Posted By Karen Todd Hi all, What level of first aid would a leader in a church youth club need? I was wondering if the St John Public First Aid course would suit rather than the First Aid at Work cert? Then maybe also the Emergency Aid in Schools would be useful (in addition to one of the above courses) as the scenarios from that would be similar to scenarios that would arise at a youth club? Thanks, Karen

Posted By Jack The FA@W Regs only apply to employees so the youth club members are outside its scope. Nevertheless as part of your overall duty of care I would suggest some way of providing first aid would be appropriate. However, how you do that is up to you. Probably the public FA course would be preferable to the FA@Work course because it is better geared to young persons. I agree the schools emergency aid approach would also be suitable. Re RIDDOR it depends on whether the Church is an employer or not. Churches are not my specialist subject but I would think the larger ones are employers but I guess some of the fringe ones are not. If church is employer RIDDOR would apply but only to accidents arising out of or in the course of work activities. See HSE guidance for RIDDOR in schools.

Posted By Descarte So your saying that if a member of the public had an accident on your premises, it wouldn't be reportable? (plz note this is serious question)

Posted By Maggie Atterbury Hi Karen If the Youth Club is organised by the church, then the volunteers running it are to all intents and purposes unpaid employees. Health and safety standards would therefore need to be the same as in any business both for the volunteers running the youth club and the members who could be affected by the way that they conduct this undertaking. This includes the reporting of accidents, so a RIDDOR defined accident to a volunteer would be reportable. Accidents to any member of the public, including members of the youth club, are also reportable if they result in the casualty been conveyed from the club directly to hospital and arise out of a defect to the premises or inadequate supervision. Mike B is wrong to think that sporting accidents / injuries are not reportable as this changed last year. Any sporting accident/ injury that occurs when directly supervised is now reportable. As far as the suitability of a First Aid qualification is concerned, like in every other situation, it will depend on the level of risk of the various activities undertaken. This could vary from an Emergency First Aid or Appointed persons course to the full First Aid at Work course if more hazardous activities undertaken.

Posted By Jon Pegg I am a Assistant Scout Leader. The Scout association has Policy & Rules and takes accident reporting etc very seriously. NB We all have to be trained with a Line manager etc, and yet we are still volunteers. The FA course I did was called a First Response Course which is very basic. I don't know about RIDDOR per-se but I would assume that it does apply as the hospital A&E will report accidents in any case. Also, the Scout Association publish a lot of information on the internet which may be helpful. Cheers Jon

Posted By richard emery hi there, i was until last year a youth worker with our local church for six years. Running clubs 3 nights a week. The church had a full health and safety policy for youth work, both internally and for external work, be it woodland sleep overs or an evening down at the local all weather football pitch. The basic risk assissment covered standard internal activities, second tear risk assissment was carried out on regular external activities like the football, and a thrid tear was used for "Higher" risk activities ie trips to the swimming pool, woods etc. which would be done on each occation an activity was held. Hang on, i'm getting there! Each activity had its own manning ratio, either set by local council approval, arranged and laid down when setting up the club, or by the church governing body, in our case C of e. A qualified person, "First aid at work" first aider with a " childrens addition" were required to attend each activity. Talk to your insurer, their responsible of the liability, and cover yourself as if the children were your own, cos if something happens, someone is going to be on your back. Richard

Posted By Jack I agree with you Adrian about the volunteers not being employees. However, if the church is an employer, it will have section 3 duties towards them. Some, but not all, regulations will apply. The first aid regs will not apply, though.