Institute of Qualified Lifeguards (IQL)

The Institute of Qualified Lifeguards (IQL) is an external organisation which manages the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification. This IQL scheme is designed to provide for high standards in training provision and delivery and competent course assessment.

The programme and the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) have been the subject of regular review and, where necessary, revision to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the leisure industry through the provision of training and certification for lifeguards working in swimming pools.

Within Leisure Warrington there is a structure in place to ensure we meet the necessary standards:

• The Trainer/Assessors (TA) deliver the syllabus from the IQL course books.
• The centre co-ordinator ensures the training information is kept up to date in the individual staff members training files.
• The TA co-ordinator leads the team of TAs to oversee the delivery of the IQL and liases directly with the Internal Verifier.

• The Internal Verifier (IV) oversees and monitors all the work carried out by the TA’s to ensure they deliver, to the required standards, the IQL syllabus. The IV also monitors the examiners, the administration process and the individual work carried out by the centre co-ordinators. The IV has designed an in-house pro-forma analysis reporting system, which is designed to give immediate feedback to the TAs and examiners.

To conduct the necessary training schemes and deliver the IQL course, the centres must have an Approved Training Centre (ATC) status. This is achieved and maintained through an external independent assessment from an External Verifier (EV). The EV is provided by Quality Leisure Management and their job is to assess the work carried out by the TAs and the IV, to check on the systems in place, the procedures adopted to deliver the programme and every aspect of the Government’s Regulatory Body, the QCA.

The EVs conduct a stringent assessment annually and Leisure Warrington has maintained Training Centre Status since 2000.

The TAs provide ongoing training and competency assessment in accordance with the recommendations in the "Managing Health & Safety in Swimming Pools"

All staff have to attend two training sessions in a four week period and ongoing competency assessment. This is recorded and placed in their individual files. Ensure high standards through consistency of training and assessing is the key to the continuing success and is an important aim of the ATC scheme. All centre assistants, shift supervisors, head centre assistants and 50% of the management teams have the NPLQ.

For more information visit The UK Royal Lifesaving Society website.

Bookmark with:

Delicious |   Digg |   Facebook |   reddit |   StumbleUpon