Merry Christmas to all my subscribers

Its been a tortuous two years or so for many, if not all of us, both professionally and personally. Although Christmas might usually be just a simple time of joy and happiness, this one, again, won’t be quite ‘normal’, so please stay safe and act cautiously.

Next year I will be here, as ever, offering nuggets of advice, training and coaching tips, and sharing my own journey of getting back to a new ‘normal’ with hybrid training, whatever is thrown at us. One thing is for certain, there will be some surprises, but hopefully also some, new and exciting developments in the world of environmental health training.

By the way, I am taking a break from my CIEH elected trustee role for now, having served for 3 years under very challenging times… however I will still be connected in some way, with the prospect of returning to the role in the future. I have strived to represent the views and opinions of those who voted me in during this time, while having to take difficult decisions to secure the future of the CIEH.

Wishing you and your teams, families and anyone else, a safe and festive time. Till next year…

David

Explaining HACCP – an old favourite

Back in 2006, when the ‘HACCP’ requirement was being implemented in the UK/Europe, I led a series of FSA/CIEH workshops on the new requirements, including introducing the infamous SFBB, now firmly embedded in the small food business psyche.

As part of that training, we developed the HACCP continuum, a graphic showing the flexibility of compliance, dependent on the complexity/risk of the setting.

I was recently reminded by a very good colleague that this was still not only relevant, but highly effective in explaining that HAACP solutions vary and there is no ‘right’ answer.

I am now preparing a webcast on this for release in the new year. Do have a look at the graphic and provide any comments to help flesh it out.

Career branding framework – comments welcome

I am venturing into new territory next year, taking on board some career mentoring activity. Of course I have discovered through my formal mentoring training that I, like many others, have been mentoring colleagues for years, mainly informally and to some extent rather ad hoc.

Now I have the chance to take a more organised (don’t laugh!) approach and take on one or two ‘mentees’ for 2022.

So to help me develop some tools of my own, please comment on how useful, if at all, the diagram below might be. You are welcome to use, suggest modifications, or completely diss it!!!

© Newsum Consultants Ltd. 2021

Successful day out! Face to face training always the best!

So, after some 18 months a small group of learners got the benefit of one of my face to face learnings today. What a day – as usual I enjoyed what I think I do best – working with enthusiastic colleagues who need a little bit of assistance and guidance to help them learn and validate their understanding, along with a little bit of entertainment, camaraderie and positivity. Great to be back in the real world again!

1-1 Intermediate update

I promised I would keep a running commentary on this special course.

We have had a couple more sessions now, often arranged and re-arranged at short notice as my ‘student’ (K) had operational and domestic difficulties to negotiate. But this is the territory I have chosen to occupy, and I made myself available literally 24/7.

With just one learner, the old rules of contact time don’t seem to be as relevant, as the learning is relaxed but intense at the same time, and the confidence in K has grown in leaps and bounds. K has taken well to the elements of learning from the CIEH course book.

For this student, there would have been no route to gaining the qualification other than remote learning, and they had decided that e-learning was not a practical option from previous experience.

Last night was a great session, and a lovely revelation when we both saw how beneficial a zoom course supported by smart phones at the same time (messenger, google etc.) can be. Our IT apprehension has all but disappeared!

One more session will do it I think! Total guided learning time will reach about 20 hours, split roughly 50/50 contact time and private validated study and exercises.

I will be taking one more student for this course in September, and definitely want to keep the facility alongside my face to face courses starting up again.

17 months wait finally over!

Finally I have just booked in my first face to face training after a 17 month “enforced” absence. Those learners are going to get one hell of a course!!!!

Update – Virtual 1-1 Intermediate Food Safety

First session last night successfully delivered on zoom – we both enjoyed it (I certainly did!) and this morning I sent my ‘student’ this email:

Good morning K, I really enjoyed working with you last night – hope you did too?

While the zoom conversations are useful and consolidate your understanding, the core of this type of remote 1-1 course is also based in the studying of the CIEH text book which, as you now know, is excellent.

Please do what you can before our second session on Sunday from 8.30 a.m., to overview the book, and in particular look at the following pages in detail, making notes to help you remember.

We will do a bit of an understanding test on these pages on Sunday!!!

Also you will need to produce a simple flow chart for the chicken supreme/ballotine

Also please complete the questions listed below and check your answers in the back of the book.

Any further questions you can do will help, and I will ask you at the conclusion of the course to commit to completing all the questions in the near future to consolidate your learning.

We made great progress last night so I am really looking forward to Sunday – we may need a full two hours then if you can fit that in?

Best regards

Any questions just fire away by email, messenger or phone call!

David

If anyone is interested in this bespoke training programme I will have one more place available in September.

Excited to start another 1 to 1 Intermediate zoom!

Tonight sees my latest virtual Intermediate Food Safety course kick off on a 1 to 1 basis. I have a great “student” joining me who has found the flexible course is built entirely around their availability. A fully immersive course will conclude with the usual exam, and all being well will lead to the formal CIEH qualification. I can’t wait to see how it unfolds, as the course delivery is completely organic. Here we go!!! Only one place per month is available so I will be opening September’s opportunity shortly.

Oh dear!!! No places left already?

Since launching my 1-1 Intermediate course I have now almost blocked out my diary for July and August with these 1-1 opportunities! After fitting in a couple of mini breaks. (UK of course) I now won’t have any further availability until further notice. Happy to open a reserve list if necessary.

Virtual Intermediate Food Safety – probably the best one to one course available!

Well, that’s always my aspiration, as another ‘student’ comes to me looking for a unique and totally customised course to suit their exact requirements. The best learners are often the busiest, working under immense pressure to earn a living, and cannot find great training which fits in with their hectic schedule. Here’s where I step in! In this new and probably exclusive service, I am putting the learner first (shouldn’t we always?) and doing this on a not for profit basis. Follow my blog as we go again on a journey of learning! If you want to explore this route too, just email me david@davidnewsum.com and I will happily put together a personalised plan.