Health and safety procedures at work — YMCA Awards Vocational Employability & Work Skills

The YMCA Level 1 Award in Employability and Personal Development introduces students to essential workplace skills, personal development planning, and job-seeking techniques. It covers creating a personal development plan, understanding workplace expectations, and building confidence for employment.

This unit introduces you to the core skills and attitudes needed to succeed in the workplace. You will explore what employers look for, how to identify your own strengths and areas for improvement, and how to plan your personal development. The focus is on practical, real-world application, so you will learn how to create a personal development plan (PDP) and use it to track your progress towards employment goals.

The qualification is designed to boost your confidence and employability. You will examine different types of employment (full-time, part-time, voluntary) and the rights and responsibilities of employees. You will also practise job application techniques, such as writing a CV and preparing for interviews. This unit is ideal if you are new to the job market or need to build a foundation for further study.

In the wider context, this award sits within the UK's employability skills framework, which is recognised by employers and colleges. It helps you develop transferable skills that are valuable in any career, from communication to problem-solving. By the end, you will have a clear action plan for your next steps, whether that is further education, an apprenticeship, or entering the workforce.

• →Employability skills: transferable abilities like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management that are valued by employers.
• →Personal development plan (PDP): a structured document that outlines your goals, actions, resources, and review dates to improve your skills and employability.
• →SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound objectives that make planning effective.
• →Rights and responsibilities: legal and ethical expectations in the workplace, such as health and safety, equal opportunities, and following contracts.
• →Job application process: steps including CV writing, cover letters, application forms, and interview techniques.

• Award credit for correctly identifying at least three common workplace hazards (e.g., wet floors, trailing cables, hazardous substances).
• Award credit for explaining the purpose of risk assessments, including the steps of identifying hazards, deciding who might be harmed, and evaluating risks.
• Award credit for describing the correct sequence of actions in an emergency, such as raising the alarm, following evacuation procedures, and providing first aid if trained.
• Award credit for stating the importance of reporting accidents and near misses, including the need for accurate records and prevention of future incidents.
• Award credit for outlining employee responsibilities, such as following safety rules and using personal protective equipment (PPE) as required.

• 💡Memorise the key steps of a risk assessment: identify hazards, decide who might be harmed, evaluate risks, record findings, and review.
• 💡Use real workplace examples to illustrate your understanding of health and safety procedures.
• 💡Remember that in an emergency, the first priority is always to protect life and prevent further harm.
• 💡Be prepared to answer questions about your own responsibilities as an employee, such as following training and using equipment safely.
• 💡Always use the SMART framework when answering questions about goals or development plans – it guarantees you cover all required elements.
• 💡When giving examples, make them specific and relevant to the job or scenario in the question. Generic answers like 'I am good at talking to people' lose marks.
• 💡Read the command word carefully. 'Explain' requires a reason or justification, while 'List' only needs bullet points. Over-answering can waste time.

• Confusing hazard and risk: a hazard is something with the potential to cause harm, while risk is the likelihood of that harm occurring.
• Thinking that health and safety is solely the employer's responsibility, ignoring the employee's duty to cooperate and follow procedures.
• Not knowing the difference between an accident and an emergency, and therefore not responding appropriately (e.g., treating a minor cut as a major emergency).
• Failing to report accidents or near misses because they seem minor, which can lead to underreporting and unsafe conditions.
• Misconception: Employability skills are only needed for professional jobs. Correction: These skills are essential for all roles, including part-time and entry-level positions, as they show you can work effectively with others.
• Misconception: A personal development plan is only for school or college. Correction: PDPs are used throughout careers to set goals, identify training needs, and support promotions.
• Misconception: You only need to list skills on a CV, not prove them. Correction: Employers expect you to give examples of when you used each skill, so always prepare a STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) example.

1. 1Week 1, Day 1-2: Read through the unit overview and key concepts. Make flashcards for the definitions of employability skills and SMART goals.
2. 2Week 1, Day 3-4: Practise writing a personal development plan using a template. Focus on setting one short-term and one long-term goal with actions.
3. 3Week 1, Day 5-6: Research job adverts online and identify the employability skills they ask for. Write a list of 10 skills and match them to your own experiences.
4. 4Week 2, Day 1-2: Revise rights and responsibilities by creating a mind map. Include health and safety, equal opportunities, and contract terms.
5. 5Week 2, Day 3-4: Complete past paper questions under timed conditions. Review your answers against the mark scheme to see where you lost marks.
6. 6Week 2, Day 5: Summarise all key concepts in one page and test yourself using active recall prompts.

• 📋Multiple-choice questions on definitions (e.g., 'Which of these is an employability skill?') – read each option carefully and eliminate obvious wrong answers.
• 📋Short-answer questions asking you to 'List' or 'State' – give concise, accurate points without extra explanation.
• 📋Extended writing questions (e.g., 'Explain how you would create a personal development plan') – structure your answer with an introduction, steps, and a conclusion, using SMART criteria.
• 📋Scenario-based questions (e.g., 'You are late for work. What should you do?') – apply your knowledge of responsibilities and professional behaviour.

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