Working to improve Risk & Safety Management (East Midlands Branch Newsletter)

Welcome to the IIRSM East Midlands of England Branch newsletter, the first of many I hope.

The East Midlands Branch re-opened in November 2022 by selecting volunteer members from the wider IIRSM community living or working within our region.

Our Branch includes counties of the East Midlands which are currently Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire.

There has been a massive response from the committee on obtaining speakers for our online seminars/presentation meetings, which included the following.

Monday 20 February 2023 we had a presentation on Self Discipline of Risk Management

On Wednesday 19 April 2023, we had a presentation on Protecting Your Mental Health and Dealing with Burnout

We will let everyone know when the next one is but we decided to hold off during the Holiday period

East of England Branch membership and followers increased this August by 120 people putting us on top of the IIRSM leader board and membership is the second biggest second only to the central London branch

Let's talk about CPD

Continuous Professional Development (CPD), updates and maintains the Knowledge and skills learned previously, such as Practices, Processes, Laws, Regulations, and Legislation which ensures continuing competence. CPD also encourages individuals to learn new Skills and Knowledge which can complement any new roles undertaken which are unfamiliar.

Within our area of work we should be working from a Level 4 and above, but what does that really mean?

Level 4 We should be able to address problems that are well-defined but complex and non-routine. as required in a certificate of higher education (CertHE)

Higher apprenticeship

Higher national certificate (HNC)

Level 4 award, certificate, diploma, or NVQ

Level 5 - We should be Practical, theoretical, or technologically knowledgeable and understand the subject or field of work as required in a diploma of higher education (DipHE)

Foundation degree

Higher national diploma (HND)

Level 5 award, certificate, diploma, or NVQ

Level 6 - Advanced practical, conceptual, or technological knowledge and understanding of a subject or field of work, as required within a degree apprenticeship or degree with honours - (for example bachelor of the arts (BA) Hons, bachelor of science (BSc) hons)

Graduate certificate or Graduate diploma

level 6 award, certificate, diploma, or NVQ

An ordinary degree without honors

Level 7 - Reformulation and use of practical, conceptual, or technological knowledge and understanding of a subject or field of work to create ways forward in contexts where there are many interacting factors such as in an integrated master’s degree, (for example master of engineering (MEng)

Level 7 award, certificate, diploma, or NVQ

Master’s degree, (for example master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc)

Postgraduate certificate

Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)

Postgraduate Diploma

When considering your CPD you should also consider the Quality, Relevance, and Level of the learning you are going to undertake and whether it is a tick-box exercise or something of real value and benefit to you moving forward within your chosen course of study.

We should always ground ourselves with the basics such as a Level 3 First Aid at Work that can be as valuable as a Diploma in Science, especially if it saves someone's life.

From a management perspective completing lower-level basic courses as a part of our CPD can help us understand what is actually being taught to our employees and whether it is taught competently and has sufficient relevance to our particular industry or sector. Remember nothing is out of bounds in CPD training or additional Qualification, if it has relevance to the Position held, Health, Safety, and Welfare of you and others.