FirstAidTrainingPolicy

First Aid Training – GWUC.

Policy proposed by PeopleAndCultureCommittee Mar 2017.

We have recently been requested to review the issue of the availability of First Aid training and whether it should be mandatory within our employees and / or with other volunteers. Several years ago we had run a voluntary course for leaders and youth leaders, but that seems to have lapsed. Similarly, we don’t appear to have record of people within the congregation or volunteers who have completed and have a current first aid certification.

In the attached document we record the review process having spoken to several groups whilst we also defined our current approach. Our recommendations are as follows:

Recognise that First aid training is valuable, but is not mandated as a core skill within our Position Descriptions or a requirement as to those roles;
Seek to identify volunteers within GWUC, who currently have a First Aid course accreditation, that is current, and who are willing to act in providing First aid assistance, whilst they are engaged in activities at GWUC.
People & Culture and Property Committees to identify a small number of people, employed or volunteers at GWUC, who would be willing to undertake a First Aid course and then be equipped to provide first aid in situations occurring whilst at GWUC undertaking their usual volunteer or associated activities.
Recognise that we are not mandating the availability of First Aid skills within GWUC Activities.
Specify a small number of people (perhaps 4-6 in total) and then identify an appropriate course. Meet the cost and then monitor completion of the programme;
Alternatively seek provision of a course of first aid from a supplier such as St. John Ambulance and run the course at GWUC for willing volunteers and employees;
Record the attendance at such course within in our records;
Monitor the situation on an annual basis.

Ken M Coutts
Convenor, People & Culture Committee
GWUC