Accidents and incidents can happen at any time and any place and youth workers should be appropriately trained to deal with any immediate first aid.
Key recommendations
First Aid training is a vital part of youth work practice. While not legally required, the NYA’s Practice and Safeguarding Standards strongly recommend that those working with young people undertake first aid training to improve safety and preparedness for an accident, injury or sudden ill-health, especially in dynamic or high-risk environments.
It is also recommended that youth workers undertake training in mental health awareness, to help you respond to emotional and psychological challenges. Training should be tailored to specific roles and responsibilities of staff, volunteers and young leaders and First Aid skills should be refreshed every one to three years, depending on the course.
First Aid is also a useful life skill for young people, integrating with the ‘Skills for life, play and work’ and ‘Health and wellbeing’ themes within the National Youth Work Curriculum. This can include formal courses, such as football coaching awards, or informal course like British Red Cross First Aid Champions.
Barriers to accessing training including time constraints and personal safety. To overcome these, we suggest that you discuss the benefits of training with your staff, ensure training fits around people’s commitments, use local providers and provide peer support.
Other ways to overcome these barriers include:
- Use local providers or access concessions
- Provide peer support and First Aid apps
- Encourage practice through scenarios and share positive stories
- Address fears around infection, legal liability, and personal safety
Choosing your training provider:
To help you choose a suitable training provider, we recommend that you follow the Health and Safety Executive’s five key criteria:
- Employ qualified trainers and assessors
- Follow effective quality assurance procedures
- Teach currently accepted First Aid practices
- Offer a syllabus that meets your organisation’s needs
- Issue compliant certificates
You can choose from a range of different external providers, including:
- Regulated qualifications from an awarding organisation (AO) – these are recognised and regulated by Ofqual, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) or the Welsh Government
- Voluntary approval schemes, such as a trade body accredited by a third party – the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the national accreditation body recognised by government
- The Voluntary Aid Societies (VAS): British Red Cross, St John Ambulance and St Andrew’s First Aid. (The HSE and government recognises the VAS as the standard setters for currently accepted first-aid practice)
- Training providers offering courses certificated by an ‘awarding organisation’ (AO)
- Providers operating under voluntary accreditation schemes (such as a trade or industry body)
- Providers that operate independently of any accreditation scheme
- In-house, delivered by appropriately trained First Aid trainers
Note: The HSE doesn’t allow first aid courses to be taught exclusively online due to the practical, hands-on nature of many of the skills taught, but they do allow you to choose a blended learning option.
Useful links to help you understand your duty as an employer and how to go about selecting your training provider:
Common course options
Organisations can choose from a variety of First Aid courses depending on their needs:
- Emergency First Aid at Work: Suitable for low-risk environments; typically, a one-day certified course
- First Aid at Work: Designed for high-risk settings; usually a three-day certified course
- Annual Refresher: A half-day course to maintain skills
- Requalification Courses: For those renewing their certification after three years
- Appointed Persons Training: For staff responsible for First Aid arrangements but not required to be formally trained
- Paediatric First Aid: Ideal for those working with children; available in blended formats
- AED Training: Teaches use of automated external defibrillators; no prior certification needed
- First Aid in Sport: Tailored for youth involved in sporting activities
- Train the Trainer Courses: For organisations looking to deliver First Aid training internally
- Mental Health First Aid: different types and levels depending upon needs, this could be awareness or teams or a champion within your organisation
The NYA Safeguarding Standards for the Youth Sector state that organisations should identify training needs based on the specific roles and responsibilities of staff, including age appropriateness. Training should also be accessible to volunteers and young leaders.
Our partnership with British Red Cross
We have partnered with the British Red Cross to offer a 20% discount to members of our network wishing to purchase any First Aid at Work or Health and Safety course.
The British Red Cross has been delivering First Aid at work training for over 40 years and in the UK alone trains over 130,000 people every year. Using highly qualified and experienced trainers, course attendees are taught in a fun and interactive learning environment leaving with the skills and confidence to help save lives if an accident strikes. Their quality assurance plan ensures that they consistently deliver training to a high standard and their team is ISO 9001: 2015 certified, for the design and provision of first aid courses.
In order to receive your 20% discount contact the British Red Cross via Tel: 0344 871 8000 or email: rctsales@redcross.org.uk and quote ID number 58340 at the time of booking. Please do not book online as you will not receive your discount.
In order to receive your 20% discount contact the British Red Cross via Tel: 0344 871 8000 or email: rctsales@redcross.org.uk and quote ID number 58340 at the time of booking. Please do not book online as you will not receive your discount.
