Centre Safety and Staff Training

JCA Staff

Many of our staff return every season, a number of whom progress on to Senior Instructor or Centre Manager. New staff  are selected using our thorough interview process which takes into account their enthusiasm, friendliness and suitability to work with children. We are registered with the Criminal Records Bureau and also insist on two references for each employee. We require all candidates to submit an enhanced disclosure to the CRB, the result of which must be satisfactory. All staff under go a formal induction, training and assessment period before commencing employment and are subject to continual assessment by Senior Staff throughout their period of employment

Instructor Training

Successful interviewees complete our intensive three week training course. This involves expertise from National Governing Body coaches as well as extensive in-house training by Managers and/or Senior Instructors. Before delivering sessions to schools all instructors will be assessed and hold relevant qualifications. Instructors are provided with a comprehensive Company Training Manual which includes ‘Activity Sessions Standards and Procedures’ - strict safety standards and guidelines for the conduct of all activities. Other subjects include Health & Safety at Work, child protection, group management and other such skills. As well as the three week course all senior staff under go a separate advanced company training course.

Instruction and Supervision

• We qualify our instructors in all of our activities (with the exception of watersports where we employ specialist instructors), therefore a great rapport can be built between the instructor and group members giving them the confidence to reach their full potential
• Our instructor/pupil ratio is 1:12 for land activities, 1:6 for sailsports / paddlesports and 1:10 for surf activities. These ratios comply with the rules of the appropriate governing bodies
• Instructors take responsibility for their groups during activity sessions (teachers are expected to accompany the children during activity sessions)