PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE (RQF) AWARD IN MANUAL HANDLING
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE AT SCQF LEVEL 5
The risks arising from manual handling have been recognised by the Health and Safety Executive as evidenced in their regulations and advisory notices promoting good practice.
The qualification is designed for those who carry out manual handling at work and provides essential information about controls and hazards. Employers are required to take appropriate steps, including training, to reduce the risk of injury to employees who carry out any manual handling activities at work.
Qualification structure
This qualification is regulated in the UK and awarded by First Aid Awards (FAA).
FAA are an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual and SQA Accreditation. The qualification sits on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).
The qualification consists of one mandatory unit:
Entry requirements
The qualification is available to learners aged 18 or over.
It may be possible to allocate a reasonable adjustment to a learner who has a disability, medical condition or learning need; learners should contact their training provider to discuss. Any reasonable adjustments granted must be in line with the FAA Reasonable Adjustments Policy.
However, due to this being a distance learning qualification and the level of unsupervised learning required, a learner must have the literacy skills to be able to read and self-learn the reference manual and additional resources.
There are physical demands within the manual handling assessment and learners will need to demonstrate the safe moving and handling of loads.
Qualification duration
The qualification has 3 assigned guided learning hours (GLH) and 7 hours total qualification time (TQT). GLH indicates the number of contact hours that the learner will have with the trainer/assessor. TQT includes GLH but considers unsupervised learning and is an estimate of how long the average learner will take to achieve the qualification.
It is beneficial for the learner to undertake additional independent learning for example, by doing research on the internet.
Certification
The qualification does not have an expiry date but refresher training and keeping up to date with changes to policies, procedures and new legislation through ongoing CPD is vital.
Progression
Learners who achieve this qualification may progress on to a fire safety or health and safety qualification. FAA offer qualifications in first aid and related subjects, food safety, safeguarding and first aid for mental health if a learner wanted to diversify.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
A regulated qualification has set learning outcomes and assessment criteria. The learning outcomes describe the skills and knowledge a learner will gain by successfully completing the qualification. The assessment criteria state the skills, knowledge and competence a learner will be required to demonstrate during the course assessment.
ASSESSMENT INFORMATION
The qualification is assessed by professional discussion with the trainer/assessor and evidenced by a recorded video call. During the assessment the learner will also be required to practically demonstrate efficient and safe manual handling. The learner has a maximum of 60 minutes to complete the assessment. This recording will be kept following the FAA Data Protection Policy and will not be shared with any person except for quality assurance purposes by FAA, the FAA centre providing the training, and the regulatory bodies as required.
There is no grading of the assessment; learners pass or are referred.