Month: June 2024

As Pride Month draws to a close, we at Advantage Accreditation want to remind everyone of the importance of promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) all year round. Pride Month is a significant time for celebrating members of the LGBTQ+ community, but our commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all people must continue beyond June.

Under the Human Rights Act 1998, everyone has the right to live a life free from discrimination. Under the Equality Act 2010, individuals are protected against discrimination in the workplace and wider society based on the following nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. These terms are used in legislation, however, we recognise that language and identities are ever-evolving.

We offer comprehensive training materials on EDI, which are available to our accredited centres. These materials include:

– Detailed slides on terminology associated with LGBTQ+ groups
– Strategies for promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in various settings
– Guidance on fostering a respectful environment for everyone

If you are interested in delivering accredited training on these topics, please get in touch with us. Our resources are designed to help learners understand and implement best practices for EDI.

As we move beyond Pride Month, let’s continue to show respect and kindness to all individuals, fostering equality in every aspect of our lives.

In the health and social care sector, retaining skilled and dedicated staff is a constant challenge. This May and June, Skills for Care has been promoting #KeepTheRightPeople. This initiative is focused on helping care providers keep the right people working for them.

At Advantage Accreditation, we recognise the importance of this initiative. We believe the best route to retaining a workforce is through high-quality training and development.

Retention is about more than just keeping staff on the payroll; it’s about building an effective, motivated, and committed team. High staff retention rates lead to better care, better staff well-being, and fewer recruitment expenses.

Data from across a range of sectors shows the impact of training on employee retention and organisational success:

Increase Retention Rates: Organisations with robust learning cultures see retention rates increase by 30-50%. Moreover, 94% of employees say they would stay longer at a company that invests in their learning and development (Shortlister) (Lorman).  

Enhanced Productivity and Growth: According to HR managers, 90% believe that training benefits employee productivity and development (Shortlister).

Employee Satisfaction: About 59% of millennials consider career development opportunities extremely important when applying for positions. Furthermore, 76% of employees feel that a company becomes more appealing if it offers additional skills training (Lorman). 

Closing Skills Gaps: Training is a primary method to address skills gaps within companies, with 51% of HR managers citing it as the best way to close these gaps. Reskilling and upskilling are common approaches, offered by 37% and 36% of organisations, respectively (Shortlister).

Leadership Development: Leadership training can increase learning capacity by 25% and performance by 20%. Organisations that develop leaders at all levels are 4.2 times more likely to outperform those that restrict development to management (MarketSplash). 

Employee Preferences: Many employees prefer on-the-job learning, with 68% expressing a desire to learn at work and 58% wanting to learn at their own pace (Whatfix). Personalised and relevant training is a key demand, with 91% of employees desiring it (Shortlister).

These elements are crucial for building a work environment where staff feel valued and supported, leading to better retention rates.

At Advantage Accreditation, we specialise in accrediting health and social care organisations to provide training for their staff. We believe that high-quality training is a cornerstone of staff retention. Our accreditation process ensures that your training programs meet the highest standards, equipping your staff with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in their roles.

By investing in accredited training programs, you not only enhance your team’s capabilities but also demonstrate a commitment to their professional growth and well-being. This, in turn, fosters a positive workplace culture and strengthens your ability to retain top talent.

If you are interested in becoming an accredited training centre, please get in touch.

When it comes to saving lives, every second counts. However, recent findings from Resuscitation Council UK show disparities in CPR training and access to defibrillators (Every Second Counts – Tackling Inequalities in Resuscitation Across the UK).

At Advantage Accreditation, we are dedicated to ensuring high-quality training in first aid and other areas. We support the Resus Council’s recommendations to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA).

The report found only 38% of adults have received CPR training, with lower rates among ethnic minorities and residents of cardiac arrest hotspots. Language, culture and socio-economic factors contribute to these inequalities. The Resus Council’s recommendations are carefully tailored to address problems in specific sectors and locations. 

 

These recommendations include:

Collaboration between governments to fund a public awareness campaign during ‘Restart a Heart‘ month in October.

Ensuring all students receive CPR training before leaving school. 

Including CPR training in driving tests.

Continuing collection of OHCA data to inform targeted interventions.

Establishing the Resus Council’s ‘Save A Life Northern Ireland’ to boost cardiac arrest survival rates.

Providing additional defibrillators in locations with more OHCA incidences.

Registering defibrillators on The Circuit and keeping these accessible to the public.

Targeting CPR training for underrepresented groups, such as jobseekers, e.g. through online ‘Lifesaver’ training.

 

These recommendations emphasise the importance of collaboration between governments, educational institutions, and the private sector. By implementing these measures, we can work towards everyone having the knowledge and resources to save lives in critical moments.

If you are interested in providing accredited first aid training, please contact Advantage Accreditation. 

World Food Safety Day takes place on 7th June 2024. The annual event reminds us of the importance of food safety across the globe. 

 

Key Statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO)

• More than 10% of people become ill after eating unsafe food every year
• Over 200 diseases are caused by unsafe food
• 40% of foodborne diseases affect children under 5 years old
• On average, 1.6 million people become ill from unsafe food every day

 

This year’s theme is “Prepare for the unexpected.” This is a call to action for all, from governments to consumers, to prevent ill health from unsafe food.

 

Governments develop and update food safety emergency response plans and report international emergencies. 

 

Food Operators maintain and update food safety management plans, adhering to good hygiene practices, and providing regular training for their staff. As an accreditation body, we believe the best way to prepare for the unexpected is through education. We offer learning materials for food safety courses, which are available to our accredited centres. These materials provide the knowledge and skills needed to maintain food safety standards.

 

Consumers can follow the WHO’s Five Keys to Safer Food: 

1. Keep clean
2. Separate raw and cooked
3. Cook thoroughly
4. Keep food at safe temperatures
5. Use safe water and raw materials

 

Join the conversation on 7th June 2024 using the hashtag #WorldFoodSafetyDay 

 

If you are interested in delivering training on food safety, please contact us.