Customer Profile - Fife Council

Wednesday, 19th October 2005

Edge Services have recently completed a series of eight ‘Health, Safety & General Risk Assessment for the Care Profession’ courses for Fife Council Social Work Services.

A meeting was held a meeting between an EDGE Services’ representative and Ms Mhairi Stewart, Service Manager, Social Work and her colleague, Lora Wilson form the Council’s Health and Safety Section. The Council were initially concerned that the course, ‘Approved by the Royal College Accreditation Unit’, might focus more on healthcare than social care. They were quickly assured that, as with all EDGE Services’ courses, the training programme would be adapted to meet their specific needs. Through an exchange of ideas the standard format of the course was moulded to suit the  requirements of Social Work staff. The first course was delivered in February 2005 and was very well received by the course delegates.

EDGE also worked alongside Mhairi and her Social Work colleagues to assist in redesigning the Service’s health & safety risk assessment documentation. The combination of Fife’s team’s understanding of the issues faced by their staff and EDGE Services’ ability to turn problems into solutions led to the establishment of a well received risk assessment process.

Ms Stewart said “Being able to meet with the course trainer, prior to the contract commencing, was very useful. This ensured that the training was delivered to our specification. During the course itself, we were particularly impressed by the way risk assessment was taught. The process was clear and concise and we have been able to move forward to ensure we are meeting our legal obligation.”

Fife Council Social Work Service is one of a number of council services across the UK who have found that this course helps them address health & safety issues and assists in developing staff skills in undertaking workplace risk assessments.