The safety and security of patients, visitors and staff has always been paramount for healthcare organisations. The diverse challenges these establishments face have been thrust into the public spotlight throughout the past 12 months with incidents such as the WannaCry ransomware attack, which caused havoc across parts of the NHS, as well as more recent public protests outside hospital buildings.
Meanwhile, the threat to nursing staff was brought to the fore at the Royal College of Nursing Congress, where it was mooted that nurses should be given body-worn cameras to help protect them from increasing incidents of violence; a message echoed in France, where there are plans to install video surveillance systems in intensive care wards to combat an upsurge in crime.
More than ever, the Linx International Group is seeing a strong demand for professionals working across all areas of the healthcare industry (public and private) to have a better working knowledge of essential security practices to meet duty-of-care obligations and maintain a safe working environment.
Impressive credentials with healthcare organisations
From its head office and training facility in the UK, as well as centres of excellence around the world, the Linx International Group provides a complete range of security and risk management consultancy and training services. We support organisations through our consultancy division, and train many security professionals who safeguard healthcare establishments globally. Our accredited courses range from Level 3 BTEC Awards through to Level 7 and MSc.
Linx also provides embedded security consultants to clients, including the British Medical Association (BMA) at BMA House in London. We have worked with high-profile hospitals and pharmaceutical companies across the globe, conducting security surveys and audits, reviewing security operations, providing security risk assessments and developing security strategy both regionally and internationally.
Keith Ward, Group CEO at the BMA, recently commented: “The BMA’s staff, members and external customers using the BMA facilities to host events continue to greatly benefit from the exceptional levels of professionalism and expert security support provided by the Linx International team.”
Introducing the ground-breaking Essential Security Practices programme
PerpetuityARC Training, a Linx International Group company, is now using its 30 years of experience to launch a ground-breaking new course: Essential Security Practices (ESP). This modular online learning programme has been created with the sole purpose of providing non-security personnel, and those for whom elements of security are among several responsibilities, with a strong working knowledge of the fundamentals needed to help safeguard an organisation, its people and other assets.
The 12 online modules
| · Security Risk Assessment
· Security Surveys · Perimeter Security · Building Security · Access Management · Video Surveillance Systems | · Security Lighting
· Protection Against Explosive Devices · Procuring Security and Managing Guarding · Cyber Security · Crisis Management and Business Continuity · Workplace Investigations |
David Gill, Managing Director of the Linx International Group, explains that every module of the ESP course has strong relevance for healthcare professionals: “The WannaCry incident highlighted how everyone has an important role to play in cyber security, and in recent weeks the Government has committed to spending a further £150m on cyber security for the NHS over the next three years. However, as with all elements of cyber and physical security, you need to know how to spend the money wisely, as well as implement the technology and accompanying changes to processes and procedures correctly, to get the optimal levels of security.”
David adds: “The scenes of protest outside hospital wards show the importance of building security, perimeter security and access control. Meanwhile, escalating levels of violence towards staff means workplace investigations are also on the rise, and regrettably there is the ever-present threat of terrorist activity.”
The new ESP programme is ideal for those working in facilities management, HR departments and most roles within public and private healthcare organisations, where involvement in security decision-making, implementation and day-to-day practice has become part of the remit. David continues: “We are specifically addressing the knowledge gap to deliver the right amount of information to be effective, without trying to transform people into fully-fledged security practitioners.”
Essential Security Practices is available now and costs £295 inc. VAT, with individual course modules available at £45 inc. VAT. To learn more about the course or watch a 15-minute pre-recorded webinar introducing the ESP programme, visit www.arc-tc.com/essential-security-practices
For more information on the Linx International Group and its security consultancy or training services, please visit: www.linxinternationalgroup.com alternatively email: [email protected] or call: +44 (0)1932 225151