The new rule means that employers must report any accidents/occurences which result in incapacitation/absence for more than seven consecutive days (this was previously 3 days).  Employers are still required to keep a record of all over three day injuries in an accident book.

For more information on the changes or to find out more about the rules on reporting workplace injuries, you can read this brief guide:

RIDDOR update April 2012

‘Louis had been unemployed for 6 months when he started on the Preparing for Work course and he undertook a work ‘taster’ within a different sector to that he had chosen. While at the academy, he showed lots of positive qualities, helping both his tutor and other learners within their group. Louis made excellent progress during the workshops and at his work ‘taster’, successfully securing full time employment within the company. Louis has been a pleasure to have at the academy.’

‘Gemma joined Aspiration Training earlier in the funding year to support learners in a completely new area of activity. Whilst she was given some third-party support, much of the responsibility for initiating this new route fell on Gemma. Quiet, efficient, determined, hard-working and an increasingly invaluable member of the team, Gemma has made a huge contribution to the business since she joined. This nomination is about recognising and thanking Gemma for excellent work over a number of months.’

‘Phil is an increasingly long serving health and social care assessor who has, for much of his period of employment, faced many challenges within the team. Nonetheless, he has always supported his candidates well with consistently high achievement levels. A while ago, Phil inherited a number of candidates from a colleague and although initially struggled to progress in an ideal manner, he has latterly, made more and more progress. Last week was a seminal time with five full achievers – excellent progress and an excellent achievement. Thank you and well done Phil’.

‘When Sameena first started on the Preparing for Work course she was very shy and lacked self-esteem. As she progressed through the course, Sameena showed commitment and motivation, never giving up on her goals and aspirations. Despite experiencing a bereavement, she never missed a workshop as she did not want to miss any course work or fall behind. Sameena has shown true dedication, achieving her qualification on time and has been successful in securing a place for her apprenticeship.’

‘Pam has demonstrated flexibility in her role within the company. Pam’s usual role is a tutor but she has happily stepped into a recruitment role upon request, once again demonstrating that she is a team player, not only within her immediate team, but within Aspiration Training as a whole.

A huge thank you to Pam for her continued commitment to both the company and your colleagues’.

‘Sughra took on a brand new job role at the academy in central Birmingham in September 2011, delivering the employability course. Since then she has thrown herself into the role with great enthusiasm, is extremely accommodating and always hard-working. Additionally, Sughra’s experience in IT has helped Aspiration Training gain direct claims for one of the new awards.

Sughra is such a lovely person with a bubbly personality and is always smiling.  She is a pleasure to work with and deserves recognition for how much she does for everyone – she is always at hand and is a valued member of the team.  A truly deserved nominee.’

Alyson has worked for Aspiration Training in Wales for nearly six years and in that time she has continually demonstrated her loyalty and commitment.  In the contract year to August 2011, it was identified that there was a need to recruit a significant additional number of learners in order to fulfill the contract. Alyson took the news in her stride, calmly agreed that this could and would be done and set about marketing and making appointments.  As to be expected, Alyson achieved the revised recruitment plan and ensured the 2010/11 contract was fulfilled. 

At the start of the 2011/12 contract year, Aspiration Training was fortunate enough to acquire a new route and an additional 60 starts in a brand new sector.  Again, Alyson set about recruiting the first cohort without any complaints.

It would be so easy to take Alyson for granted as she is accepting, compliant and motivated.  Thus it is important to pause and pay Alyson her dues for the outstanding work that she has undertaken in both of the examples above and her unwavering faith in Aspiration Training as an employer.  Congratulations on a year of outstanding performance – a personal best for our Business Development Manager, Alyson Dale.

The excitement built as a field of twelve reduced to four and then two and, finally, the winner, Leanne Bailey, nominated by Sue Taylor, a member of her team. A summary of Sue’s nomination is as follows:

‘Leanne has been central to the success of the health and social care team in England over many months through what has been an extremely demanding time. Her recent promotion to team leader left her managing her remaining learners (virtually a full caseload) while taking on her management responsibility. To cap it all, Leanne puts in extra time to fulfil her internal verification role and still smiles! Leanne could not give any more to the company and is a very worthy nomination for the Employee of the Year award.’

Congratulations to Leanne and also to Safwaan Ebrahim who achieved second place.