Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do we need to become a Centre?
A. This is the key question.
Quality professional training is a serious commitment, becoming an ITC Centre is a serious commitment. Staff need to be occupationally competent in the area of first aid that the course is applied to, have training qualifications and a commitment to delivering quality training. For instance they have to know the current practical assessment protocols without question or doubt so that many candidates can be continually assessed efficiently without disrupting the flow of the training course. This requires serious preparation.
Regular quality staff training, internal assessment, standardisation, verification and evaluation systems have to be developed and maintained.
If an establishment is anticipating only delivering 3 or 4 courses per year it will be far more cost effective just to buy in an existing ITC Provider.
If you aspire to deliver quality training and have a culture of excellence then ITC will be the Awarding Body for you.
Q. What specifically do you offer for the Scottish Centre?
A. ITC is accredited by the SQA with the ITC Scottish Office located in Brora, Sutherland.
We design courses with the approval of the SQA after extensive research into the needs of the Scottish sector.
ITC Providers have a track record of over 10 year delivering training in Scotland.
We combine the size and organisation to manage qualifications in the population centres of England with the local knowledge derived from being resident in Scotland.
Q. Who are ITC?
A. ITC First Aid Ltd is an Awarding Organisation accredited and regulated by Ofqual (Qualifications Regulator) & the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority). ITC accredited first aid qualifications are found on the QCF (Qualification Credit Framework) & SCQF (Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework).
Immediate Temporary Care is the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) trading arm of ITC First Aid Ltd it carries the HSE approval number 1670/96 for the purposes of providing First Aid at Work qualifications. Immediate Temporary Care is regulated by FAAMS (First Aid Approvals & Monitoring Section) for the HSE.
ITC Providers and Centres across the UK are accredited and verified by ITC for the purposes of training and assessing first aid qualifications.
Our headquarters is in the North of England with ITC Providers and Centres delivering qualifications across the UK, in Europe and the Far East.
Q. How will ITC benefit our organisation?
A. You have a wealth of experience regarding this sector only one phone call away, supporting the delivery of environment specific first aid.
ITC has verifiable quality assurance systems proven by its status as an accredited Awarding Organisation and HSE approved organisation, that are an indicator of quality to your clients.
Indeed ITC Providers and Centres have an established reputation for excellent first aid training and being the providers of choice for many organisations.
We provide free professional development opportunities every month, technical workshops, standardisation events, support to help with your business development and established trainers to help when things get busy with a wealth of experience and advice to help you get your business off the ground.
Some ITC accredited qualifications are on the Qualifications Framework and may attract central funding, if your Centre has access to central funding.
Q. We are already delivering first aid courses, is this track record taken into account?
A. Yes, the process is simply described as:-
Contact ITC for early dialogue. Complete documents C1 and C3. Have two or more staff members. Have policy and procedures in place to protect candidates interests. Arrange for a verification visit. Become an active centre.
Q. How do we become an ITC Centre?
A. It is best to contact ITC directly to discuss suitability.
The key point is that the Centre has to show that they can deliver (train & assess) with the policies and procedures in place to protect both the interests of candidates and the qualification. See documents C1, C2 & C3 (found in policy/procedure link on homepage)
Many efficient Centres have access to an accredited ITC Provider.
Ultimately an external verification Centre approval visit is arranged. Successful delivery of a course supported by the required policy documents will result in ITC Centre status.
Q. Why is an Induction event recommended?
A. The Induction event is the beginning of your relationship with ITC, it is the time when all of your queries will be answered and ITC expertise provided.
The first aid sector is fragmented and confusing to those not familiar with its organisation and rationale, yet all trainers are expected to answer queries and suggest routes of progression or referral for candidates and confirm that candidates are indeed selecting the appropriate qualification for their needs.
All ITC first aid qualifications have some common methods of training and assessment and common ways of using assessment documentation.
Internal assessment has to be standardised and internal verification plans clarified.
The Web Office has to be explained and common usage practiced.
The HSE demand that the certificating body produce teaching plans for workplace first aid qualifications and Ofqual Awarding Bodies have to meet the standards of the HSE. ITC produces teaching plans that are clarified and practiced as course resources are explained.
Experience has shown us that it is more efficient and cost effective for Centres to have a practicing Provider available to help deliver early course and develop systems.
However if your Centre has a track record you may apply for Centre status by completing document 'C1'.
Q. What prior knowledge and experience will we need in order to attend an Induction event?
A. The Centre needs resources of time and expertise for internal assessors (the staff teaching the course) to standardise training and assessment. The Centre also needs to internally verify the assessment decision of all staff and appraise their teaching methodology.
To meet HSE requirements, each qualified trainer requires:
* A current First Aid at Work (3-day) certificate
* A threshold adult education qualification e.g. PTLLS
* Attendance at annual standardisation and verification events
* An up to date first aid training and cpd log
* To stay active i.e. ITC recommend all to be associated with a minimum of 3 first aid training days per year.
ITC Regional Advisors can deliver a training event at your Centre covering all of these essentials.
Q. What ongoing support will we get?
A. The short answer is whatever we can reasonably provide. Including:
* Office hour support by people who understand and are familiar with your concerns
* Strict compliance with our Customer Service Charter
* Regular email and Newsletter updates
* Regular standardisation, internal assessor, internal verifier training events
* Visiting rights to regional ITC support groups with a regular meeting programme
* Up to date downloadable web-based resources
* Dynamic training and assessment methods that clients value
* DVD training/assessment resources
* A reminder service for your clients 3 months before their current certificate is due to expire
* Anything you ask us to, that will be of benefit to your first aid training business
Q. How much will it all cost?
A. We believe there is no other package that provides what we offer at the fees we ask.
Candidate Packs: £9.50 - £15 per candidate, depending upon qualification and pack type selected.
From January 01, 2012.
Announced external verification visits £300 + vat per visit. For Centres with more than 100 candidates per year ITC does not invoice for EV visits.
Awarding Organisation training days, will incur a charge of £300 + vat per visit.
