UK National ‘Time To Talk Day’ 2024 – Post Office Ltd

Further to LTB’s 41/24 and 44/24 and our correspondence with the employers, Post Office Ltd shared with us their communication to the POL workforce supporting ‘Time To Talk Day’ 2024, (which belatedly arrived today). However, on the plus side, I’m pleased to report to all CWU POL Reps and Health & Wellbeing Ambassadors and Branches that the Post Office Ltd Health and Safety Director Martin Hopcroft has confirmed to the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department that across Post Office Ltd, the organisation was recognising the national ‘Time To Talk’ Campaign, driving the importance of having open wellbeing conversations each and every day, ongoing.

The Health and Wellbeing Ambassadors, CWU Reps, First Aiders and members have received the comms and been asked to drive local activity, working with the workforce in the Units, signposting the workforce to the ‘Workplace Wellbeing’ Website and helping employees understand the importance of having open mental health conversations and accessing the early support when its needed.

The POL Workplace Website ‘Healthy Mind’ Introduction states: – “We often take our mental health for granted, but like our physical health, if we neglect it we can experience problems and even become unwell. Our mental health affects how we think, feel and cope with life’s natural ups and downs. On this page, you will find some resources to help support your mental health.” The “No Health Without Mental Health” policy defines mental health as “a state of mind and body, feeling safe and able to cope, with a sense of connection with people, communities and the wider environment. Mental health, physical health, and emotional and social health are all linked, meaning that a mental health issue is also likely to affect the other areas of your health. There are Six self-help tips for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) plus videos, advice, guidance and resources available on the site.”

POL CWU Reps and members can also access a whole host of support material on the ‘Healthy Mind’ Post Office Ltd Workplace Wellbeing Website at:

Healthy Mind

Find out more about: ‘Time to Talk Day’ there also and get involved.

Reach out to friends, family members, or colleagues and ask how they’re doing. Let them know you’re there to listen and support them. The more conversations we have, the better life is for everyone.

If Post Office employees need support with mental health issues there are ‘Mental Health Ambassadors’ in Post Office Ltd, CWU Reps and ‘Mental Health First Aiders’ – ready to support. They do not act as therapists but are equipped to reassure and support colleagues in a caring and non-judgemental way and signpost people to appropriate [professional help where required.

For those in distress there are Helplines: – POL Employee Assistance helpline on 0800 6888 777 and alternatively there are the nationwide Mental Health Charity Helplines like Samaritans 24/7 Helpline: call 116 123 and MIND: 0300 123 3393 and ReThink Mental Health: 0800 801 0745.

About Time to Talk Day:

As detailed in LTBs 41/24 and 44/24, ‘Time to Talk Day’is held at the beginning of February every year. It is about helping people, workers, groups, communities etc. to come together to start to generate mental health conversations across the nation on the day but importantly to keep it going beyond that.

Taking place on Thursday 1st February 2024, it is a day that friends, families, communities, and workplaces and colleagues are encouraged to come together to talk, listen and help change lives. Time to Talk Day is the perfect opportunity to start a conversation about mental health.

We are again supporting the ‘Time to Talk Day’, national campaign which spotlights the importance of having more open, honest mental health conversations, encouraging people to have those conversations about how they’re feeling and to help combat the stigma that still exists around mental health plus seeking help and support.

We want to support the campaign’s aims which is to give everyone the opportunity to come together to talk, listen and change lives.  People talking about their mental health and how they are really feeling can be difficult.  But talking is crucially important! Mental Health charities and experts continually emphasise the point that the more conversations we have, the better life is for everyone.

Talking about mental health isn’t always easy and sometimes it’s even harder to say how you really feel. Sometimes it’s easier to just say we’re ‘fine’ than to open up. But an open conversation can be the first step towards better mental health and conversation has the power to change lives.

We know that mental health stigma has no place in the workplace – and yet, it continues to be a problem for workers. Speaking to workers about their mental health and creating a culture where people can talk openly will not only get the best out of people, but the different insights people can give can actually help achieve personal and organisational goals.

And sometimes it takes the effort and enthusiasm of the Union and workforce for employers and operational managers to sit up and take notice.

Run by the UK charities ‘Mind’ and ‘Rethink Mental Illness’, the day raises awareness of the importance of open conversations around mental health.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that nearly two million workers in Great Britain reported suffering ill-health as a result of their work in 2022/23, with around half these cases due to stress, depression or anxiety.

As well as workers who report mental ill-health, there may well be many individuals who have experiences and symptoms that employers are not even aware of.

Talking about mental health with work colleagues/Union members can be challenging, particularly as many worry about the stigma and prejudice that may come as a consequence of sharing their issues. If this results in workers not seeking the support they need, it can create more complex health needs. LTB 44/24 offers advice and useful guidance and tips from the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) on starting those conversations. Further detailed information is contained in LTB 41/24.

Attachment:

• POL Time To Talk Day Communication

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 050/24 – UK National ‘Time To Talk Day’ 2024 – Post Office Ltd

Att: Time To Talk Day

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Telecoms and Financial Services Conference 2024 – Submission of Motions

Attached with this Letter to Branches is the Motion form to be used for Telecoms and Financial Services conference 2024.   The purpose of this Letter to Branches is to remind those who do not have access to an e-mail facility that they must contact head office direct to request hard copies of the form to be dispatched to them.  They should contact Angela Niven on 020 8971 7256.

We would also remind Branches that the closing date for the submission of motions to this conference is noon Thursday 22^nd February 2024, by post, or by email to tfsmotions@cwu.org    PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS which was communicated in LTB 700/19 issued on 10^th December 2019.  If by email only motions emailed to the above email address will be accepted.

If sending Motions by post, Branches must ensure they use a signed for service which guarantees delivery by the closing date and time.

General guidance on the submission of motions to the Telecoms and Financial Services Conference 2024 is attached to this LTB.

Branches are urged to note their entitlement to submit motions which is detailed in the guidance notes (also attached). Branches who exceed this entitlement risk all their submitted motions being ruled out of order.

Branches and the TFSE are reminded that the Standing Orders Committee will not alter or amend any of the motions submitted therefore it is important that motions are checked before they are submitted.

Any queries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to Angela Niven at Head Office.

Yours sincerely,

A J Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

24LTB048 – Telecom and Financial Services – Submission of Motions

Guidance Notes TFS 2024

Motion-Form-TFS-2024

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NEW CWU WORKPLACE BULLETIN – FOR WIDEST CIRCULATION POSSIBLE

Please find attached and in the links below, issue one of the new CWU workplace bulletin – Your Voice in the Workplace.

These will be produced monthly for members in both the Telecoms and Financial Services and Postal constituencies. We are working closely with the industrial departments on this.

We believe that a written communication into every workplace on a regular basis will be very impactful for the union and useful for representatives and members.

The bulletins will be shared with Branches who will have the responsibility for their printing and onward distribution. We understand that some telecoms branches will want to Email the bulletin to members where they do not have a workplace.

We also understand that some Branches do not have printing facilities. If that is the case, then please contact Marcia Murray mmurray@cwu.organd we can discuss the options available for printing them and dispatching to Branches.

After each edition is shared, we will leave a gap in time before sharing the publications online and letting members know to look out for them in their workplaces.

We are also planning for some future editions to have space allocated for Branches to add in your own local content.

The primary and key focus of the unions communications strategy in recent years has been to reach the workplace. The new bulletin enhances that plan.

Thank you in advance for your support in distribution this new communication. Thanks also go to our Editor, Karl Stewart for his hard work getting this off the ground.

Postal Bulletin https://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/08020-your-voice-RMG-01.pdf

Telecoms and Financial Services Bulletin https://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/08019-your-voice-BTG-01.pdf

Yours sincerely,

Dave Ward
General Secretary

Chris Webb
Head of Communications

24LTB048 NEW CWU WORKPLACE BULLETIN – FOR WIDEST CIRCULATION POSSIBLE

Issue1 RMG version

Issue1 BTG version

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Policy Documents ahead of the National Briefing on 8^th February 2024

Please find attached two Policy Documents discussed and influenced by the Senior Field Officials, which have now been agreed by the Postal Executive. We will explain our combined strategy at the National Briefing on 8^th February 2024.

The Policy Documents are:

1. How the CWU Reconnects in the Workplace.
2. How the CWU Recruit and Organise in the Workplace and Beyond.

There is no denying that many members believe the Agreement was served cold to them and that it did not mirror the sacrifices they had made.  If you then add in the fact that Royal Mail imposed executive action on a scale never seen before, which has had a massive impact on our members in the workplace, it is hardly surprising that some members have been critical of the Union nationally.

The Reconnect strategy is one of re-engagement with the members in their workplaces. The Postal Executive including the Postal Officers have committed to visiting three different units per month and we have asked the Senior Field Officials to do the same.

The first object of the visit is to explain to the members why the Agreement was a far better option than the alternative. The reality is that, for the company to continue to be a going concern, they had to introduce a business plan. The choice for the Union was, did we negotiate and mitigate that business plan or, did we watch as Royal Mail imposed a business plan based on their original strategy without any safeguards including over pay.

It is also worth explaining to those who believe further strike action was the answer that we would have possibly pushed Royal Mail into administration resulting in thousands of compulsory redundancies.

Our experience is that, once the above is explained to the members; they will be more aware of the reasons why the CWU reached the Agreement.

The second point of the visit is to understand the local issues which are occurring in the workplace, whether that be a failed revision, quality of service problems, bullying in the workplace or a supernumerary issue. The aim then is to work collectively with the Branch and Division to help resolve some of these issues.

Running in tandem with the Reconnect strategy is our Recruitment strategy. The CWU in the Postal section of the Union is facing the perfect storm. We have the highest non-membership levels we have ever seen, alongside which we have only 16% membership density amongst new entrants.

The Union will not survive if we do not all tackle the above. The recruitment of members can no longer be a spectator sport. Where Reps who cover positions in Industrial, Health and Safety, Political or Equality say they do not do recruitment – every Rep must now recognise that, without playing a role in recruiting new members, this Union will simply cease to exist.

At the Briefing on 8^th February, we will also give you a slide presentation on the differences between contracts prior to December 2022, and those the employer imposed after that date. We are also in the process of holding our first meeting with the business on the Joint Working Group to improve the terms and conditions of new entrants.

We look forward to seeing you at the National Briefing.

Yours sincerely,                                                        Yours sincerely,

Martin Walsh                                                            Dave Ward
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)                   General Secretary

24LTB047 – Policy Documents – National Briefing 8 Feb 2024

Policy Document – Reconnecting with the Workplace – National Briefing 8 Feb 2024

Policy Document – Recruitment and Organising National Briefing 8 Feb 2024

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SUBMISSION OF MOTIONS TO GENERAL CONFERENCE 2024

Further to LTB 307/23 issued on 27^th Novemberinviting Branches to submit motions to General Conference and 345/23 issued on 22^nd December 2023 postponing General Conference, Branches and submitting bodies would wish to know that it has been agreed by the Standing Orders Committee that the closing dates for submission of motions to General Conference of 1^st February 2024 no longer applies.

Once a new date and venue has been agreed by the NEC for General Conference details will be circulated regarding the closing date for submission of motions.

It has also been decided to move the closing date for the Rules Revision Conference proposals as advertised in LTB 308/23 from noon on Thursday 14^th March 2024 to noon on Monday 18^th March 2024.   This will allow Branches and Regions the maximum time available to submit rule proposals.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to Angela Niven by telephoning 020 8971 7256 or by email to conferences@cwu.org

Yours sincerely,

A P Kearns
Senior Deputy General Secretary

24LTB046 – Submission of General Conference Motions

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Election of Parcelforce Worldwide Regional Organiser, Parcelforce Worldwide Substitute Regional Organiser 2024

Further to LTB 36/24 dated 26^th January 2024 CWU Headquarters have been advised of the withdrawal of Michael Mezza from the Parcelforce  Worldwide Regional Organiser for Scotland, NI & NE Region.

John Meehan is therefore elected unopposed.

Martin Burgess from Plymouth & East Cornwall was shown as elected as both Parcelforce Worldwide Regional Organiser for South Central Wales and South West Region and also for the Substitute Position.

Martin Burgess has been elected as Parcelforce Worldwide Regional Organiser for South Central Wales and South West Region leaving a vacancy for the Substitute Regional Organiser for this Region.

Scotland NI & NE RegionJohn MeehanGlasgow & District Amal*Elected Unopposed

SUBSTITUTE REGIONAL ORGANISERS

South Central Wales & South West RegionVacant 

Any enquiries regarding this Letter to Branches should be addressed to the Senior Deputy General Secretary’s Department on telephone number 020 8971 7237, or email address sdgs@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Kearns

Senior Deputy General Secretary

LTB 045/24

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Time to Talk Day 2024’ – Thursday 1 February 2024 Theme: “What I Really Mean”

About Time to Talk Day

Time to Talk Day is held at the beginning of February every year. It is about helping people and communities to come together to have the nation’s biggest mental health conversation day and keep it going beyond that.

Taking place on Thursday 1st February 2024, it is a day that friends, families, communities, and workplaces and colleagues are encouraged to come together to talk, listen and help change lives. Time to Talk Day is the perfect opportunity to start a conversation about mental health.

So for ‘Time to Talk Day’ this year, we are again supporting the ‘Time to Talk Day’, national campaign which spotlights the importance of having more open, honest mental health conversations, encouraging people to have those conversations about how they’re feeling and to help combat the stigma that still exists around mental health.

We want to support the campaign’s aims which is to give everyone the opportunity to come together to talk, listen and change lives.  People talking about their mental health and how they are really feeling can be difficult.  But talking is crucially important! Mental Health charities and experts continually emphasise the point that the more conversations we have, the better life is for everyone.

Talking about mental health isn’t always easy and sometimes it’s even harder to say how you really feel. Sometimes it’s easier to just say we’re ‘fine’ than to open up. But an open conversation can be the first step towards better mental health and conversation has the power to change lives.

We know that mental health stigma has no place in the workplace – and yet, it continues to be a problem for workers. Speaking to workers about their mental health and creating a culture where people can talk openly will not only get the best out of people, but the different insights people can give can actually help achieve personal and organisational goals.

And sometimes it takes the effort and enthusiasm of the Union and workforce for employers and operational managers to sit up and take notice.

2024 ‘Time To Talk Theme’

The theme for this year’s campaign is “what I really mean”, highlighting that the words people say don’t always reflect what’s going on beneath the surface.

Please remember these key points: 

• 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year.
• Too many of us are made to feel isolated, worthless and ashamed because of this.
• The combination of a relentless news cycles and cost of living crisis is only making it harder to look after our mental health.
• Talking openly and honestly about our mental health is good for our wellbeing and helps bust myths and break down barriers.
• Listening without judgement when someone opens up to you has the power to change a life.

Resource Packs

For 2024, the organising charities will once again have printed ‘Time To Talk’ Day resource packs to order from their website, delivered by post including downloadable materials, posters, leaflets, resources and information with ideas on what can be done in the campaign etc., all designed and available to order to help those involved in activities and awareness raising, and to have important conversations about mental health. 

Get everything you need here to get involved. Here you can download a host of materials to help with the ‘Time To Talk’ start mental health conversations campaign in the workplace. You’ll find posters, postcards, social media tiles, conversation starters, bunting and much more. There are different versions available for each UK nation (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), so please use what fits best for you. Use the ‘Time To Talk Day’ resource pack to start your wellbeing conversations campaign.

Link: https://timetotalkday.co.uk/download-a-pack/

Time To Talk Day Organising Charities Resource Packs and Materials

Time to Talk Day is run by the charities ‘Rethink Mental Illness’ and ‘Mind’, and is being delivered across the UK, by ‘See Me’ in Scotland, ‘Inspire’ in Northern Ireland and ‘Time to Change Wales’.  Further detailed information webpages have been set up at the following links:

MIND: https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/time-to-talk-day-2024/

ReThink Mental Health: https://timetotalkday.co.uk/

Scotland: https://www.seemescotland.org/

Northern Ireland (Inspire): https://www.inspirewellbeing.org/

Wales (Time to Change Wales): https://www.timetochangewales.org.uk/en/

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

24LTB041 Time to Talk Day – Thursday 1 February 2024 Theme What I Really Mean

Poster-1-Not-too-bad

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UK National ‘Time To Talk Day’ 1 February 2024 – Tips for Talking About Mental Health with Workers

Further to LTB041/24, The UK will hold the nation’s biggest annual mental health conversation, ‘Time to Talk Day’, on 1 February 2024.

Run by the UK charities ‘Mind’ and ‘Rethink Mental Illness’, the day raises awareness of the importance of open conversations around mental health.

The Health and Safety Executive reported that nearly two million workers in Great Britain reported suffering ill-health as a result of their work in 2022/23, with around half these cases due to stress, depression or anxiety.

As well as workers who report mental ill-health, there may well be many individuals who have experiences and symptoms that employers are not even aware of.

Talking about mental health with work colleagues/Union members can be challenging, particularly as many worry about the stigma and prejudice that may come as a consequence of sharing their issues. If this results in workers not seeking the support they need, it can create more complex health needs.

IOSH (Institute of Occupational Health) has put together some tips from its Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing course to help start to change lives this 2024 ‘Time to Talk Day.’

It’s ‘Time to Talk’

The course recommends that one way of improving mental ill-health in the workplace can be an open, one-to-one discussion, as advocated by ‘Time to Talk’ Day. Here are some tips around the best approach that you can use and share.

• Offer reassurance. Be mindful that not everyone will want to talk straight away. Let them know what support is available and that when they feel able to talk, support will be there.
• When someone is ready to talk, choose an appropriate place, somewhere private and quiet. Find an environment that will put the person at ease, either at work or outside of work.
• Encourage people to talk – ask simple, open questions and let them speak in their own words.
• Ask what they think may be the cause of their feelings, how it affects their life and work, and what support they are getting or need.
• Don’t make assumptions. They may not need help or may feel they are able to manage. Support might only be needed every now and again, during difficult periods.
• Listen carefully. Make sure that the person, and not their problem, is the focus. Adapt the support to suit them, involve them in finding solutions and check what workplace adjustments you can offer before you have the conversation.
• Ensure confidentiality so that they know what is said will be kept as confidential as possible. If you feel you need to share the information with specific people, such as Employers Occupational Health, Safety Health & Environment or HR teams, make sure you get the person’s agreement first.
• Develop an individual action plan that suits the person and their needs. It can help to identify triggers, impacts on work, who to contact in a crisis, what support they need and also ways to monitor things.
• Encourage the person to seek help themselves – many organisations have employee assistance programmes within their employee health structure that can offer counselling or access to helplines.
• Seek advice and support from HR or occupational health if you feel unable to offer the support and advice needed.
• Be honest and clear. If there are concerns about high absence levels or low performance, these need to be addressed at an early stage.

Guidance and Resources:

• TUC ’Mental Health and The Workplace’ – Mental health and the workplace is an increasingly important issue for trade unions. The TUC has published a second edition of their ‘Mental Health and the Workplace’ guide and educational workbook which has been updated to keep pace with the changing world of work. The workbook is for all Union Reps and helps to explain what they can do to support those in the workplace with mental health problems. This workbook is intended to be used actively – in courses, at branch meetings and in informal discussions. As well as being an information resource, it seeks to ask questions to stimulate discussion and debate so that individuals and groups can act on their commitment to challenge mental health discrimination, stigma and promote equality wherever they work and in their communities. Download a copy at:
  https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/TUC-MENTAL_HEALTH_WORKPLACE.pdf
• MIND & Rethink Mental Health’s ‘Time To Talk Day’excellent website full of information, support paths, resources, recommended for everyone including Trade Unions, workplaces, Mental Health First Aiders and Ambassadors, schools, youth and community groups and individuals. Here you can download a host of materials and guidance to help start mental health conversations at:
  https://timetotalkday.co.uk/
• The Mental Health Foundation offer an ‘A-Z Topic List’ of information on Men and mental health with, they say, one in eight men having a common mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). You can learn about how to assist those with feelings of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure at – How people can help themselves and – How to get professional help:
  https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/blogs/stress-its-time-talk

• IOSH’s Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing Course provides practical advice and tools that will help managers understand why it is important to manage fluctuations in workers’ health, what the causes of ill-health can be and how to recognise when employees may be unwell. More information at: 
  https://iosh.com/employees/awareness-courses/managing-occupational-health-and-wellbeing/
• IOSH/CIPD Tools: Sponsored by IOSH, the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) and the Affinity Health at Work Research Consortium, resources and tools are available on ‘Developing managers for engagement and Wellbeing’ at:
  https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/reports/developing-managers-report/#gref
• The Mental Health Promotion and Intervention in Occupational Settings (MENTUPP) has produced hubs for small-medium enterprises (SMEs) to deliver online training to managers and employees around clinical and non-clinical mental ill-health and the related stigma. More information at:
  https://www.mentuppproject.eu/mentupp-hub/#benefits

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 044/24 –  UK National Time To Talk Day 1 February 2024 – Tips for Talking About Mental Health with Workers

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Heart Month – February 2024

In the UK, someone dies from a heart or circulatory condition every three minutes.

Whether it’s losing a loved one, family member, friend or colleague, to sudden cardiac arrest or coping with the devastating impact of heart failure, far too many people have felt the pain of heart and circulatory conditions. But during February’s ‘Heart Month’ with help and support from as many people as possible, organisers of Heart Month, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) hope that together we can collectively give more hearts a chance.

Heart Month 2024 is an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness about heart health and cardiovascular diseases and more recently campaigning on CPR and Defibrillators with their ‘RevirR’ tool and on-line training for all.

Effective use of a CPR and a defibrillator can more than double the chances of survival after a cardiac arrest.  People can learn how to give ‘life- saving’ CPR and how to use a defibrillator in just 15 minutes with ‘RevirR -a free easy to use digital tracking tool.’ People can complete it at home and all that’s needed is a mobile phone and a cushion to practice on.

CPR and Defibrillators: how to save a life (‘RevirR’)

A cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. CPR keeps the blood pumping while help arrives and a defibrillator gives an electric shock to restore the heart’s normal rhythm. Cardiac arrests can happen to anyone at any time.

The BHF resources here can be used to learn how to do lifesaving CPR and how to use a defibrillator in an emergency.

Link to this excellent Webpage is: – https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life

Subject matter covered is:

CPR:

On the special British Heart Foundation (BHF) Webpage that’s been specially designed and set, anyone can now learn how to do CPR.

People can:

• Read a step-by-step guide to CPRand learn how to do CPR quickly using these simple instructions.
• Complete the Free interactive CPR training on-line and Learn CPR at home in 15 minutes using just a cushion and a mobile phone or tablet.

Defibrillators: 

Here People can:

• Learn about defibrillators and read about what defibrillators are, how to use them and why they’re so important.
• Find a defibrillator near you by searching the BHF’s national directory to see where your nearest defibrillator is located.
• Learn about the BHF’s defibrillator funding programme for community groups to apply for a fully-funded defibrillator.

Teach others how to do CPR:

Here People can:

• Access Free training resources – for teaching CPR. These can be used in workplaces, communities, schools and organisations. This covers how CPR and defibrillators work together. When somebody is in cardiac arrest, using CPR and a defibrillator together gives them the best chance of survival.

Learn all about Cardiac arrests and how to help a victim of cardiac arrest at: https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life

Attachments:

• BHF Heart Attack Quick Guide.
• BHF Health and Work Factsheet and Information Sheet.

Royal Mail Group will be supporting Heart Month and communications will carry the attached ‘footer’ message.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

LTB 043/24 – Heart Month – February 2024

Att: BHF_heart_attack_quick_guide

Att: bhf-health at work fact and info sheet

Att: ROYAL MAIL GROUP FOOTER MESSAGE

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Royal Mail Group – First Aid Re-Qualification Courses Availability (Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981)

Would all ASRs and WSRs bring this LTB to the attention of all First Aiders in their Constituency Units and Groups as soon as possible.

The First Aid at Work Requalification Training Course updates the first aid skills of those who need to renew their First Aid at Work certificate. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) strongly recommends that you requalify within a month of your certificate expiring.

This 2-day first aid re-qualification course re-qualifies individuals as a first aider if their original First Aid at Work certificate is about to expire, and will re-qualify you as a first aider at work for another 3 years.

Alongside meeting health and safety regulations, a first aider’s skills will also be refreshed to keep them sharp and ready in the event of a first aid emergency. This is especially vital if 3 years have passed since the original training and some may no longer feel confident enough to accurately apply life saving techniques during a major emergency. By renewing these skills with this first aid re-qualification course, it ensures that First Aiders will be able to act decisively in emergency, high-stress situations where a colleague has had an accident or fallen ill.

Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981

The course is HSE recommended and complies with Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations and the approved code of practice L74 guidelines for the re-qualification of workplace first aiders.

In order for delegates to be able to sit the 2 Day Requalification First Aid at Work Training course delegates’ certificates must have expired for no more than 7 days of the expiry date.

Course Content

This 2-day course includes course materials, expert tutoring and practical exercises to give learners in-depth re-qualification training.

Course Certificate

Upon successful completion, an Ofqual approved and nationally recognised First Aid at Work Certificate which is valid for 3 years will be issued.

Course Dates for Requalification

Royal Mail Group have the attached list of courses planned for anyone due to requalify January-March 2024. Those courses with less than the minimum of 50% course fill not having been reached (6 people) are at risk of being cancelled and we are therefore wishing to raise awareness of availability and would urge those eligible to apply as soon as possible.

NOTE: If the existing First Aider doesn’t sit the requalification course and still wants to be a First Aider they will need to sit the full course.  Please share and raise awareness in an attempt to fill the courses to their minimum requirement.

For Further information, Unit Managers/PiCs can contact Rachel Shepperd, Business Learning Planner, Rachel.Sheppard@royalmail.com

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

24LTB042 Royal Mail Group – First Aid Re-Qualification Courses Availability

ROYAL MAIL GROUP FIRST AID REQUALIFICATION COURSE AVAILABILITY

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