 16 contact hours over a minimum of two days.
• Forest School First Aid: Minimum 16 contact hours over a minimum of two days.

2.4 Blended Learning (If applicable)

Where blended learning (e-learning combined with face-to-face) is used, the face-to-face element must constitute a minimum of two-thirds of the total qualification time to ensure adequate practical skill development and assessment.

3. Instructor and Assessor Competence (Staff QA)

3.1 Qualifications

All Trainer/Assessors must hold:

1. A current, valid First Aid at Work (FAW) Certificate or a higher professional clinical exemption (e.g., NMC registered Nurse, HCPC registered Paramedic).
2. An appropriate teaching qualification (e.g., Level 3 Award in Education and Training, or equivalent/higher).
3. A recognised Assessor/Verifier qualification (or equivalent experience/training).

3.2 Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

All Trainer/Assessors are required to maintain a record of their CPD. This includes:

• Attending annual refresher training in first aid techniques.
• Completing a minimum of 15 hours of instructional CPD annually.
• Participating in internal Standardisation Meetings (see Section 5.3).

3.3 Annual Performance Monitoring

A designated Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) or Quality Lead will conduct formal, documented observations of every Trainer/Assessor at least once per 12-month period. This review 

covers subject knowledge, instructional technique, assessment fairness, and adherence to company policies.

4. Training Delivery, Environment, and Equipment

4.1 Training Venues

All venues, whether owned or hired, must be conducive to learning and meet appropriate Health and Safety standards. This includes:

• Adequate space for practical work (approx. 1.25m by 2m per student).
• Suitable heating, lighting, and ventilation.
• Appropriate facilities (toilets, access/egress points).

4.2 Equipment Standards

Equipment must be well-maintained, functional, and provided in sufficient quantity to facilitate practical learning for all students.

• Manikins: A minimum ratio of 1 resuscitation manikin for every 4 learners.
• AED Trainers: At least 1 functional AED trainer for every 4 learners for relevant courses.
• Consumables: Sufficient clean bandages, dressings, gloves, and other consumables for realistic practice.
• Hygiene: Robust procedures for cleaning and sterilising manikins (e.g., replacement lungs, cleaning wipes) must be strictly followed between course uses.

4.3 Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to providing fair and equitable access to training. Where a learner has documented learning difficulties or a disability, reasonable adjustments will be made to the training delivery, provided that the learner can still physically demonstrate competence in the summative practical assessment without assistance.

5. Assessment, Certification, and IQA Process

5.1 Assessment Principles

All assessments (formative and summative) are governed by the VARCS principles to ensure they are:

• Valid: Assessors ensure the assessment truly measures the skills required by the qualification.
• Authentic: The evidence confirms the work is the learner’s own.
• Reliable: The assessment outcome is consistent across different Assessors.
• Current: The techniques assessed reflect current practice.
• Sufficient: There is enough evidence to cover all learning outcomes.

5.2 Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

The designated IQA is responsible for:

• Verifying the consistency of assessment decisions made by Trainers/Assessors.
• Sampling a minimum of 10% of learner portfolios/assessment records.
• Documenting all IQA activities and reporting non-conformances to management.

5.3 Standardisation Meetings

Standardisation meetings will be held quarterly (or at least twice yearly) to ensure all Trainer/Assessors interpret assessment criteria consistently and share best practice regarding delivery methods.

5.4 Certification and Record Keeping

Certificates will be issued promptly upon successful completion of the course and assessment. All certificates will clearly state:

• Your name.
• The full title of the qualification (e.g., First Aid at Work).
• A reference to the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981.
• The date of issue and the certificate validity (three years).

All assessment and learner records will be retained securely for a minimum period of three years.

6. Learner Feedback and Complaints

6.1 Course Evaluation

All learners will be required to complete an end-of-course evaluation form. This feedback is reviewed by the Quality Lead monthly and used to inform training development and highlight areas for instructor coaching or immediate process improvement.

6.2 Complaints and Appeals Procedure

A documented Complaints Procedure and Appeals Procedure is maintained and available to all learners upon request. All complaints are treated seriously, documented, investigated promptly, and used as primary data for the continuous improvement cycle.

7. Insurance

A copy of our insurance can be sent on request.

Professional Liability £1,000,000

Public Liability £5,000,000

8. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the designated Quality Lead and Company Director, or immediately following any significant changes to UK first aid legislation, regulatory guidance (HSE/Department for Education), or clinical practice (Resuscitation Council UK).

Signed: A.R.Sullivan 

Name: Andy Sullivan

Title: Company Director

Choosing us means choosing a partner who is accountable, agile, and totally focused on delivering life-saving competency.

Our Values