Ref: FOI/20012

RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST

I am writing to confirm that the West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information you requested further to your freedom of information request.

Please find below a summary of our findings.

Request

What First Aid Training and Mental Health Training, if any, do you provide to your staff?

Reply

First aid courses that we provide are – 3 day First Aid at Work, 2 day First Aid at Work Re-Qualification and very rarely 1 day Emergency First Aid at Work.

Mental health training is provided for Mental Health First Aiders and those leading Critical incident debriefs and Post incident defusing across the brigade.

Request

The current provider of First Aid Training and Mental Health Training to your staff and contract expiry date

Reply

WMFS is the training centre and provider of first aid courses, these are reviewed at regular intervals.

Working Minds Ltd provide the mental health training as part of our service from our Cognitive behavioural therapy service provider, the contract expires in May 2020.

Request

The name of the person responsible at your organisation for First Aid Training and Mental Health Training

Reply

With regards for the person responsible at your organisation for First Aid Training and Mental Health Training, WMFS operates a single point of contact policy and are directed to general enquiries on 03300 589000. Or email contact@wmfs.net . Furthermore, guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office is as follows:

The presumption is in favour of protecting privacy, so the release of personal information will only be fair if there is a genuine reason to disclose. This involves a three-stage test. A public authority will generally have to satisfy itself that:

• there is a legitimate interest in disclosure;
• the legitimate interest can only be met, or fully met, by the disclosure of information which identifies individuals (i.e. the disclosure is necessary to that purpose); and,
• the disclosure would not involve unwarranted detriment to the individual’s privacy or other rights and legitimate interests.

If you have any queries about this Freedom of Information request, please contact us. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW

Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.