Training methods and

tracking

Ensuring the relevant mandatory training has been undertaken is a key part of UCS’s robust quality management system and is monitored throughout the employee’s lifetime with UCS and on every cleaning project they are assigned. This process effectively acts as a guarantee that all cleaners supplied by UCS and carry a UCS ID are compliant and meet approved training standards.

As a preferred method of training assurance, UCS has inherent compliance measures built-into its assignment booking processes and systems to ensure staff cannot be assigned, and therefore arrive for their cleaning shift until all the relevant mandatory training has been undertaken.

All mandatory technical, safety, compliance and legislation training is required to be completed and refreshed on an annual basis. All training evidence is signed off by the UCS Director responsible for HR. UCS uses a blend of training methods, including online, paper-based and face-to-face training sessions, at the office and on the job. Online training is provided by Jangro Learning Management Solutions, which provides a fully interactive suite of training and information modules; staff access the training onsite or from home.

TECHNICAL

Training

UCS’s mandatory technical training follows the British Institute of Cleaning Science’s Core Skills Training Suite, which is our baseline training requirement for all cleaning staff. This includes:

Chemical competence & COSHH
Safe assembly and care of equipment
Storage of equipment and materials
Basic cleaning modules (e.g. damp mopping, glass cleaning)
Additional & specialist cleaning modules (e.g. pressure washing, graffiti removal)
Colour coding and infection
Floor care
Carpet care
Kitchen hygiene
Washroom hygiene

Practical cleaning training is carried out on assignment, where a trainee shadows a supervisor/colleague for a minimum of two weeks and uses an induction training check-sheet to assess on-the-job competencies, including health and safety awareness.

Safety

Training

UCS delivers the following Health and Safety training as a minimum:

Welfare, first aid and basic life support
Emergency procedures
Accident & incident reporting (RIDDOR)
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Asbestos awareness
Smoking policy
Working at height
Risk assessments & method statements
Manual handling, moving & lifting
Working with electricity and electric power tools
Site tidiness
Working safely with customers
Personal Protective Clothing & Equipment
Fire safety

Compliance

and legislation training

UCS delivers the following compliance and legislation training as a minimum:

Environmental policy and waste management
Data protection & Information Governance
Codes of conduct & customer service
Anti-terrorism policy and preventing radicalisation
Equality, diversity and human rights policy and procedures
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

UCS’s central HR team regularly review updates from legislative, regulatory bodies, and good practice guidance to ensure our standards, policy, processes and internal training are aligned. Relevant updates are incorporated into employee training and induction to ensure the most up to date information is provided.

Other

training

UCS provides further training such as:

Career

development

UCS provides a structured staff career development program with advancement from junior operatives to supervisors and managers. Training needs are identified through regular performance appraisals and intermittent ‘job chats’ alongside day-to-day job quality audits.

Our Operations Manager, Donna Scobbie, is a prime example. Donna joined UCS in 2012 as a cleaning operative and expressed interest in developing her career further during appraisals. In 2013 she became a site supervisor responsible for 4 employees. Successfully managing the client, handling staff issues, and motivating staff, Donna’s capabilities quickly became clear. She was promoted to Contracts Manager in 2014; responsible for 6 sites and 16 staff. She continued to prove her abilities so was given some of our larger sites and was further promoted to Operations Manager later that year.

Training she has completed at UCS, which has assisted her progression includes: