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Why deliver this qualification
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given to employees if they are injured or become ill at work. This Award therefore has a wide potential market.
Who does this qualification suit
The Award in First Aid at Work, SCQF level 6, is suitable for those who wish to take on the role of first-aider in the workplace.
Access
Entry is at the discretion of the centre.
No specific prior knowledge is required to undertake this Award.
Progression
The Award in First Aid at Work can provide progression to Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid at SCQF level 6 GT7V 46) and Award in Paediatric First Aid at SCQF level 6 (GT7Y 46). There is overlap in some of the content of the awards.
Approval
This is a non-devolved qualification. All centres require SQA approval to deliver it.
Centres interested in coming forward for approval should contact SQA's Business Development Team for guidance.
Assessors and internal verifiers must be able to meet SQA's general requirements for technical/occupational competence as outlined in the Systems and Qualification Approval Guide (490 KB).
In addition, there are specific delivery requirements for trainers, assessors, internal verifiers and external verifiers for this group award. There are also specific delivery requirements in terms of facilities, resources, equipment; trainer-learner ratio and duration of delivery. These are set out in detail in the group award specification.
How to assess
The mandatory unit specifications provide detailed information on the learning outcomes and assessment criteria to be achieved as well as guidance on assessment.
SQA has developed assessment papers, practical scenarios and marking instructions.
Centres can also develop their own assessments and marking instructions. It is recommended that these are prior verified by SQA.
The award is internally assessed and is not graded.
Assessment can take place as final summative assessments towards the end of the course or at appropriate points in delivery as learners progress through the learning outcomes. Evidence of assessment can be presented in a format which best suits individual learners.
Knowledge-based assessment criteria can be assessed by, for example, short answer questions, verbal questioning or case studies. Some assessment criteria must be assessed through practical demonstration. The unit specifications identify what these are.
Learners should be aware when summative assessment is taking place. Formative assessment cannot be used for summative assessment purposes.
The Award in First Aid at Work at SCQF level 6 consists of two mandatory units (3 SCQF credit points). Please refer to the Qualification Structure for details of the units making up this qualification.
We have introduced enhanced quality assurance processes for First Aid at Work qualifications to comply with qualification and regulatory requirements. These additional measures will operate alongside our standard quality assurance processes and comprise of two distinct components: unannounced activity and indirect claim status.
Unannounced activity
SQA undertakes unannounced activity to ensure that standards and conditions of assessments are being met and maintained.
Centres delivering assessments for these qualifications must advise SQA a minimum of 5 working days prior to the assessment taking place by completing the MS Form available in the Quality Assurance section of the website
As stated within the ‘Assessment Strategy and Guidance’ document, the theory parts of the assessment should be delivered in closed-book, supervised conditions. In accordance with the requirements for assessment, as outlined in the strategy and guidance document, assessors may choose to:
Deliver as one assessment
Assess questions at various appropriate points throughout the course
When notifying SQA using the MS Form, please advise us of the approximate time(s) of the closed book assessment. When assessments are taking place throughout the day, you can advise us of more than one assessment time on the form in the ‘Time of Assessment’ box.
Indirect Claim Status
Indirect claim status will be applied to centres coming forward for approval for Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work qualifications, either as a first time SQA centre, or at an existing SQA approved centre.
In practice, this means that prior to certificating candidates, a successful qualification verification activity has to take place. Further information and guidance on the indirect claim status process is available in the Quality Assurance section of the website
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