Highland Council is leader in food hygiene training by e-learning
The success of an individual Highland Council employee in becoming the first Local Authority employee in Scotland to pass the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) e-learning Intermediate Food Hygiene course has resulted in the local authority being the first public sector organisation to be approved by the Institute as a training centre to deliver the course.
Elizabeth Mclean, Head Cook at Gairloch High School kitchen was awarded the REHIS Certificate in Intermediate Food Hygiene. The course learning material was obtained by the Council through REHIS from Highfield Publications, a national provider of food hygiene training resources, and following an invigilated examination, Elizabeth was awarded with a “credit pass” by the Institute on 6th July 2009. The REHIS Certificate in Intermediate Food Hygiene is aimed at managers and supervisors for maintaining high standards in food premises.
Highland Council’s Health and Safety Team has been an Approved Training Centre for REHIS since 1996. Approximately 3000 Council staff, mainly in social work and education, have been trained in-house to REHIS standards for the Elementary Food Hygiene Certificate. This training was delivered through 200+ courses at elementary level.
When Elizabeth expressed a desire to extend her food hygiene skills beyond the elementary level, Training Centre staff in the Council’s Health and Safety team decided to source an accredited distance e-learning course in food hygiene at intermediate level to enable Elizabeth to study for and eventually pass the examination and gain the qualification with flying colours.
REHIS are currently providing the course throughout Scotland and have approved The Highland Council, the first local authority to be registered as an Intermediate Certificate (e-learning) training centre.
Congratulating Elizabeth on her achievements, Councillor Carolyn Wilson, Chair of The Highland Council’s Resources Committee said: “I am very impressed with Elizabeth’s drive and professional commitment to expand her skills. As we prepare for the spread of swine flu within our communities, food hygiene and personal hygiene has never been more in the public eye. The example that Elizabeth is showing is commendable to us all. I am very pleased that as an accredited REHIS training centre the Council will be able to deliver this vital training to more staff throughout the Highlands.”
Graham Walker, REHIS Director of Training said: “I would like to thank Highland Council for their assistance in launching this new programme. The Institute and the Council have enjoyed a very successful partnership over the years and this new initiative is an excellent example of what can be achieved by two like-minded organisations working together to provide a course that will equip participants with the knowledge that will help them to operate safely and produce safe wholesome food. I would like to add my congratulations to Elizabeth on successfully completing the course and being the first person in a local authority to gain the qualification by e learning”