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Which First Aid Course Do I Need? | Complete Guide for Businesses, Parents & Care Providers

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What’s the Right First Aid Course for You or Your Organisation?

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Which first aid course do I need?”, you’re not alone. With so many options and regulatory requirements, it can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down the different types of first aid training so you can make the right choice for your workplace, care setting, or family.

Why Choosing the Correct Course Matters

Selecting the right course is about more than ticking a box. It makes a difference in three key ways:

Compliance – Under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, employers must provide adequate first aid provision. Choosing the wrong course could leave you exposed during inspections by the HSE or CQC.

Confidence – The right training ensures you and your staff know what to do when it matters most. Emergencies are stressful, and confidence only comes with relevant, practical training.

Relevance – Different courses are designed for different risks. What works in an office may not be enough for a nursery or a care home.

First Aid Course Options

1. Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)

  • Best for: Low-risk workplaces (offices, shops, small businesses)

  • Duration: 1 day

  • Covers: Adult CPR (including AED use), choking, bleeding, seizures, shock, and minor injuries

  • Why choose it: Provides the basics for common workplace emergencies

👉 Learn more: HSE Guidance – First Aid at Work

2. First Aid at Work (FAW)

  • Best for: Higher-risk workplaces (construction, manufacturing, larger organisations)

  • Duration: 3 days

  • Covers: All EFAW content plus fractures, burns, head and spinal injuries, chest injuries, eye injuries, and major illnesses (heart attack, stroke, asthma, diabetes, anaphylaxis)

  • Why choose it: Comprehensive training that covers complex risks

3. Paediatric First Aid (PFA)

  • Best for: Nurseries, schools, childminders, and anyone working with children under the EYFS statutory framework

  • Duration: 2 days (or blended learning with one day online + one day practical)

  • Covers: Infant and child CPR, choking, allergic reactions, seizures, asthma, meningitis, burns, fevers, and common childhood emergencies

  • Why choose it: Mandatory for childcare providers and invaluable for parents and carers

4. Basic Life Support (BLS) & CPR Training

  • Best for: GP practices, dental surgeries, care homes, and healthcare staff

  • Duration: 2–3 hours

  • Covers: Adult/child CPR, safe AED use, and choking management

  • Why choose it: Meets CQC expectations and ensures staff stay confident in life-saving skills

👉 Reference: Resuscitation Council UK – Quality Standards

5. Parent & Community First Aid

  • Best for: Parents, grandparents, babysitters, and community groups

  • Duration: 2 hours

  • Covers: Infant/child CPR, choking, burns, fevers, allergic reactions, and common household emergencies

  • Why choose it: Affordable and practical — offering peace of mind at home

Training Levels: HSE and Sector Regulations

Different organisations need different levels of training. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

A small office with low risks may only need Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW).

Larger or higher-risk settings, such as factories or care services, usually require First Aid at Work (FAW).

Childcare providers must follow the EYFS statutory framework, which makes Paediatric First Aid mandatory.

Healthcare providers are expected by the CQC to ensure staff are up to date with Basic Life Support (BLS).

👉 In short: your course should match both HSE guidance and your sector’s regulatory standards.

How to Decide Which Course You Need

Do a First Aid Needs Assessment
– Employers must assess risks, staff numbers, shift patterns, and workplace hazards.
– See HSE’s First Aid Needs Assessment guidance for more detail.

Check Regulatory Requirements
– Childcare? You’ll need Paediatric First Aid.
– Healthcare settings? Regular BLS training is expected.
– Businesses? EFAW or FAW depending on risks.

Think About Confidence and Relevance
– Would staff know what to do in a real-life emergency?
– Does the course include scenarios you’re most likely to face?

Talk to Us
– At Training In Partnership, we’ll guide you to the right course for your organisation or personal needs.
– We cover Andover, Hampshire, the South of England, and beyond with flexible training options.

Why Book with Training In Partnership?

✅ Regulated qualifications (Qualsafe approved)

✅ Trainers with 30+ years’ health and social care experience

✅ Flexible delivery: face-to-face, blended, or eLearning

✅ Open courses in Andover and on-site training across the South of England

✅ Tailored to your organisation’s policies and procedures

👉 Book your course today
👉 Contact us for advice

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What’s the difference between Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) and First Aid at Work (FAW)?
A: EFAW is a 1-day course covering life-threatening emergencies in low-risk settings. FAW is a 3-day course that includes all EFAW content plus additional topics like fractures, head injuries, and major illnesses — suitable for higher-risk workplaces.

Q: Is Paediatric First Aid mandatory for nurseries and schools?
A: Yes, under the EYFS statutory framework, at least one person with a valid Paediatric First Aid certificate must be present on site and available at all times when children are in care.

Q: How often should first aid training be renewed?
A: Most workplace first aid certificates are valid for 3 years. However, the HSE recommends annual refresher training to keep skills sharp.

Q: Do healthcare staff need Basic Life Support (BLS) training?
A: Yes. The CQC expects all healthcare staff to receive regular, up-to-date BLS training in line with Resuscitation Council UK standards.

Now Delivering RRN/BILD Certified PMVA Training

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Melonie Hall Achieves Senior Trainer Status – Now Delivering RRN & BILD Certified PMVA (Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression) Training

We’re proud to announce that Melonie Hall, founder and lead trainer at Training in Partnership, has achieved her Senior Trainer qualification through TEACH Safety – enabling us to deliver industry-recognised PMVA (Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression) Training, certified by the:

✅ Restraint Reduction Network (RRN)
✅ British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD)

This certification means our training meets national benchmarks for best practice in the reduction of restrictive practices across health, social care, and education.

What This Means for You

Training in Partnership can now provide:
– RRN-certified PMVA (Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression) Training, recognised by CQC and Ofsted
– Evidence-based content rooted in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and trauma-informed care
– Courses led by a qualified Senior Trainer through TEACH Safety
– Certification under the BILD ACT Framework, ensuring compliance and quality assurance

Prevention First – Intervention When Necessary

Our training is designed to:
– Minimise the need for physical intervention
– Promote proactive, preventative approaches using Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
– Empower staff to de-escalate challenging situations with confidence and compassion

However, we also recognise that some situations may require physical interventions to maintain safety. Our training includes:
– Ethical and legally defensible techniques
– Clear guidance on when and how to intervene safely
– Reflection and learning processes to help reduce recurrence

Training Needs Assessment – Tailored to You

Before delivery, we carry out a Training Needs Assessment (TNA) with your organisation to ensure:
– Training is matched to your environment, risks, and workforce roles
– Interventions taught are proportionate and appropriate
– The course reflects your own behaviour support strategies and safeguarding policies

No two services are the same – and our training is never off-the-shelf.

About Melonie Hall

Melonie brings over 30 years of experience in:
– Health and social care, from support worker to senior trainer
– Leading services that put dignity, respect, and human rights at the centre of care
– Creating safe spaces for open learning, reflective practice, and staff empowerment

“Achieving Senior Trainer status is a proud moment – but more importantly, it means I can help services reduce restraint and build safer, more compassionate cultures of care.”

Book Your Training Today

We’re now taking bookings for:
– In-house RRN and BILD Certified PMVA (Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression) Training
– Open courses for individuals across care and education
– Bespoke programmes shaped by your Training Needs Assessment

📧 Email: Hello@traininginpartnership.co.uk
🌐 Website: www.traininginpartnership.co.uk

Promoting safety, dignity, and understanding – one team at a time.
Every person, every day.

– TeachSafer RRN Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression

– TeachSafer RRN Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression Refresher Course

– TeachSafer RRN Services for Children and Young Adults

 

Exciting New Look for Training In Partnership

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We’re thrilled to share that we’re launching a fresh new brand identity, crafted in partnership with Bear Behind.

Working closely together, we’ve been busy creating a modern, professional look that reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality training and support.

Our rebrand celebrates everything we specialise in – First Aid, Health & Safety, Health & Social Care (including Child Care), Mental Health, and Wellbeing.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Benefits of Online Learning

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Having worked in the health and social care and training sectors in excess of 30 years, I am well aware of the difficulties organisations and managers face in relation to training, these include space constraints, cost and compliance issues, and staff absences, to name just a few.

For a number of years, online learning has been frowned upon, often because of the negative connotation of the click through course model, where the learner merely clicks through a number of static slides to an endpoint where a certificate of attendance is received. Thankfully online learning has moved on a lot from this point with online courses containing interactive content, video and both formative and summative assessments. Not to mention the ability of organisations to view metrics and data on each individual learner, often identifying knowledge gaps and enabling more targeted individualised training plans.

So, what are the benefits of Online learning?

There are no doubts that there are some more technical, in-depth practical training that, despite the increasingly interactive nature of on-line courses, remain more suited to the classroom environment, however, it is still possible to utilise online content using blended learning.

Flexibility
It doesn’t matter if the learner works days, nights or evenings, or if they have other commitments, the course can be accessed and completed around these. Materials are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, therefore it gives the ultimate in flexibility and convenience in relation to location as well as time.

Reduction in cost
Online training is more cost-effective for organisations, it can help decrease costs not only in line with the course cost itself but the costs that surround the training such as travel, venue, and shift cover. The training can be attended at a time suitable for the individual, unlike booking a face to face onsite course where if a member of staff cannot attend for any reason then another training would need to be organised.

More focus
The individuals learning style will have an impact on how well that individual absorbs information, within a classroom setting with a wide range of learning styles and ability levels it can be hard to keep the focus of all, even when offering extension activities. Online learning enables all learners to work at their own pace, reviewing the information provided multiple times if needed. This, coupled with the ability to use social media to discuss course content with other learners and the assigned tutor, can only lead to an enhanced learning experience.

Consistent learning
Using online materials ensures that all learners receive the same quality of materials and information, unlike some face to face training where the information provided by one trainer will differ from that given by another.
Measurable evidenced outcomes
Enables measurable feedback on attainment and knowledge, using summative and formative assessment data and course analytics; which can vary dependent on the individual organisations requirements from time spent on course, questions answered correctly to overall attainment levels.

Group management
Training In Partnership are able to provide organisations with their own group management area where these statistics can be viewed on-demand.

Online learning doesn’t have to be just multiple question answers, it also encompasses distance learning options where the course is completed at the learner’s pace using online content, but the open assignment/essay-style questions are marked by a tutor, and feedback is given before any certificate is received.

As with all methods of learning online has its disadvantages, but on the whole, with good management, a level of online training will be of benefit to learners and form a great addition to face to face or virtual classroom training.

Why not contact us for more information or visit or online courses page.

 

Training Formats The Pros and Cons

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Our pricing structure is simple and transparent, we are also able to offer training in several different formats including:

Virtual training

Where
• Anywhere with a stable internet connection, your staff can study from the comfort of their own home or a location of your choosing, staff can either join in a group using a laptop with a webcam, speakers and tv or monitor or individually using individual devices (mobile phones can be used but we suggest using tablets or laptops as this will give a better experience to the learner).

Pro’s
• Learn anywhere
• Remote learning so minimising the risks to staff and individuals who use the service of outside.
• Learners from multiple locations can learn at the same time, building stronger teams across locations and ensuring constancy as well as minimising training and travel costs.
• Can be attended by those who are unable to attend training center or office location.
• Recording of sessions for a recap of learning (may require additional subscription costs).

Con’s
• If virtual learning is undertaken using just one device for a whole group it can be hard for the trainer to see all learners, so more thought has to be given to room layout.
• Reliant on a good internet connection.

What’s required
• A stable internet connection.
• An internet/Wi-Fi enabled device with screen and speakers or earphones (mobile phones can be used but we suggest using tablets or laptops as this will give a better experience to the learner).
• An appropriately quiet environment in which to attend the virtual training course.
• Log in details including password.

Face to face

Where
• At your chosen venue (with space and facilities).
• At one of our open course locations.

Pro’s
• Pros On-site in a controllable setting.
• Practical assessments can take place effectively.

Con’s
• Space constraints may leading to increased costs if numbers need to be limited.
• Cost of travel for staff members.

What’s required
• Area large enough to accommodate staff and trainer in a safe way (dependent o n course activity.
• TV (with HDMI or VGA connection) or area for a projector screen, Table for laptop and projector if required.

E-Learning

Where
• Home or workplace-based.

Pro’s
• Can be attended at a time suitable for the learner.
• An be completed in bite-sized chunks.
• Instant graded certificates.
• Individual learning and interactions can be tracked via weekly reports or group management access (may require additional subscription costs).

Con’s
• Learners need to self-manage learning.
• No interactions with others.

What’s required
• An internet/Wi-Fi enabled device with screen and speakers or earphones (mobile phones can be used but we suggest using tablets or laptops as this will give a better experience to the learner).
• An appropriately quiet environment in which to attend the virtual training course.

Distance Learning

Where
• Home or workplace-based.

Pro’s
• Can be online or paper-based.
• If online Individual learning and interactions can be tracked via weekly reports or group management access (may require additional subscription costs).
• Can be completed at a time suitable for the learner.
• An be completed in bite-sized chunks.
• Submissions tutor-marked and feedback returned.

Con’s
• Learners need to self-manage learning.
• No interactions with others.
What’s required
• If using E-learning an internet/Wi-Fi enabled device with screen and speakers or earphones (mobile phones can be used but we suggest using tablets or laptops as this will give a better experience to the learner).
• If using paper-based course material this will need to be printed.
• An appropriately quiet environment in which to attend the virtual training course.