Category: Training News

The Elementary Food Hygiene Exam is now available in Polish. For more information please contact the Training Section on 0131 229 2968.

On 24 January 2017, Jackie McCabe, Director of Training was invited to Cornton Vale Prison to meet with some inmates who had recently completed the REHIS Elementary Cooking Skills certificate.

The REHIS Elementary Cooking Skills course was launched back in 2013 and is now delivered in an ever-growing number of centres throughout Scotland. The course aims to provide participants with basic cooking skills with the aim of increasing their confidence, skills and knowledge.

Broadly, it covers the following areas:
• basic food preparation skills
• basic cooking and presentation skills
• food safety
• using safe and hygienic practices

The course is designed to be flexible and can be delivered using various different approaches providing the minimum teaching time of six hours in which course objectives are covered. This allows trainers to tailor each course to meet the needs of the course participants in a wide range of settings.

Andrew Taylor, Catering Officer/Trainer at Cornton Vale Prison, and long term REHIS Food Hygiene Course Presenter, recently started delivering the REHIS Cooking skills course with the inmates as part of their education programme. He has devised a workplace-learning programme in the kitchen, which covers all aspects of the syllabus over six weeks to give a ‘semi industrial’ course in preparation of meals, soups and sweets for 85 people. The objective of the learning is to prepare and equip the women with skills and qualifications to gain employment on their release with the hope that it also reduces the likely hood of re-offending.

Jackie McCabe commented that whilst visiting the prison, the inmates were making cream of carrot and coriander soup and she enjoyed delicious scones that they had also prepared. The inmates stated that they enjoyed completing the course, learnt many new skills and are looking forward to doing their REHIS Food Hygiene qualification next.

REHIS is delighted to announce the signing of a new joint award between the Institute and Clyde Valley Learning and Development Group.

The Clyde Valley Learning and Development Group comprises of eight local authorities located in West Central Scotland. This Group share economies of scale to gain best practice in the field of learning and development by identifying opportunities to share learning and achieve best value for all member councils.

The Group has developed an online training programme covering the principles and practice of food hygiene primarily for home care and social care staff. It should be noted that this is not the same or equivalent to the REHIS Elementary Food Hygiene course, but is a bespoke programme covering the essential food hygiene principles required by this group of local authority staff.

The training will be delivered through eLearning via a bespoke series of four modules developed in consultation with REHIS. Learners who are presented for the award will access the modules in a supervised environment where tutorial support will be available for content matters, as well as technical user support as required. Learners may also complete the course in their own time and at their own pace.
On completion of the course, an online knowledge test consisting of multiple-choice questions will be conducted under supervision. On passing the four modules, the learners will achieve the REHIS/Clyde Valley Learning and Development Group Introductory Joint Award in Food Hygiene certificate.

David Duffy, Junior Vice President of REHIS along with Jackie McCabe, REHIS Director of Training met with Gill Bhatti, Chair of the Clyde Valley learning and Development Group last month to confirm the signing of the agreement. Also in attendance at the signing was Gerry Farrell and Margaret Quinn of Clyde Valley Learning and Development Group who were both instrumental in the development of this new joint award.

The REHIS Annual Presenters Update Seminar for Food and Health & Cooking Skills Presenters – Thursday 11 May 2017 – morning only.

A full programme will become available prior to the event. Registration opens in March 2017 – Venue to be confirmed.

The REHIS Annual Presenters Update Seminar for Food Hygiene and Health and Safety Presenters – Wednesday 4 October 2017 – all day.

A full programme will become available prior to the event. Registration opens in July 2017 – Venue to be confirmed.

Both these events are excellent opportunities for Presenters to hear about all the recent updates and changes. As always many questions can be answered on the day which may save valuable time once back in the Centres. It also gives Presenters the chance to meet and communicate with REHIS staff and network with fellow Presenters.

The new food hygiene laws apply in the UK from 1st January 2006. They affect all food businesses, including caterers, primary producers (such as farmers), manufacturers, distributors and retailers. There are a number of new EC Regulations, which apply directly to food businesses in the UK, and also national legislation in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You'll find the new Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006 attached to this Training News entry. They need to be read in conjunction with Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs which is attached to Training News entry “Regulation (EC) No 852/2004”.Where necessary REHIS syllabuses, examinations and resources are in the process of being changed to reflect these new Regulations. Peter Midgely from the Food Standards Agency Scotland will be giving a presentation on the new law at the Trainers' Update Course in Dundee on the 8th February 2006.Following that event guidance and relevant information will be sent to Training Centres to allow them to modify their presentations.

Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 is one of a number of EC Regulations on the hygiene of foodstuffs which should be read in conjunction with the Food Hygiene(Scotland)Regulations 2006.This Regulation covers the general rules of hygiene for foodstuffs and the others lay down specific rules for food of animal origin.

These are web links to references about Food Hygiene Legislation. From the html file right click on the hyperlink and select 'save target as'. This captures the documents as pdf files very quickly.

Food allergies will soon be an additional subject to be covered during all the REHIS Food Hygiene Courses.The relevant Handbooks will all include the necessary information to allow presenters to include the subject in their presentations and we will be producing a couple of new acetates/slides for future Presenter's Resource Packs.Christine's presentation will give you information about the law and food allergens and intolerances.

A wide range of REHIS certified courses are available on the subjects of food and health and safety.This booklet gives a brief outline of the qualifications available.

Over 1 million employees in Great Britain are exposed to levels of noise which put their hearing at risk. Employers must:- Assess the risks to employees from noise at work; Take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks; Provide employees with hearing protection if you cannot reduce the noise exposure enough by using other methods; Make sure the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded; Provide employees with information, instruction and training; Carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to health. Employees also have responsibilities under the regulations.

Over 1 million employees in Great Britain are exposed to levels of noise which put their hearing at risk. Employers must:- Assess the risks to employees from noise at work; Take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks; Provide employees with hearing protection if you cannot reduce the noise exposure enough by using other methods; Make sure the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded; Provide employees with information, instruction and training; Carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to health. Employees also have responsibilities under the regulations.

The Elementary Food Hygiene Exam is now available in Russian. If you require papers for your Course please indicate the number you require on the Course Registration Form.For more information please contact the Training Section on 0131 225 5444.