Scope of the policy

This policy is provided for First Aid Safety customers, including learners and staff.

This  policy  is  provided  for  First Aid Safety members who are using or delivering the courses or qualifications First Aid Safety offer.

Location of the policy

This policy is available for all staff members and learners to access.

Communication of the policy

It is important that staff involved in the management, delivery, assessment and quality assurance of QNUK

qualifications and learners undertaking these qualifications, are fully aware of the contents of the policy.

Review of the policy

First Aid Safety will review the policy annually and revise it as and when required in response to customer feedback, changes in practices, actions required by QNUK or changes in legislation. Our review will ensure that our procedures continue to be consistent with the regulatory criteria and are applied properly and fairly in arriving at judgements.

Policy Statement

First Aid Safety is committed to providing a quality service for its learners and staff members, working in an open and accountable way that builds the trust and respect. One of the ways in which we can continue to improve our service is by listening and responding to the views of our staff members, customers and learners, and in particular by responding positively to complaints, and by putting mistakes right.

Statement of Principles

First Aid Safety aim to ensure that: -

  • making a complaint is as easy as possible
  • we treat a complaint as a clear expression of dissatisfaction with our service, which calls for
  • an immediate response
  • we deal with it promptly, politely and confidentially
  • we respond in the right way - for example, with an explanation or apology
  • we learn from complaints, use them to improve our service, and review annually our
  • complaints policy and procedures

We recognise that many concerns will be raised informally, and dealt with quickly. Our aims are to:-

  • resolve informal concerns quickly
  • enable  mediation  between  the  complainant  and  the  individual  to  whom  the  complaint has been referred to.

An informal approach to dealing with a complaint may be appropriate; however, if concerns cannot be satisfactorily resolved informally, then the formal complaints procedure must be followed.

Definition: A complaint can be defines as 'any expression of dissatisfaction that relates to First Aid Safety and that requires a formal response'.

Purpose: The formal complaints procedure is intended to ensure that all complaints are handled fairly, consistently and wherever possible resolved to the complainant's satisfaction.

First Aid Safety’s responsibilities are to:

  • acknowledge the formal complaint in writing
  • respond within the stated period of time
  • deal reasonably and sensitively with the complaint
  • take action where appropriate

Confidentiality: Except in exceptional circumstances, every attempt will be made to ensure that both the complainant and First Aid Safety maintain confidentiality. However the

circumstances giving rise to the complaint may be such that it may not be possible to maintain confidentiality (with each complaint judged on its own merit). Should this be the case, the situation will be explained to the complainant.

Complaints Procedure

Stage 1

If a complaint is unable to be resolved informally, the complainant should write/email their complaint to a relevant First Aid Safety member, so that they have a chance to put things right. In the letter/email, it should set out the details of the complainant’s complaint, the consequences for them as a result, and the remedy they are seeking.

Complaints will be acknowledged by First Aid Safety within 2 working days of receipt of a complaints. Complaints will be investigated by relevant First Aid Safety staff members. As part of the investigation regarding a complaint, a First Aid Safety staff member may undertake interviews with the relevant people involved.

A complainant will be informed of the investigation outcome and decision within 10 days of a complaint being acknowledged (this may be extended, depending on the nature of the complaint).

Stage 2

If a complainant is not satisfied with the initial response to a complaint, they can write to First Aid Safety Centre Manager and ask for their complaint and the response from First Aid Safety to be reviewed.

First Aid Safety Centre Manager will acknowledge complaint within 2 working days of the receipt of a complaint. Responses to complaints will be within 10 workings days of the acknowledgement.

First Aid Safety aim to resolve all matters as quickly as possible. However, some issues will be more complex and therefore may require longer to be fully investigated. If a matter requires more detailed investigation, a complainant will receive an interim response describing what is being done to deal with the matter, and when a full reply can be expected and from whom.

Final Stage

If a complainant is not satisfied with the subsequent reply from First Aid Safety Centre Manager then they have the option to contact QNUK with regards to their complaint. QNUK will undertake an investigation into any complaints received, in line with QNUK’s Complaints Policy.

All documents relating to a complaint must be saved and stored securely in the centre. TQUK must be given access to any information or documents regarding any complaints when requested.

Contact details:

First Aid Safety Ltd.

Tel: 020 7112 8543

Email: enquires@firstaidsafety.co.uk

Final stage contact details:

Qualifications Network UK (QNUK), First floor Offices, 86A Lancaster Rd, Enfield EN2 0BX

Tel: 020 3795 0559