Laundry
Laundry Qualifications
Another successful year for the Guild & TSA in Scotland
Following the first TSA managers course held in Scotland last year, when six candidates completed a structured course over a few months and successfully passed the Guild of Cleaners & Launderers Advanced written exam, it was decided to hold another course.
The course ran over a 3 month period with a topic from the Guild syllabus being covered by a tutor who was from a TSA member company in Scotland. The candidates met for lunch and then a time for questions from the previous weeks subject, and a 2 ½ session on the subject, so a full afternoon of training.
There were 10 candidates on the course who all sat the Guild advanced technology exam and passed, keeping up the 100% pass rate for the course.
The committee will be reviewing the feed back from the candidates and the employers in the next few months and already we have candidates for the course to be held next year.
Best practice at Her Majesty’s Prisons
The first prisoner to take practical laundry qualifications was awarded his certificates including Laundry Technician on 18th May 2004.
Instructional Officers also received the awards and we are informed that four more prisoners have begun training and have qualified in 9 units between them.
The officers all agreed that the training courses had given not only the prisoners but the Officers themselves, a much wider understanding of laundry procedures and had increased everyone�s interest in their jobs. For many of the prisoners including Michael the course had given them added interest because they had felt they might never achieve any qualifications. They had renewed feeling of self worth and had confidence in themselves. The qualifications had boosted moral and encouraged others to try to obtain them.
They had a better chance of obtaining a job once released and many felt it was a major step towards their re-habilitation into society.
The Prison Laundry was also awarded Training and Assessment accreditation by the Guild.
To find out more about Practical Laundry Certificates click here (PDF)