Swimming Pool Courses

Empowering Leisure Indutry Courses for Professionals

Become an Leisure Indutry Employee and Start Your Journey to Expertise with Us!

RLSS Pool Lifeguard (NPLQ) Course

What is it like being a lifeguard?

Lifeguards benefit from varied working hours which you can easily fit around your other commitments, working within a team and there’s also the opportunity to progress your career within the leisure industry as most leisure managers start off as Pool Lifeguards.

If you’d like to learn more about being a lifeguard watch the video on this web page, we can also arrange for you to speake to a current lifeguard or watch them in action before you decide!.

Lifeguard Course Pre-Requisites

Every candidate attending a NPLQ course must be 16-years-old at the time of taking the NPLQ final assessment and be able to:

Jump/dive into deep water
Swim 50 metres in less than 60 seconds
Swim 100 metres continuously on front and back in deep water
Tread water for 30 seconds
Surface dive to the floor of the pool
Climb out unaided without ladder/steps and where the pool design permits

Find a Lifeguard Course near you, telephone 01206 890 292 or email us

Learn Valuable Skills for life

Learn skills for life

There is the option to obtain additional qualifications during an NPLQ course, these will include additional hours:

Emergency First Aid at Work
First Aid at Work Certificate
Automated External Defibrillation Certificate (AED)
Management of Anaphylaxis
Working as a team
Leisure Industry Skills
Health & Safety
Many more skills for life

Benefits of becoming an RLSS Pool Lifeguard

Benefits of being an RLSS Pool LIfeguard are as followed:

An excellent starting point for a career in the leisure industry
Opportunity for career progression, as most leisure managers start off as Pool Lifeguards
Varied working hours
Work within a team
The NPLQ is recognised around the world, so potential to work and travel
A great way for students to fund studies
Learn essential life skills, including First Aid and CPR

RLSS Training Courses

Swimming Pool Courses - Pool Lifeguard & Pool Attendant

UK First Aid and Safety Training have a range of Swimming Pool courses available to be delivered at your own venue at a discounted cost. Alternatively you booking on to a first aid course at one of our national centres.

National Pool Lifeguard Qualification

Ofqual Accreditation IQL Swimming Pool Lifeguard (RCF)

Special Offer all our IQL Pool Lifeguard have First Aid at Work and AED included with our compliments, 36 Hours (5 day) – Meets HSG 179 Health & Safety In Swimming Pool Publication. The National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) 8th Edition is the marketing name for this qualification – its ‘accredited title’ as listed with Ofqual is: IQL – Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding, Intervention, Supervision and Rescue (QCF) qualification number 600/7437/1

The NPLQ covers all elements of Pool Rescue Techniques, Lifeguarding Theory, First Aid and CPR. The course is physically demanding and will include swimming to set times, lifting casualties and diving to the deepest part of the swimming pool. Training and assessment for the NPLQ is in three sections and all must be successfully passed to attain the qualification. Section 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law, Swimming Pool Supervision Element 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law Element 2 – Swimming Pool, Hazards and Control Measures Element 3 – Swimming Pool Supervision Section 2 – Intervention and Rescue and Emergency Action Plans Element 1 – Intervention and Rescue Element 2 – Rescue of a Casualty with a Suspected Spinal Injury Element 3 – Emergency Action Plan Section 3 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, AED and First Aid Element 1 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Element 2 – First Aid Element 3 – Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

EMERGENCY RESPONSE POOL (ER-POOL)

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How Will the Qualification Benefit Your Business?

Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools states:

“When the pool is in use, there must be a safe system of work to identify a person in difficulty and ensure that a rescue can be performed. For example, in the absence of lifeguards, there should be designated ‘on-call’ competent staff, to respond immediately to deal with any emergency. They should be suitably trained and capable of reaching the poolside in time to perform a rescue and provide emergency first aid if the alarm is raised.” Paragraph 113 of the HSE publication

The Emergency Response Pool Programme (ER-Pool) is designed to assist designated staff to respond to an emergency within the swimming pool environment when the alarm has been raised. The Emergency Responders can be any member of the facility called upon to rescue and provide first aid.

The ER-Pool programme is designed for use in small pools no greater than 1.5m in depth such as a health club or hotel pool.

For pools that require direct supervision on poolside and for larger pools, the RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification would be more suitable.

Who Can Complete ER Pool Training?

Any staff employed at the venue, e.g.

Receptionists
Chefs
Waiting staff
Housekeeping
Maintenance staff
Duty Managers
Gym staff

What Does ER Pool Involve?

A two-day course which will give your employees knowledge and practical training to:

Rescue a casualty in the event of being alerted to an emergency
Recover a casualty to poolside
Perform vital First Aid, including CPR and AED

The trainer can also award a regulated Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work qualification and regulated Level 2 Automated External Defibrillator qualification (AED).

The ER Pool qualification is valid for two years following successful completion.

What are the pre-requisites?

Be able to surface dive to the deepest part of the pool and climb out without help and without using steps or ladders (where venue design permits)
Be aged 16 or older at the beginning of the course

Swimming Pool Courses - Rescue Tests Swimming Teachers & Helpers

National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches (NRASTC)

NRASTC is a supervision and rescue award for swimming teachers, coaches and/or instructors working during programmed activities, such as swimming lessons. It is suitable for teachers working in a wide range of swimming pools where the water is deeper than the teachers’ standing depth and meets the Individual sites risk assessment.

Course Content – NRASTC

Section	6th edition new candidate (hours)	7th edition new candidate (hours)
1 – The Teacher, swimming pool and class management	4	2
2 – Intervention rescue and emergency action	4	4
3 – CPR and first aid	6	6
Total	14	12
Plus external assessment

When Emergency First Aid at Work and AED training are integrated with this course the training hours are extended

Aquatic Therapy Shallow Pool Rescue Award (ATSPRA)

ATSPRA is a supervision and rescue qualification for therapists, teachers and support staff working on the poolside or in the water during activities such as, aquatic therapy or therapeutic exercise/play. The qualification is suitable for use in shallow pools where the rescuer will not be required to swim to perform a rescue, with water no deeper than the rescuers chest depth.

Course Content – ATSPRA

Section	New candidate (hours)
1 – The Teacher/therapist, risk assessment and pool safety	3
2 – Intervention, rescue and emergency action	3+
Assessment	1
Total	7+

Optional Section
3 – CPR and first aid	6
Assessment	1
Total	7

When Emergency First Aid at Work and AED training are integrated with this course the training hours are extended.

National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches LIGHT (NRASTC LIGHT)

NRASTC LIGHT is a supervision and rescue award for swimming teachers, coaches and/or instructors working during programmed activities, such as swimming lessons when Lifeguard or First Aid backup is available to respond quickly in the event of an emergency.

It is suitable for teachers working in a wide range of swimming pools, including pools where the water is deeper than the teacher’s standing depth. This award is only suitable when the facility has staff qualified as Lifeguards or First Aiders that are available to respond quickly to a swimming teacher or coach in the event of an emergency.

If Lifeguard or First Aid backup is not available the standard NRASTC should be used.

Course Content – NRASTC LIGHT

Section	6th edition new candidate (hours)	7th edition new candidate (hours)
1 – The Teacher, swimming pool and class management	3	2
2 – Intervention rescue and emergency action	3	3
3 – CPR and first aid	1	1
Total	7	6
Plus external assessment

Swimming Pool Courses - Safety management & Trainer & Assessor

NATIONAL POOL SUPERVISOR QUALIFICATION (NPSQ)

The National Pool Supervisor Qualification (NPSQ) is a two-day course aimed at staff responsible for supervising lifeguards and managing essential health and safety within a leisure centre or swimming pool environment. It is suitable for lifeguards wishing to progress in their career or for employers wanting to upskill their employees to manage lifeguards, team members and essential health and safety.

RLSS UK is regulated by Ofqual, Qualifications Wales and CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland.

About the National Pool Supervisor Qualification (NPSQ)

Enhances your knowledge of why Risk Assessments, PSOP’s and Safe Systems of Work are in place to ensure a safe work environment, for both staff and customers.
Gives you a basic understanding of the laws and industry guidelines that you and your team need to comply with.
Helps you understand how to manage your team and provide feedback.
An ideal course for newly appointed Leisure Supervisors or Duty Managers.

The NPSQ is suitable for Lifeguards wishing to progress in their career or for employers wanting to upskill their employees to manage lifeguards, team members and essential health and safety.

Courses can be designed to be bespoke for employers, making the course specific to an organisation detailing procedures and policies.

Pre-Requisites

This qualification is aimed at candidates aged 18+ who have a specific responsibility (paid or unpaid/voluntary) for managing and supervising a swimming pool environment.

Delivery method

NPSQ is delivered using workshops, hazard perception videos, scenario-based discussions and case studies. Candidates use workbooks, containing key syllabus information, to complete tasks, activities and make notes/actions to help once they return to the workplace.

For more information email mail@iql.org.uk or call us on 0300 323 0096

Renewal

NPSQ renewal candidates may renew within the period of validity of their existing qualification (as stated on their certificate). RLSS UK recommend a refresher course, either face to face or online is completed prior to the renewal. This will include any updates and amends to current guidance, law, and regulation.

RLSS Pool Lifeguard Trainer & Assessor

BECOME A TRAINER ASSESSOR

This course enables candidates to be Trainer Assessors and be responsible for the delivery of RLSS UK’s vocational qualifications throughout the UK. It has been designed for anybody that is an experienced First Aider, Pool Lifeguard, Open Water Lifeguard, Beach Lifeguard, Swimming Teacher with National Rescue Award or Pool responders with ER Pool to take the next step.

On completion of the course, there is a probationary period (maximum of two years) and you will be supported by a National Trainer Assessor or a Mentor.

Trainer Assessors are responsible for the delivery of RLSS vocational qualifications throughout the UK.

If you are an experienced First Aider, Pool Lifeguard, Open Water Lifeguard, Beach Lifeguard, Swimming Teacher with National Rescue Award or Pool responders with ER Pool then this could be the next step for you.

What does it involve?

To become a Trainer Assessor, you will have to attend a course.

If successful on the course you will leave as a Probationary RLSS UK Trainer Assessor for AED and the qualification you have selected. The probationary period is a maximum of two years from course completion and you will be supported by a National Trainer Assessor or a Mentor.

Course Pre-Requisites

Every candidate attending a Trainer Assessor course must:

Be 18 years of age,
Be a member of the Royal Life Saving Society UK (Licence to Operator Membership) and
Hold a full Qualification for the specialised course (e.g. if you are attending a course to be a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification Trainer Assessor you will need to hold a current National Pool Lifeguard Qualification)

Course Content

The Trainer Assessor course varies in number of days depending on what specialism you choose. The course will comprise of four modules:

Train the Trainer (1 day)
Train the Assessor (1 day)
CPR and AED (1 day)
Qualification Specialism, which can be any of the following:

National Pool Lifeguard Qualification Trainer Assessor (2 days)

National Beach Lifeguard Qualification Trainer Assessor (3 days)

Open Water Lifeguard Qualification Trainer Assessor (1 day)

National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches Trainer Assessor (1 day)

First Aid Trainer Assessor (1 day)

ER Pool Trainer Assessor (1 day)

Swimming Pool Plant Room Maintenance & Water Testing

Swimming Pool Courses - Swimming Pool Plant Room Maintenance & Water Testing

Water Testing & Swimming Pool Maintenance for Swimming Pools

This course has been designed to exceed the level 2 qualification currently on offer and to offer additional training to support the learner in their role in holiday parks.

his qualification offers a range of skills, designed to allow the learner once completed to operate in swimming pools Safety and competently including: Principles of safe swimming pool operations, Full water testing, temperature checking and Water balancing, safe use of chemicals and when they are needed to be used, Routine maintenance including back-washing, strainers and skimmer cleaning, pump priming, pressures reading, pool vac and balance tanks, Daily check on swimming pools, Troubleshooting routine pool problems , Due Diligence and records keeping.

Course has been designed to be completed in 3 to 6 hours depending on learners excising knowledge and optional pre-course work being completed.

Water Testing & Swimming Pool Maintenance for Leisure Clubs & Spas

This course has been designed to exceed the level 2 qualification currently on offer and to offer additional training to support the learner in their role in holiday parks.

Course has been designed to be completed in 3 to 6 hours depending on learners excising knowledge and optional pre-course work being completed.

Water Testing & Swimming Pool Maintenance for Holiday Parks.

This course has been designed to exceed the level 2 qualification currently on offer and to offer additional training to support the learner in their role in holiday parks.

Course has been designed to be completed in 3 to 6 hours depending on learners excising knowledge and optional pre-course work being completed.